Since Tracy Spiridakos joined NBC‘s crime drama Chicago P.D. near the end of Season 4, her character Hailey Upton has become one of the most talked-about parts of the series. Over five seasons she’s evolved to become one of the Intelligence Unit’s most important members and the right-hand woman of team leader Hank Voight. Some fans love the character while others strongly dislike her, yet the whole audience can agree that Spiridakos’ performances are always excellent. But can they convince the Television Academy of that?
The actors of the One Chicago franchise have consistently been overlooked by the Emmy Awards. Their snubs aren’t hugely shocking since network TV procedurals don’t attract much critical buzz in general. Even Dick Wolf’s venerable Law & Order franchise hadn’t gotten any Emmy love until Mariska Hargitay won the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series trophy in 2006. But Spiridakos has been handed big episode after big episode in Chicago P.D. Season 9, delivering the kind of strong, emotional performances Emmy voters love, so could she be the one who brings an Emmy to Chicago?
Spiridakos’ Season 9 arc actually started at the end of Season 8, when Upton was forced to shoot Roy Walton, who had abducted and tortured her Intelligence Unit colleague Kim Burgess (in another example of Burgess being traumatized). Though her actions saved Voight’s life, Upton was deeply affected both by the shooting and the subsequent cover-up. Season 9 has seen the character fall apart and have to build herself back up again, which has given Spiridakos a wide range of emotions to play. Upton may have been stone-faced when she was questioned by the FBI, but Chicago P.D. also showed her frustrated with Voight and having a panic attack due to the ongoing stress caused by the situation.
More recently, Upton has seemed like she’s coming back to her former self, but she’s continued to struggle with lasting effects from the Roy Walton situation and just the general wear and tear of being so deep into Intelligence. Season 9, Episode 13, “Still Water” saw Upton dive into a freezing river to save a man in a sinking car — only to find out later that he’d actually carjacked the woman she hadn’t been able to get out of the vehicle. She was clearly affected by saving a criminal instead of the innocent victim. And yet, when the man tried to kill Upton, she still saved him from drowning a second time. Spiridakos has done an incredible job at showing in her performance all the little things that Chicago P.D. wants viewers to understand are going through Hailey Upton’s head.
Upton’s storyline has definitely become a large part of Chicago P.D., which has been a point of contention for some fans who feel that she gets more attention than other characters. For example, Upton was forced to lie to Burgess and tell her that Roy Walton was still alive and at large — but the series didn’t explore Burgess’ fears as much as it did Upton’s distress. Yet whatever issues viewers may have with the writing in Season 9, they don’t alter the fact that Tracy Spiridakos has gotten the absolute most out of her character. She’s done just about everything one could do on a network TV show, from action sequences to romantic moments in Upton’s marriage to partner Jay Halstead.
Hailey Upton has gone from seeming like Erin Lindsay’s replacement after Sophia Bush’s departure to a three-dimensional protagonist in her own right, and Spiridakos’ talent and charisma have kept the character worth watching even when fans don’t agree with what Upton has done or aren’t sure what’s going on with her. While Emmy voters may not immediately think of Tracy Spiridakos and Chicago P.D. the next time they’re making Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nominations, it’d be nice if they at least gave her some consideration. Just because she’s not a typical Emmy nominee doesn’t mean she hasn’t done memorable work.
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