'SWAT': What is Lina Esco's next project? Actress who played 'Chris' Alonso exits show
Sad news for the S.W.A.T. fans! It has been confirmed that Original S.W.A.T. cast member Lina Esco who played officer Christine “Chris” Alonso is exiting the CBS drama after five seasons. The news isn’t much of a surprise as the show had been hinting at her exit for some time now.
Last week’s episode indicated that Chris is going to leave the team to begin a new path in life. She revealed to her colleague and best friend Jim Street that she had decided to leave S.W.A.T. to run the local safe house for immigrant women fleeing bad situations. She is essentially taking over from Mama Pina, the woman who used to run the shelter but is now hospitalized. The season finale episode 'Farewell' directed by Billy Gierhart showed Chris’s exit storyline.
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Lina Esco portrayed Christina Alonso who was a member of the K-9 Platoon before joining S.W.A.T. Being the only female officer in S.W.A.T., her character was tough, dedicated, and ambitious. She always pushed herself to near perfection when it came to her S.W.A.T. skills to earn the respect of her male teammates. An early Season 1 episode also revealed she is bisexual, having dated both men and women.
In her Instagram, Esco said, “Bringing to life a strong, smart, bisexual character like Chris Alonso has been both a pleasure and a powerful opportunity to increase visibility for diverse women everywhere. Five years later, I am leaving S.W.A.T. to pursue new creative endeavors. Chris never backs down from the unknown and as an actor and director, I’m excited to step out of my comfort zone and embark on a new chapter, too”. She shared that quiting the show was "one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make.” She also thanked her S.W.A.T. family and the fans for an incredible journey.
The S.W.A.T. showrunners also issued a statement where they thanked and praised her for her thrilling performances as well as a terrific job directing an episode. “What Lina brought to the show, and what Chris represented to our audience, are hard to replace. We’ll miss Chris, but we’ll especially miss Lina, as we wish her the best of luck with everything she chooses to do next.”
Esco had mentioned that she is leaving the show to pursue new endeavors. While it has not been revealed what her new projects will be, fans are rooting for whatever the talented actress will do next. S.W.A.T. fans will sure miss her in the show, which was renewed for a sixth season in early April.
