After guest starring within the Chicago universe, Toya Turner joins Chicago P.D. as series regular
NBC’s ‘Chicago P.D.’ is set to introduce Toya Turner (‘New Amsterdam,’ ‘Warrior Nun’) as a series regular for its upcoming 12th season. Turner will take on the role of police officer Kiana Cook, a character who thrives on the adrenaline and high stakes of the job.
Turner is no stranger to the ‘One Chicago’ universe. She has previously appeared in ‘Chicago Fire’ and ‘Chicago Med,’ although she played entirely different characters in those shows. Her addition to ‘Chicago P.D.’ comes in the wake of Tracy Spiridakos’s departure as Detective Hailey Upton in the Season 11 finale, following eight seasons on the show. This follows Jesse Lee Soffer’s earlier exit as Jay Halstead, Upton’s former husband.
‘Chicago P.D.’ centers on the elite Intelligence Unit of District 21 as they tackle the city’s most heinous crimes, including organized crime, drug trafficking, and high-profile murders. The current ensemble cast features Jason Beghe as Sgt. Hank Voight, LaRoyce Hawkins as Officer Kevin Atwater, Marina Squerciati as Officer Kim Burgess, Patrick John Flueger as Officer Adam Ruzek, Benjamin Levy Aguilar as Officer Dante Torres, and Amy Morton as Desk Sergeant Trudy Platt.
Fans of the show have long hoped for a romantic storyline for Officer Kevin Atwater, portrayed by LaRoyce Hawkins. With Turner’s arrival, there is speculation that her character Kiana Cook might be a potential love interest for Atwater. Only time will tell if romance will blossom between the two.
Turner’s recent work includes her role in Netflix’s ‘Warrior Nun.’ She has also appeared in a variety of TV series such as NBC’s ‘New Amsterdam,’ Netflix’s ‘Easy,’ Fox’s ‘The Mick,’ and ‘Empire.’ Additionally, Turner starred in the indie film ‘Dead Women Walking,’ which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2018.
An alum of the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University, Turner has a rich background in theater as well. She has performed in productions like ‘Raisin in the Sun’ at A Noise Within Theater in Los Angeles and ‘Blues for An Alabama Sky’ at Court Theater in Chicago. She is represented by Greene Talent, Anonymous Content, and Goodman Genow Schenkman Smelkinson.
The 12th season of ‘Chicago P.D.’ will premiere on Wednesday, September 25 at 10/9c.