'Emergence': 'Fargo' star Allison Tolman avoided 'mothers, wives and best friends' to focus on roles that simulate her
Allison Tolman is not your average TV lead, but she is definitely your average police chief—and that's exactly who she portrays in ABC's upcoming 'Emergence.'
Jo Evans is a newly-divorced police chief and mother to a teenager who develops kinship and affection towards a mysterious young girl that is being hunted by dangerous people.
It is no coincidence that this seemingly perfect role landed on Tolman's lap. The talented actress, who first made us take notice of her with her role as police officer Molly Solverson in the first season of critically acclaimed 'Fargo', has always portrayed characters that add value to a story. She has confirmed that she has had to turn down many "mothers, wives and best friends" roles to focus on work that simulates her.
As Solverson, Tolman delivered a very calm and contained performance throughout the show, and in moments even managed to outshine Billy Bob Thornton. The role landed her Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, making her the star to hire in the years to come. However, she was selective with her work, and her IMDb page is a testament to that.
While her role as Captain Olivia Crawford, Captain Raymond Holt's (Andre Braugher) nemesis in NBC's 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' is hilarious, the poignant story of Mary Pat from 'Good Girls' inspires empathy and intermittently annoyance. She makes every character memorable even on a two-episode arch, and it is easy to see why she is the perfect choice for Jo.
She delivers the quiet authority of a police chief believably and weaves it with the compassion and tenderness of a loving mother in 'Emergence.' This would be the first time she gets to portray a main character from the beginning to the end of a story on TV after 2014's 'Fargo' Season 1.
Make sure you catch Tolman's officer Jo on NBC's 'Emergence' on Tuesday, September 24.