Jaina Lee Ortiz has become a familiar face on television. The actress, who was raised in New York, leads the hit series Station 19, now in its seventh season, an impressive run in an era where many shows struggle to pull the necessary numbers to stay on air. Now she is stepping into a new chapter with “RJ Decker,” a crime drama led by Scott Speedman, finding Ortiz at her most alluring and deceptive.
R.J. DECKER stars Bevin Bru as Melody ‘Mel’ Abreu, Adelaide Clemens as Catherine Delacroix, Scott Speedman as R.J. Decker, Kevin Rankin as Aloysius ‘Wish’ Aiken, and Jaina Lee Ortiz as
Emilia ‘Emi’ Ochoa. (Disney/Justin Stephens)
The series follows its titular character, a former news photographer whose life takes a dramatic turn after he is convicted of assault in the opening minutes of the pilot. After serving time in prison, RJ reinvents himself as a private investigator, navigating a world of shady characters and dangerous secrets, all set against the unpredictable and wild backdrop of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Ortiz plays Emi Ochoa, a mysterious woman whose actions play a key role in RJ’s imprisonment. It is a decision that continues to haunt their relationship as the story unfolds.
In a conversation with HOLA!, Ortiz opened up about the new ABC series, the secrets behind her enigmatic character, the thrill of portraying Florida on screen, and why representation for the Latino community remains a topic close to her heart.
Ex-con photographer RJ Decker becomes a PI in South Florida, solving strange cases with help from his journalist ex, her cop wife, and an enigmatic woman from his past who may help or destroy him.
Your character has a really memorable introduction. Can you tell me a little bit about her?
Right off the bat, Emi comes in and you’re like, ‘Who is this woman?’ She’s mysterious, dark, sexy, confident. She seems a little bit calculated and manipulative. But there’s always a reason behind people’s actions.
She enters the story with a clear agenda, although we don’t fully know what it is yet. When we see her again two years later, she’s trying to make amends. She offers an olive branch and says, ‘Can we start over?’
When I approached the character, I felt that she knew what she was doing — but she didn’t realize how far things would go. In my mind, she’s thinking, ‘I’m going to trap this man in order to protect my brother and my dad,’ which the audience doesn’t know yet.
But then she realizes something unexpected: this man is actually kind, genuine, charming… and hot. (laughs)
So there’s this moment where she’s almost like, ‘This sucks because you actually seem like a good guy — but I still have to do this.’
Two years later, her walls start coming down. That’s when she returns to him and says, “Look, I can help you. I’m well-connected, I have resources — let’s start over.”
As we’ve discussed, at first she seems a bit untrustworthy, but she’s always very likable. Did you talk with the writers or directors about achieving that balance of a sweet femme fatale?
Not really. We had some conversations, but very few.
I kind of jumped into this new world, a new show, new characters, and tried to figure out what the creatives wanted while also trusting my instincts.
What I like about her is that she has so many secrets and tricks up her sleeve. You never really know what she’s going to do next, which keeps me guessing as an actor. That makes the role really exciting and challenging.
Jaina Lee Ortiz and Scott Speedman are both a part of the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ TV franchise
You’re also working with Scott Speedman. You’ve both been part of the Grey’s Anatomy universe. What was it like working together this time?
This was actually my first time working with Scott. We were in the same universe before, and we shared scenes with a lot of the same actors from the Grey’s Anatomy world, but we had never worked together directly.
He’s wonderful to work with. Scott comes prepared; he’s done the work, and every moment with him feels spontaneous.
Each scene feels new and surprising, and I love that. It keeps everything fresh and helps you stay present as an actor.
Do you have any favorite memories from filming so far?
We’ve been filming a lot of scenes outside at night, and it’s freezing. But we have to dress like it’s hot Florida weather, which has been a challenge because I hate the cold. (laughs)
We did get to shoot in Florida once, and we’re going back again this month. Those moments have definitely been my favorites.
There’s one scene where I’m driving a Porsche, my character drives a Porsche, which I love. I wasn’t actually driving it, though, the car was being pulled by another vehicle for the shot, but it still felt really fun.
Florida almost feels like a character on the show. Can you talk about that atmosphere?
Florida is absolutely a character in the show. It’s vibrant, colorful, weird, wild, and sexy. You never know what crazy thing is going to happen or who it’s going to come from.
I’m not crazy about the alligators, though; they scare me. (laughs)
But there’s also that cultural side of Florida. The Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Caribbean influences give it this incredible flavor. That kind of environment feels like home to me, so I love that the show can capture that and bring it into the story.
You’re a strong advocate for the Latino community. Why is that something that you’ve prioritized in your career?
Even though there still aren’t as many opportunities as we’d like for our community in this industry, it’s incredibly important for us to show up for one another. When one of us wins, we all win.
I love being able to represent our community, but I’m also deeply inspired by the people who came before us, the generations that opened doors and helped pave the way for where we are today.
It’s always going to be a fight, but celebrating each other’s successes makes us stronger.
As an actress and a Latina, what kinds of roles do you hope to play in the future?
I’d love to explore the horror genre. I loved seeing actresses like Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega in that space. [Referencing the ‘Scream’ franchise]
Honestly, I’m open to anything that feels challenging and exciting. I have a film coming out in November called Archangel, where I play a widowed mother. It’s the first time I’ve played a mom. She goes through a lot of trauma, and I love stories with high stakes, so give me a role with high stakes, and I’m in (laughs).
© Disney
© Disney
© Disney
