Tina Huang On ‘Rizzoli & Isles,’ Angie Harmon, Playing A Nudist [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO]

Tina Huang plays Boston Police Department criminalist Susie Chang on Rizzoli & Isles, the woman-centered TNT series that continues to enjoy continued popularity and a devoted fanbase.

Tina Huang On Rizzoli & Isles

Of Rizzoli & Isles success, Huang told uInterview, “I think the audiences out there, audiences in general, are ready to see stories that involve real people. I mean, human beings, strong female leads. Just look at Mad Max.” Huang added, “Rizzoli and Isles shows two women that are friends, but also working professionals. It doesn’t show two women competing or being catty or fighting over a man or anything like that.”

Rizzoli & Isles also gives the female stars of the show layered and nuanced personalities. As for Huang’s senior criminalist character Susie, it would have been easy to write her off as the uptight office nerd, but it’s soon revealed that she’s got a lot more going on, including being a nudist.

“At first everyone thinks she’s like nerdy and buttoned-up, and actually she’s got all these really quirky interests you know,” said Huang, who admits she’s not nearly as comfortable with public nudity as her character. “She just doesn’t care how people see her at all. So it makes sense that she wouldn’t mind being naked around people. There’s like a sense of freedom for her. I mean I wish I had that for myself.”

Nudity aside, Susie is first and foremost an employee of the Boston Police Department, who works with the respected Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon) and Dr. Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander). While acting opposite Harmon, Huang admits that it’s sometimes hard to keep a straight face, particularly when they’re shooting a tense scene.

“Sometimes Angie and I can’t look at each other because we’ll crack each other up,” Huang explained. “The relationship between Jane and Susie is very strong, you know what I mean. Like Susie looks up to her, but she’s also fearful of her. But she also judges Rizzoli’s tactics. Because it’s so awkward between the two characters, Angie and I just can’t.”

The sixth season of Rizzoli & Isles, which premiered earlier this week, will be “pretty exciting” for her character, according to Huang.

“There’s going to be some major plot development with [Susie] so I hope everyone stays tuned,” Huang told uInterview. “There’s going to be like a killer from the past and Susie’s just like really good at her job, so it might get her into a little bit of trouble.”

Rizzoli & Isles airs Tuesdays on TNT at 9/8c.

Get Rizzoli & Isles: Season 5 here: