NCIS: Sydney star Olivia Swann has teased some major revelations for her character Agent Michelle Mackey throughout the second season.
The latest NCIS spin-off, this time set in Australia, sees American agents Mackey and DeShawn Jackson (played by Sean Sagar) investigating crimes Down Under.
Teaming up with JD Dempsey (Todd Lasance) and Evie Cooper (Tuuli Narkle) of the Australian Federal Police, season two will raise the stakes with even more intense missions and the franchise’s signature crime-solving.
Now the series is back on Paramount+, viewers can expect to see Mackey start to loosen up a little more, after she established herself as one of the most hardened Special Agents-in-Charge the franchise has ever introduced.
In an exclusive interview with Express Online, Swann teased: “So, with season two what I love is that we obviously know Mackey for being so strong and hardcore and she has this outer-shell that you can’t penetrate.
“What I love about season two is, because of the intensity of episode one where we start, we reveal so much more about her. We see more vulnerability. We get to peel back the layers and see what’s underneath the armour.
“It makes her an even more compelling character to watch because we get some of the lightness and humour that exists inside of her. I loved being able to bring that out and play that.”
Throughout the first season, fans saw Mackey slowly developing a friendship with socially awkward forensic scientist Blue Gleeson (Mavournee Hazel), although her partnership with JD is still far from perfect.
While Mackey still has to put on a steely outer shell to lead her team efficiently, Swann promises she’ll become a little more relatable as fans start to get to know her better.
“I mean, the shell is still there,” she says. “It will always be there, but that’s what makes those moments where we do see the lightness and the fun that she has – and she has a lot of fun this season – it makes it so much more amazing to see and so much more compelling.
“It feels like such a departure from the Mackey we know, but it’s really cool to make that part of her and we come to love that.”
Fans were also heartbroken to learn about Roy Penrose’s (William McInnes) difficult life away from the office after he’s forced to check his wife into a dementia care unit. Could Mackey have a similarly tragic storyline this season?
When asked if we’ll find out more about Mackey’s family this year, Swann shared: “Oh always, I always am so ready to learn more about Mackey.
“And potentially we do in season two, we’ll have to find out.”
Finally, teasing the later episodes, she added: “There’s many a twist in this season. And it’s actually so cool to be able to say we really swing for the fences. And we take everything up to another level.
“So, literally, episode one we kind of throw you into the action, into the intensity, and it just ramps up. The finale of season two is truly next level.”
Swann signed off by confirming she’s eager to return for a third season, so fans will have to keep on tuning in to guarantee more missions with Mackey and the Sydney squad.
NCIS: Sydney season 2 continues Fridays on Paramount+.