If you only recognize Hawk as the stoic and put-together detective often seen going in and out of the police commissioner’s office, you might not know much about the star herself. As she prepares to embark on a new phase of her career, Hawk is figuring out what kinds of projects she wants to throw herself into, while also experimenting in new areas such as producing and writing.

Woman’s World had a chance to catch up with Hawk and discuss Daruma and the reason behind her decision to join the project, as well as what it’s been like to close the Blue Bloods chapter of her story. The actress shared about the film’s deeper meaning, what it was like stepping into the shoes of a very different character and what interesting item she chose to take home from the set of Blue Bloods.

WW: What about Daruma made you want to say yes to the project?

AH: Alexander Yellen, who directed the film, he and I have been friends for almost a decade. We did a Christmas film together (Christmas in Vermont) in Buffalo, New York that had Chevy Chase and David O’Donnell in it. It was super fun.

I kept seeing fundraising happening for Kelli (Yellen’s wife) and Alex’s film Daruma, and I was, like, “Oh, what is this?” They’ve never done anything together. I looked into it and was just immediately taken by the premise, by the charisma that John Lawson (Robert)) and Tobias Forest (Patrick) were emitting through my phone.

I dove a little deeper and I realized that it featured two disabled leads who were authentically cast as disabled, but the movie’s not about their disabilities at all.

My husband and I had a niece named Catherine, and Catherine passed away when she was 16…But she was born very disabled, physically and mentally, but she was an amazing little girl… I just felt like I needed to do it for her. I wanted there to be people like her on the screen. And I loved that these characters were real people. They were not necessarily inspirational characters. They were just real [and] flawed.

WW: When it comes to your character Anna, was there anything about her that drew you in?

AH: I think most of us have been in at least one relationship that has not gone according to plan… you can’t really ever find someone who checks off every single box, but you want to find somebody who’s going to drop you off at your closest destination, find someone who compliments you, who can grow with you. And Anna, you see her at the beginning of the film and it’s obvious that she’s got a huge heart, but she’s hiding and has created this protective shell around herself.

I think we meet her at a point where her heart’s been broken every which way, multiple times, and she’s still getting back up, which I think feeds back into Daruma’s overarching theme, which is fall down seven times, get up eight.

For her to come out of these relationships instead of being completely dark, just being careful, but keeping the door cracked, I thought was lovely… of course I could tell that story and put that aspect of my past into her present.

Anna’s a very polarizing character. People either love her or hate her, and that, as an actor, is honestly the greatest feeling in the world, to know that you’ve lit a match and you don’t know who’s going to be the one to put out the fire or stoke it.

WW: What was it like transitioning from your Blue Bloods character Abigail Baker to a completely different role? Has it been exciting or has it been a bit scary?

AH: We filmed Daruma in the beginning of 2022, so I actually had no time in between them at all, because I was still actively filming Blue Bloods. In fact, I had to beg for time off, and they worked the schedule around the film. I flew out to LA,  shot for two days and then I was right back in New York to film Blue Bloods. It was basically just me on the plane making sure that I had my lines memorized for both [projects].

At this point, Baker, I can slip her on so easily and it’s second nature. She is me; I am her. We spent 14 years getting to know each other and growing together. So, it was really just a little vacation.

WW This was your first time being credited as an associate producer, so how has that journey been different?

AH: I had no idea what I was doing, but that’s again why Kelli and Alex are so lovely as humans. And seeing my name up there was so cool…seeing it up there was, honestly, very surreal.

But what was even more important to me was seeing Catherine’s name in the credits, because one of the perks that I wanted was to have her mentioned as “this is in honor of her,” because it is. And that choked me up way more than seeing my name as a producer on the film.

WW: Do you have plans to produce any other projects?

AH: I am a very impulsive person when it comes to things like that… I really think it depends on the project, and if I feel that urge, I will. But right now, my focus is on continuing to be in front of the camera, and I’m working on a novel which is a slog of epic proportions…. I also think when my boys are older, I would very much enjoy possibly directing, possibly producing more.

I did a theater production called Jasper off-Broadway at the end of 2022, and I realized that it was just almost impossible, especially working a full-time job with Blue Bloods. I never saw my kids, I was getting three hours of sleep a night and I just went, “Yeah, not yet.” I can put it away for now.

I’m 42, I have time. I’m not in a rush. I’m enjoying the wisdom that comes with aging, but still feeling like I have no idea what I’m doing, so I’ll be an adult sometimes, but I’m also trying to enjoy the ride.

I’m trying to not bite off more than I can chew, but the desire is there. I love telling stories, and however I am called upon to tell them, I’m going to say yes.

WW: How does it feel that Blue Bloods is coming to an end after 14 years?

AH: If you’d asked me this two weeks ago, I would’ve answered a little bit differently. I had a nice hit of my people. I got to see all of them and hug people and tell them in person how much they meant to me. We had a big wrap party and we also had an event at the Paley Center in Manhattan, and then a couple of us from the cast got the amazing honor of lighting the Empire State Building blue — I’m still pinching myself that I got to participate in that. It was one of the coolest experiences of my entire life.

Getting to see them all again in the moment was such a wonderful adrenaline rush and brought me unspeakable joy. And then Sunday hit and I came down so hard, because the reality set in that this was the last time this group of people would all be together in a room in this capacity, and it’s a great group of people.

I have talked about how amazing the cast is and how they are some of my nearest and dearest friends, because, of course, it’s 14 years of knowing the ins and outs of each other’s lives very intimately. But what I don’t talk about enough is how incredible our crew is. These are people that have been here the whole time and have grown with us behind the cameras, and they are the beating hearts of the show… bittersweet is a cliche word, but it’s an apt word, and I’m just grateful that it happened.

What an incredible experience for all of us. I feel mostly good. It happened. It’s the biggest blessing of my life and I’m excited to see where it leads me next.

WW: What was it like saying goodbye to your character, Baker?

AH: Saying goodbye to her is difficult, because she’s the woman that I want to be. She’s confident, she’s smart, she’s observant, she’s capable, she’s a problem solver, and she can come at any situation calmly and with grace… And that’s what I will miss, is just that confidence.