Actress Sophia Bush really puts her money where her mouth is. Originally starring in the hit TV series One Tree Hill brought Bush in the spotlight for almost a decade. She followed up the role with several movies, including John Tucker Must Die, which stars Jesse Metcalfe as the title hunk. She was in the short-lived Partners, from the creators of Will & Grace, before landing her latest small-screen hit.
NBC's spin-off from Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., has her playing Officer Erin Lindsay for a second season.
Nunn went on set to chat a bit with the talented activist during a long day of fighting crime.
Windy City Times: Hi, Sophia. You are shooting all day today?
Sophia Bush: Yeah, I am on a little break so we can chat.
WCT: First off, did you study with local police a lot for this role?
Sophia Bush: We did a ton of work. We came into Chicago and did a full week of boot camp with the CPD [Chicago Police Department] Intelligence Unit. We worked with really cool undercover officers that I can't talk to you about! [Laughs]
We did a very immersive training course and we have consultants that are set with us every day. We have police that are constantly breaking things down with us, working through motions, and talking about situations such as if they went into a warehouse where they would be looking and checking? It is really important and invaluable to us.
All of our stories come from real police. Some of this stuff is just so crazy. All of it comes from the police that we work with.
WCT: How do you feel this second season has grown from the first?
Sophia Bush: We all have been talking about how this season feels. It has taken a step up. Last season was great, but this season is fucking awesome! It is on a whole other level. I think it is because everyone has been marinating in it for long enough that it that so many things don't come with a question. You are starting to know these characters that are just in you and becomes second nature to you. You can respond in a way that you would respond.
We have such an amazing writing staff who has been so smart in the way that they've slow-drifted all of the information about who these people are. This season we are really getting into the meat of where our characters come from, why they are the way they are, and what sort of fires they were forged in, if you will. The audience is really loving it. We are really loving it because it feels juicy. We are getting a lot of liberties that were previously reserved for cable TV on a big network show that is capable of doing big network action. I think we are doing something really special.
WCT: The crossover with Chicago Fire is something different.
Sophia Bush: Yeah, it has never been done before. It is very cool.
WCT: Talk about your character on Chicago P.D.
Sophia Bush: Erin is a badass. She is very committed to the thing she believes in. Because she comes from such a rough background in childhood she understands how ugly the city and people can be. She believes in her own ability to change things. That's why she does her job and why she is so committed to it. It's why she believes in her lieutenant. Even if he may be appearing to bend the rules she knows he's always supporting the law. I think for her that is where her loyalties lay in.
WCT: How is working with your co-stars?
Sophia Bush: It is the best team. Everyone is unbelievable. We joke that we are peas in a pod. We said we might even go as that for Halloween, someone will be the pea pod and we will dress up as peas. I tell the guys that they would have to wear tights and they are not really into it but they like the concept.
We are tight. We became a family really fast. It is such a rare thing when everyone truly likes each other and even loves each other. It is not something you come across all the time. We are a pretty ride or die crew! We spend every waking moment on set together, then we leave work together and go to dinner together. We will make dinner together, tour a museum, or go to a show. We always want to be around each other. It is pretty amazing.
WCT: What have been some things you have enjoyed about Chicago?
Sophia Bush: I'm really an architecture fan and nerdall of the architecture in the city is inspiring to me. I go on the architecture boat tour regularly and try to get a different guide every time so I can learn different things every time I take it. It is about to get too cold to keep going on it. I try to jump on as often as I can. That is really a big part of it. The city has such a history and life to it. There is great art and music that comes through here as well. There is so much to do in Chicago. We don't have much time to experience it but we rally and try.
WCT: I work at an architecture firm so come visit us.
Sophia Bush: I would love to!
WCT: Michael Urie [her co-star in Partners] wanted me to tell you hi after he was recently in town here in Chicago.
Sophia Bush: My love.
WCT: Partners ended too soon.
Sophia Bush: Aw thanks. We loved it.
WCT: What do you think about gay marriage being passed in more states this week?
Sophia Bush: It has been fantastic. If you follow me on social media, you know I have been all over it. It is so silly we are having these debates at this day and age but at the end of the day love always wins and equality matters.
WCT: You weren't at the HRC [Human Rights Campaign] Chicago event recently. What happened?
Sophia Bush: I am not sure exactly what happened. Wires must have got crossed. I am on the host committee for the Global Citizen every year. So I was in New York on that Saturday.
The current thing we are running with the HRC is that I co-designed a T-shirt with Joe Fresh. We sold out our first run of the shirts in 10 hours. That was amazing to me and beyond thrilled that the fan base came out. Many people are putting their money where their mouth is because where you spend your money is really where you vote everyday. For people to show up for equality in such an amazing way and cause all of us to get on the phones asking for more shirts to be made was very exciting.
WCT: You have been such a big gay supporter with Prop 8.
Sophia Bush: Forever.
WCT: What started it? A lot of gay friends, possibly?
Sophia Bush: I have a lot of gay friends, and family. I think it is such am inane argument to be having in a world where we are looking famine and war. We see all of these horrific things globally everyday then we want to come down on two people for loving each other, committing their lives to each other, and wanting to adopt children who deserve homes. What are we fighting here? For me ever since I was knee high I never saw my parents relationships, my family or friend's relationships as being any different. Love is love. That is the point of our shirt. That is the point of the larger things I like to talk to people about.
WCT: You just did a video for Rock the Vote with "Turn Out For What." That looked fun.
Sophia Bush: I was very excited when they asked me to be a part of it. Who doesn't want to spend a day hanging out with Lil Jon and Lena Dunham?
WCT: You spoke out about women's rights for the video. How do you feel that fight is going?
Sophia Bush: It is something that is a part of every day. I feel that way for all of it. We were able to record this video about things we were passionate about. We talked about women's rights, the environment, and same sex marriage. Some people just see this as normal but for anyone that is effected by inequality you are hyper aware of it happening around you. I spend so much of my time on all of my social channels talking to women about how they feel and are challenged all the time in ways that men are not. I believe that is worth fighting. I feel the same when I talk to my gay friends and family who just want to be given the same human rights that I am given because I happen to be straight. That to me is worth fighting for.
I think it is important to remind people that if you don't vote then you are not actually utilizing your voice. I think we are in a special position to inspire young people to do that.
Watch Bush catch the bad guys on Chicago P.D. Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.