Abigail Hawk opens up about her stellar relationship with Tom Selleck and confirms heartwarming detail

In his nearly six-decade career, Tom Selleck has remained a consistent figure in Hollywood, significantly influencing younger actors.

Abigail Hawk, who stars alongside Selleck in “Blue Bloods,” praises her co-star as a “champion,” admiring his genius both on and off the screen.

Read on to discover why Hawk describes her role as “the best gig in the world!”

At just 28 years old, Abigail Hawk secured a pivotal role in the TV series “Blue Bloods,” joining a cast that includes Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, and Jennifer Esposito.

The show revolves around Frank Reagan, a fictional New York City police commissioner and the head of a family of law enforcement officers. Hawk, now 41, plays Detective Abigail Baker, a trusted aide to Selleck’s character, the 78-year-old commissioner.

Before “Blue Bloods,” Hawk’s acting credits included the 1995 TV series “Reality Check” with Ryan Seacrest, an episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” and several minor film roles. She acknowledges that she was relatively inexperienced compared to her co-stars when she joined the show.

Despite this, Selleck made her feel welcome and valued. “I have a seat at the table with him if that makes sense,” Hawk explained. “Even though I’m much younger than him, much greener in every sense of the word, he never makes me feel less than…We talk on the same level.”

Selleck also played a significant role in shaping Hawk’s character. Initially, her character lacked a last name, specific age, gender, or race. She was referred to as Detective Mel or Melissa. However, Selleck suggested changing her name to Abigail, believing Melissa was too ordinary.

“Originally, [Abigail Baker] did not have a last name. She did not have an age. She did not even have a gender. She did not have a race. She did not have an anything. She was either detective Mel or Melissa. So, no first name. Definitely not my first name,” Hawk shared. “I got the role and about two to three episodes in Tom [Selleck] decided to change it to Abigail because he thought Melissa was too ordinary, which I guess is a compliment – so I’ll take it.”

Crediting Selleck with giving her character a full identity, Hawk added, “He obviously thought it was very important for me to have a last name since I was a person on the show. So, they gave me a full-fledged identity and that was all him.”

Thirteen years into her role on “Blue Bloods,” Hawk feels more at ease working with some of Hollywood’s biggest names in one of television’s most popular series.

Balancing Act
While Hawk’s character on “Blue Bloods” evolved, she also had to manage the demanding filming schedule alongside her growing family.

The show, which films in New York, presents challenges for actors like Selleck, who resides on an avocado farm in Hidden Valley, California.

The veteran actor, with 59 years in the industry, knows how to balance personal and professional commitments. “It took a long time to get off the train, but I try very hard to have balance, and this ranch has helped me do that.” Selleck, who has amassed considerable wealth from his iconic roles, told People, “I’m a fairly private person. And I’ve always treasured the balance between work and time with my family. It’s always about them.”

Similarly, Hawk follows a work schedule largely shaped by Selleck. “I really work on Tom’s schedule, which is great. He kind of bookends his episodes together. He’ll film like the last four days of one episode and then the first four days of the next and then he goes back out to LA to be with his family,” she explained. “So that whole time, I can either work on another project or I’m home with my kids. I’m telling you, it’s the best gig in the world.”

Admiration for Selleck
Hawk admires Selleck not just for his efficient time management but also for his off-screen persona. “I absolutely adore Tom and I’m exceedingly grateful for him. He has really been a huge champion of mine…I appreciate the fact that he recognized that I had a lot I want to say in the industry and he’s a huge advocate for women.”

This support was evident when Selleck rewrote a scene to accommodate Hawk’s absence after she gave birth. “Tom Selleck literally rewrote a scene around the delivery of my son, which is a pretty awesome legacy,” she said.

Paying it Forward
Recently, Hawk extended similar support to cast member Jessica Pimentel, who appeared as Detective Laura Acosta in an episode in 2023. Sharing photos on Instagram, Hawk wrote, “The admiration I have for this human right here. She is bold, unapologetic, kind, powerful, balanced, nuanced, talented, versatile…full of surprises and boundless depth…keenly observing her work ethic and dedication, her careful and specific choices, her freedom and fearlessness on stage.” The post continued, “She dazzles in all she does! I remain in awe of you.”

What an amazing cast!

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