Chicago P.D.’s Toya Turner Previews Cook’s ‘Scary’ Undercover Case
Officer Kiana Cook is new to the Intelligence unit, but Chicago P.D. isn’t wasting any time throwing her into the fray once more.
In this Wednesday’s episode (NBC, 10/9c), when Torres’ informant/lover Gloria (guest star Yara Martinez) resurfaces, Cook goes undercover since she’s the only one on the team whom Gloria doesn’t know. Out on her own among potentially dangerous criminals, having to pretend to be clueless, leads to a “scary” situation for Cook, her portrayer Toya Turner previews below.
Read on as the new series regular talks about joining the long-running drama, delving into Cook’s past and which #OneChicago stars she’s eager to work with.
TVLINE | You and your character are sort of on parallel journeys in that you’re both coming into this team that’s been together for a while. Have you been able to apply any lessons from your character’s story while adjusting as a new cast member in this ensemble?
Yes. I think there’s a journey that Kiana’s going through that I’m going through, too. Just like I’m finding my way on the show, she’s finding her way through this unit and finding [her] confidence again. As tough as she appears or seems, I think there was a lot of doubt instilled in her because of what happened with Montgomery, and I feel like, me finding my way in this new environment that has been as supportive as it has been, personally for me, it’s me kind of, like, just owning my confidence a little bit more by stepping into it. This is an environment for me to express myself and explore this character as much as possible, and I just have to trust it. So I think that’s something that’s been happening is me just finding my way and finding my confidence in the character. I feel like that’s what’s going on with Kiana, too. She’s trying to get back to that confident person that she was before Montgomery.
TVLINE | Your first two episodes were very intense in different ways. What is Cook facing with this week’s case? And how does this experience compare to those other ones?
There’s some physical challenges in here, but it’s more of a mental challenge that she has to do. I have to get into this role where I’m not a cop, I’m not as a observant, I’m not as aware of what’s in front of me or around me. I have to play it off as if I’m not taking in as much as I’m taking in. So I think that’s very, very different. They allowed me to turn up my southern twang a little bit, which is fun. But just towing the line between when I can be a cop and when I shouldn’t be is the tricky part [for Cook in this episode].
TVLINE | As a patrol officer, she doesn’t have a ton of undercover experience, I would assume. So how is she handling the pressure of that?
Yeah, I would say she doesn’t have any undercover experience at all. Definitely not on tact, either. I think there’s an excitement about it. One, the fact that she’s being trusted with such a big jump, that’s a lot of trust [to] put into someone who’s new. She’s excited about it, excited to be involved and excited to be able to do something different already. Personally, there’s a lot of excitement, and to get to see what happens if she’s not good at it, I think that’ll be interesting.
TVLINE | Who on the team is there for her through this process? She’s formed a couple of bonds already with Ruzek and Torres.
Yeah, it’s interesting. I can’t give too much away about who has really bonded in this episode. She does go back to the bullpen and talk, but I feel like once she gets undercover, she is kind of just out there on her own, to be honest. I think there’s a lot of trust in Voight for giving me the opportunity to do it, and even though me and my boy don’t have a lot of lines, Atwater is very supportive in this, as well. But I would say that she’s kind of on her own a little bit, which is scary.
TVLINE | I’m curious to learn more about Kiana. Is there an episode that sheds more light on her personal life, her background? How much are they delving into where she comes from and who she is?
They’re gonna delve into it. It’s really nice that [showrunner] Gwen [Sigan] is trusting me with so much, so early on. So trust me, they’re going to dig into her background, and they’re going to get into her upbringing. They’re going to get into family dynamics, and it’s going to be nice.
TVLINE | You have joined not just Chicago P.D., but an entire franchise. So is there anybody from Fire or Med that you would love to have scenes with?
Yes, S. Epatha [Merkerson]! My mom was like, “You got to do an episode with her!”… She’s one of the, like, OG Dick Wolf women! I really want to work with her! [Laughs] So bad! And actually, Taylor Kinney. I’ve seen him walking about, and I met him once on the street, and he was just so sweet, and I was like, “I would love to work with him.” And then also Daniel [Kyri] because we’re both from Chicago, and I actually know Daniel.
I love this character she adds a lot of realness to the series.
Toya is a welcome addition to the series!