‘The Rookie’ Star Jenna Dewan on Having Real-Life Fiancé Steve Kazee Play Her Abusive Ex and Touring With ‘Idol’ Janet Jackson

variety.com:

Max Gao SPOILER ALERT: This interview contains spoilers from “The Mickey,” the Season 7, Episode 7 of ABC’s “The Rookie.” Jenna Dewan never expected to stick around on “The Rookie.” But after Dewan signed on to the ABC police procedural for a multi-episode arc in 2021, the actress’ fun-loving firefighter Bailey Nune immediately made an impression by arriving at protagonist John Nolan’s (Nathan Fillion) front door wearing only a bath towel. (She had accidentally locked herself out of the neighboring property that she was house-sitting.) For Dewan, the opportunity to play Fillion’s potential new love interest in the Season 3 finale felt, at most, like a welcome respite from the then-raging pandemic.

But once creator Alexi Hawley noticed an immediate spark between Nolan and Bailey, he decided to promote Dewan to series regular in Season 4.

Since then, Bailey’s storyline has evolved into a woman realizing that she can’t outrun her traumatic past. Midway through Season 4, Bailey’s abusive husband, Jason (Steve Kazee — Dewan’s real-life fiancé), who was convicted of embezzlement, got out of prison.

Jason tracked Bailey down in Los Angeles, throwing her entire relationship with Nolan — then unaware of her marriage — into question.