Exclusive: Melissa O’Neil Discusses K-Beauty, Radiance-Enhancing Serums, and Season 8 of ‘The Rookie’

Melissa O’Neil is stepping into her eighth season on ABC’s The Rookie, and she’s never been more compelling. As the hit series returns this January, O’Neil continues to anchor one of network TV’s most enduring dramas with a performance that’s as nuanced as it is powerful.

You may remember her as the youngest (and first female) winner of Canadian Idol, but O’Neil’s career since then tells a far more interesting story. It’s one of reinvention and quiet perseverance: a journey from pop stardom to musical theatre, and ultimately to becoming the emotional center of The Rookie opposite Nathan Fillion. Along the way, she’s subtly redefined what a “cop show” heroine can look like.

On screen, she plays Sergeant Lucy Chen, a character who has evolved from an underestimated rookie to a sharp, strategic leader. Season eight promises her most transformative arc yet, as Lucy steps into undercover work, navigates shifting power dynamics and confronts a question many women face: can ambition and intimacy truly coexist?

Off camera, O’Neil’s story is just as layered. A Chinese-Irish Canadian actress in a space where that representation is still rare, she’s built a primetime career on her own terms, moving steadily and intentionally through every chapter.

And when the cameras stop rolling, O’Neil finds balance in an unexpected place: tea ceremonies. The slow, mindful ritual offers a grounding counterpoint to her high-octane career—a reminder that presence, tradition, and intention are as much a part of her beauty as the roles she brings to life.

“We’re a really big show now. I think we have 10 or 11 series regulars, so it varies a lot from episode to episode. There are some where I’m in so much of it that every day is top to bottom. Depending on whether we’re on location or on the studio lot, days can start as early as 4:00 a.m., because you have to be there by 4:30 or 5:00.

For the most part, though, we have a very civil working environment. The cast is large, and a lot of people have families, so they really try to get everyone home for dinner when they can. It’s fairly balanced. That said, it can be really intense…and then there are stretches where you’re kind of hoping they’ll still use you on the show.”

“Honestly, it’s probably the best part of my day. My makeup artist, Judy Yonemoto, is an absolute industry legend. She’s been nominated for Emmys, she’s incredibly gifted, and she’s also—very respectfully—an elder in our community. She still fully hangs.

Sometimes she feels like Jackson Pollock. She’ll be doing bruises and injuries, and she’s so specific it looks completely real. I had a scene this season where I was really beat up, and when I walked onto set, everyone gave me a wide berth because I looked so messed up.

My days always start in Judy’s chair, with a healthy amount of gossip and catching up on what happened the night before. Then, I see my hair person, Ai—spelled A-I. Usually, hair is my ‘button,’ but that’s been refined over eight years. We’ve also gotten into heatless curls, so sometimes I show up and my hair is just…done. You just pull out the pool noodle, and you’re good to go.”

“Unfortunately, especially this season, that’s been something that’s had to go on the chopping block at times. But when I have more than half my mind about me, I really love having tea at dawn—actually, right before dawn. There’s something special about starting in the dark and finishing as the light changes. You’re suddenly in a completely different environment.

Energetically, there’s a special stillness when you’re up before the city wakes. That contrast is really good for me, especially because I can get overstimulated. Even if my work environment is intense, I know I have a place to reset.”

“When we’re really in it, coming home usually means learning lines for the next day, which honestly isn’t terrible. When you’re going episode to episode, back-to-back, you have just enough energy to wash your face…or sometimes not even that. I have absolutely fallen asleep with everything still on. I’ll show up the next day with tattoo makeup still on my body. I swear I do shower.

It’s a balance. Sometimes there’s no unwinding—you just sleep and get back up because tomorrow comes fast. I’m a person of contrast, though. I can go full tilt and then ease hard into relaxation. I’m a Cancerian, so I’m always ready to relax at home.”

“This is funny, because fans have been asking me this for years, and I’ve been kind of loath to give it up. But this feels fun to share. I really got into Korean beauty. I hesitate to even name the brand I use because I’ve heard the Korean girlies are like, ‘That’s drugstore stuff.’ But for me, it feels like an upgrade.

I also love the Dr. Dennis Gross peel pads—they’re amazing. And I know it’s insanely expensive, but the SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic was a total game-changer. I was like, ‘Yes, brighten me forever.’ I’m prone to sun spots, so I’m always trying to tackle them.

It’s hard to do in-office skin treatments while filming because you can’t have recovery time, but I love Dr. Ellie in Los Angeles. She runs Qi Acupuncture & Herbs. You go in, she lays you down, does acupuncture, cleans your face, then brings out all the Korean machines everyone’s obsessed with. You walk out feeling restored—and somehow your face is a different shape! She’s amazing. She also just launched her own brand, MIMOH.”

“Wait—there’s one more brand I need to shout out! [Dieux’s] Instant Angel. I’m obsessed. Cannot have enough. I love everything, and I love the woman behind it. I’m so nerdy about her and all her skin education.

As for what’s ahead, I’m really excited about the holidays. I’m hosting a group of 12—I love bringing people together. And of course, our show is launching on January sixth. When you’re making a show, you’re working in a vacuum, so you never really know how it’s landing. Everything I’ve heard is that people love the cuts, so I’m hopeful.

After that, I’ve got a huge off-season itinerary—hopefully an off-season. Sword training, conventions, traveling to meet fans. There’s a lot going on, and I’m really excited about all of it.”

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