Jason Beghe

OF ‘CHICAGO P.D.’ ON NBC

As “Chicago P.D.” comes to the end of its ninth season, it seems that personal relationships are counting more than usual to your typically gruff character, Det. Sgt. Hank Voight. Do you see it that way?

There was a great line written by (executive producer) Gwen Sigan: “No man is an island, no matter how hard they try.” Certainly, Voight could

have been talking about himself.

Voight is full of love, and I’ve always said that. I think he’s totally motivated by love, and perhaps I’m a Pollyanna, but I think all people are. They just have different ways of expressing it and processing it. Voight loves his team, and he’d give his life for any one of them. And he loves Chicago. If I get psychological about him, it’s easier for him to love a

group than an individual.

How do you think Voight is in receiving affection from others?

It’s also easier for him to love than to let himself be loved. He keeps himself focused outward, he doesn’t do a lot of self-reflection, and that’s probably why he’s unapproachable in some ways. You don’t just come in and hug the guy. He’s got a wall around him, but it’s interesting that the wall is

beginning to crack. We shall see what happens, but there’s a lot of love there.

Still, do you think Voight puts too much focus on his job?

He’s probably more focused on it because it’s the only thing he has. He doesn’t get distracted. I suspect that even when he was married with a child, he was probably over-focused on his job. He’s functioning, but I think he’s a bit untethered to his emotional life, other than for things that are related to work. If a personal life leaked in, it would probably be uncomfortable for him. And that’s

interesting, because we don’t often see him not fully in control.