Lori Loughlin Says She Was 'Apprehensive' Ahead of Accepting Cop Role inOn Call: 'I Didn't Know If I Could Do It'

Mar. 15, 2025

Lori Loughlin.Photo:Elizabeth Morris/Prime Video

Elizabeth Morris/Prime Video

Lori Loughlinis opening up about her latest role.

“It is such a different role for me,” she told the outlet. “I will say, initially, I was very flattered to get the offer [but I] was a little apprehensive because I didn’t know if I could do it — if I could find that strength and that badass quality. Obviously, it’s a great script, it’s a great role, a wonderful opportunity… so I jumped at the chance to play the part.”

She added that her costar, executive producer and directorEriq La Salle, “was instrumental in bringing me on board and helping me develop the character.”

“The first day, the first scene, I definitely had butterflies,” Loughlin continued. “I was not so sure of myself, and Eriq really helped me find her voice, find her strength, and gave me the confidence to push her even further.”

Loughlin plays hard-headed Lieutenant Bishop in the Dick Wolf procedural alongside a rookie and veteran officer duo Traci Harmon (Troian Bellisario) and Alex Diaz (Brandon Larracuente) as they go on patrol together in Long Beach, California, per the official synopsis. TheWhen Calls the Heartactress said series director Brenna Malloy carefully shaped her character’s personality, even making a bold suggestion for Loughlin in the fourth episode.

“Brenna was like, ‘Listen, I don’t know if you want to do this, but how about we see you smoking a cigarette?’ And I was, like, ‘Oh my God, genius!’ It was such a great, collaborative effort,” Loughlin gushed. “I’m so appreciative of that.”

Fans got a look at Lieutenant Bishop’s personality inPEOPLE’s exclusive sneak peekearlier this month. The scene showed Bishop gathering her police force as she passed along important information about a recent shooting that left the squad “raw.”

The clip even saw Loughlin’s character dropping an F-bomb.

Lori Loughlin.Amazon Studios

Amazon Studios

In December, Loughlin shared withEntertainment Tonightthat taking on the no-frills role marked a shift in her career.

“I was game for anything. Like when I first showed up, they were like, your highlights are gonna go, and I was like, fine,” she said. “No makeup, dark hair pulled back, uniform and just [a] very raw [look] and I jumped at the chance. I was so excited.”

She admitted of the part, “I didn’t know I had it in me — to be that badass.”

On Callmarks the fourth role for Loughlin since she and her husband Massimo Giannuillipled guilty to conspiracy charges related to the college admissions scandal in May 2020. Loughlinwent on to serve 2 months in prisonwhileher husband served 5 months, and in 2021, shesecured her first acting role following the scandal.

TheSummerlandalum reprised herWhen Calls the Heartcharacter Abigail Stanton in a spinoff series,When Hope Calls, and then followed that upwith a movie on Great American Family,Fall Into Winter, her first film since 2018.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

All eight episodes ofOn Callare available to stream on Prime Video.

source: people.com