Abigail Hawk Reveals The Heartwarming Thing Tom Selleck Did For Her & Opens Up About The Relationship They Have

Feb 01, 2024

American actress Abigail Hawk is widely known for her role as Detective Abigail Baker on the CBS police procedural drama series, “Blue Bloods.” Hawk’s journey into the world of entertainment began at a young age, fueled by a passion for the performing arts. She honed her skills at the North Springs Charter School of Arts and Sciences in Atlanta, Georgia, where she immersed herself in theater and creative pursuits. After graduating with a degree in theater and fine arts from the University of Maryland, Hawk laid the foundation for a career that would soon blossom on both stage and screen.

Notably, her acting career breakthrough came with her portrayal of Detective Baker on the popular police show. Since the show’s inception in 2010, Hawk has held on to the role of the department’s administrative assistant to Police Commissioner Frank Reagan, played by Tom Selleck, making her a great addition to Selleck’s character’s family. Her on-screen presence has resonated with viewers, and her character’s evolution throughout the series has showcased Hawk’s versatility as an actress.

Aside from acting, she also worked behind the scenes when she made her directorial debut in the short film, “The Peter Austin Noto Show,” proving her talent goes beyond the screen. 

Unbeknownst to many, Hawk’s character was supposed to be minor and not of great importance compared to what it is right now. It turns out that Selleck believed in her and her character, which ultimately changed the trajectory of her career. Eventually, as Hawk’s career progressed, she also started doing the same thing for other actresses. Read on to learn more about Hawk, how Selleck has impacted her career, and how she’s paying it forward. 

Sharing to Starry Mag in a 2021 interview, Hawk revealed that her character, Abigail Baker, was of less importance. 

“Originally, she 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. 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. Then he cleared with the lawyers the last name Baker. He obviously thought it was very important for me to have a last name since I was a person on the show,” she shared. 

Hawk also added that Selleck thought that the role was “very important” for her and that her character needed to have a name and be properly credited. 

“So, they gave me a full-fledged identity and that was all him,” she added. 

Hawk, a recurring actress on the series since season one, revealed that she is adjusting well to Selleck’s schedule, who has been going to and fro California and New York for filming. 

“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. 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,” she admitted.

According to Hawk, Selleck is a huge guiding light for her, on and off camera. 

“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,” she told Pop Culture in 2019. “He just... shows up. He’s authentic. He really just wants to tell the story in the best possible way and have it be as realistic as possible and I’m, I mean I’m very grateful for him. He’s an awesome, awesome human being.”

At one point, when Hawk was having her baby, Selleck rewrote an entire scene of an episode just so Hawk wouldn’t be missed. 

“Tom Selleck literally rewrote a scene around the delivery of my son, which is a pretty awesome legacy,” the beloved actress revealed in a The Hamptons interview. 

Hawk treasured everything that Selleck had been doing for her, and she has been paying it forward by being the same thing for her new castmates. 

In January 2023, Hawk shared a carousel of photos on Instagram about her castmate, Jessica Pimentel, who played Detective Laura Acosta in an episode of the show in 2023. 

“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,” she wrote in the caption. “She dazzles in all she does! I remain in awe of you.”

Are you a fan of Tom Selleck or Abigail Hawk? What can you say about Selleck’s kindness? Isn’t he the kindest? Let us know and pass this on to your family, friends, and other loved ones out there!