Lori Loughlin is showing off a new skill set on Dick Wolf‘s newest procedural On Call.
“I don’t get offered roles like this,” Loughlin, 60, exclusively told Us Weekly about playing Lieutenant Bishop on the upcoming Prime Video show. “Throughout my career, people [have] seen me as the girl next door.”
Loughlin explained that she has nothing but gratitude for her past projects, but she was excited to try something new.
“I’m not complaining. I feel very blessed for the career that I’ve had but it was a wonderful opportunity for me to play a completely different role,” she explained. “I was shocked to even get the offer. [My costar and On Call director] Eriq [La Salle] was instrumental in bringing me on board. I’m so thankful that Dick Wolf and everyone at Wolf Entertainment also agreed to bring me on board.”
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The actress became a household name after playing Rebecca on ABC’s hit sitcom Full House. From there, Loughlin continued to deliver scene-stealing performances in Summerland, 90210, When Calls the Heart and Fuller House.
On Call allowed Loughlin to push herself further in a gritty cop drama that utilizes bodycam, dash-camera and cellphone footage to connect the viewer to the material. Loughlin plays a woman in a position of power while in a male-dominated field.
“For me, playing this strong character, at first, was a bit of a challenge. It didn’t come to me naturally,” Loughlin admitted to Us. “Eriq was very instrumental in helping me find her voice. At first, I was definitely not on solid ground and Eriq was my cheerleader. He just kept pushing me in a direction and he was like, ‘You know what? It is OK. You’re going to be unapologetic. You’re going to find your strength. You can do this.”
She added: “Once it clicked and it settled in for me, I was off and running and I am really proud of the work.”
Loughlin credited Salle, 62, for his support as a costar and director, noting, “It was a dream. He was there for all of us — especially being an actor himself. It wasn’t just visually being responsible for the way the show looks but then he was really able to take the time with each one of us to really help us carve out our characters. It was amazing. He wore many hats and made it look so effortless.”
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According to Salle, Loughlin’s effortless skills as an actor made the job easy for him.
“Even my assistant is just so enamored of Lori. So when she got to see this part of her, she just gave me the best quote. She goes, ‘That ain’t Aunt Becky anymore.’ But that was the goal,” he told Us. “The writers gave us the feast and it was up to us and how we decided to eat it. And that was the fun part.”
In addition to Loughlin and Salle — who plays Sergeant Lasman — On Call also stars Troian Bellisario and Brandon Larracuente in Wolf Entertainment’s first scripted streaming series. Loughlin’s costars were thrilled at the chance to share the screen with her in the visceral series.
“Lori was incredible,” Bellisario, 39, recalled to Us. “She shows up and she’s sweet as pie. She’s stunning and gorgeous but then she turns around as Lieutenant Bishop and she can absolutely bite your head off. She was such a talent to be working with.”
On Call starts streaming on Prime Video Thursday, January 9, 2025.
