Maura Tierney Makes Her Law & Order Debut in New Season with Mariska Hargitay: ‘I Get to Call Her Liv’

Maura Tierney Makes Her Law & Order Debut in New Season with Mariska Hargitay: ‘I Get to Call Her Liv’

Maura Tierney Makes Her Law & Order Debut in New Season with Mariska Hargitay: ‘I Get to Call Her Liv’

After 33 years since her first major acting role in a 1991 episode of Law & Order, Maura Tierney is set to return to the iconic series as a regular in its 24th season. Reflecting on her debut, Tierney expressed her nerves, saying, “I haven’t done this kind of work since ER.”

As she prepares to portray Lieutenant Jessica Grady, she shared that while the cast and crew have changed over the years, one thing remains constant: “Dude, the crime is murder,” she quipped when asked about her character’s cases. Grady will team up with Detective Vincent Riley (Reid Scott), Detective Jalen Shaw (Mehcad Brooks), and District Attorney Nicholas Baxter (Tony Goldwyn) to tackle complex murders with timely themes.

One episode explores an A.I. dating app that pushes boundaries by creating intimate A.I. partners. “That technology is here. People do have A.I. friends,” Tierney teased, adding that the episode delves into the complexities of A.I. relationships.

Although she felt a bit intimidated stepping into such a legendary series, Tierney quickly found her footing, connecting with her co-stars over their shared sense of humor. She described her time on set with Hargitay as “a blast,” especially when she discovered she could refer to her character, Captain Olivia Benson, as “Liv.” However, she noted that Grady and Benson don’t exactly see eye to eye. “We don’t really get along; our characters have a disagreement about how to handle a legal matter, which was fun to portray,” she said.

Tierney emphasized that Grady is tough and intelligent, relying heavily on her instincts. While she acknowledges Grady’s strict demeanor, she hinted that the series aims to explore her personal life and its impact on her work.

“They’re trying to adjust the show this season to make it more active and personal,” Tierney observed. She hinted at a deeper exploration of Grady’s character, stating, “I certainly think she’s much less charming than anyone I’ve played before,” but added that her hyper-focus on details makes her effective in her role.

Tierney expressed excitement about taking on a character like Grady, emphasizing the unique opportunity it represents in her career. “I don’t think I’ve played a character like that before,” she reflected, acknowledging that roles like this come along rarely.

Law & Order premieres on October 3 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC, with episodes available for streaming the following day on Peacock. Check out Entertainment Weekly’s exclusive first-look photos of Tierney above.

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