‘Chicago Med’ interview: Torrey DeVitto on Natalie’s goals, more ‘carefree’ place
Tonight, the “Chicago Med” fall finale is coming up on NBC, and while we don’t have any further teases beyond what we’ve already brought to the table, here’s a reminder: Tonight, Natalie Manning and Will Halstead are going to be working together in order to try and help resolve a case involving two brothers who don’t always get along, but are brought together when one of them needs a transplant.
This season overall has been different for Dr. Manning, given that she’s over more of her grief, she’s looking at different avenues in life, and above all, she’s in a slightly happier place. This is something that we spoke briefly with Torrey DeVitto about while on set for One Chicago Day earlier this fall.
CarterMatt – In general, is Natalie going to be a little happier moving forward than we’ve seen her through most of season 1?
Torrey DeVitto – It’s funny. When we first did the table read for the first episodes of the season … There was a comment about Natalie’s state of mind. I stopped and was like ‘was I so miserable last year?’ and they were like ‘yes!’. I think because I was playing her I didn’t realize just what a place she was in. I mean, I knew it, but I [couldn’t see] it from an outside perspective.
“She is definitely in a different state of mind this year. She’s dating and a little more carefree. It’s fun.
What’s Natalie striving for professionally now? Is there anything more that she is hoping to achieve?
I think it’s day-to-day. Writing-wise and story-wise, what I like is that they’re allowing her to mess up a little bit more and not be so perfect and so by the book. I say ‘I’m totally Halsteading this year’ because she makes so many mistakes. He made so many last year, so I’m like ‘oh! I’m totally being like Halstead.’ They’re allowing her to be more human in the medical world. She’s relying more on her gut and instinct. Maybe that has to do with her being a mother now, and letting her emotions get involved. Also, [she’s] working with kids.
Are doing the crossovers particularly exhausting or overwhelming?
No, because I don’t have to the schedules for them (laughs). I was actually on my plane the other day and I was watching the planes land: This one would go, and then this one would land and we were waiting to go. I was like ‘wow, our crossovers are like air traffic control.’ This is what they must be like — ‘now go. Put this actor here.’ I don’t know how they schedule it. It’s a little intense.