Miranda Rae Mayo reveals what it’s like to be a part of the Chicago shared television universe
Shared universes have been all the rage since Samuel L. Jackson dropped the A-bomb (i.e. “Avengers”) at the end of 2008’s “Iron Man.” Since then, most of these universes have taken over. holds one corner or another of the sci-fi space, whether it’s an expansion of the “Star Wars” cinematic universe or the connection of various comic properties in the Arrowverse of CW.
However, there is a shared universe that exists firmly in a more realistic world and is arguably one of the most successful. We’re talking, of course, about One Chicago, the bridge to several Dick Wolf-produced NBC dramas featuring famous urban first responders in the Midwest. It debuted with “Chicago Fire” in 2012 and has since grown to include “Chicago Med,” as well as “Chicago P.D.” and the ill-fated “Chicago Justice.” Each show has crossed over with at least one of the other shows and there have been multiple three-hour events, some of which combine to create one epic story.
How does it feel to be a part of such a vast fictional television universe? To find out, we spoke to actor Miranda Rae Mayo, who plays firefighter Stella Kidd on “Chicago Fire.”
One Chicago, many vibes
Although the One Chicago shows all share a common theme, they can vary in tone due to the difference in atmosphere between a hospital and a fire station. According to Mayo, that difference extends to the feeling of working on different properties. “It’s like visiting different cities in the United States where it’s all American, but New York has a certain pace and Nashville has a certain pace,” she said. “We’re all in the same country, we speak the same language, we’re largely governed by the same laws. We’re all in the same world, but each region has its own sense of different. The culture is a little different.”
Apparently, this feeling can extend to social interactions outside of filming. “I was once at a dinner party where almost everyone there was from the ‘Med.’” “They were very intelligent and serene, and there was a very similar sense of energy to the evening,” recalls Mayo. performances and their contexts. Meanwhile, at the ‘Fire’ party back in the day, we were like being loud and making jokes, and jumping up and throwing things. And it’s a lot noisier, which makes sense—we’re firefighters, we’re breaking things, we’re very physical, very visceral.
Miranda Rae Mayo’s ‘SVU’ ambitions
So far, the Stella Kidd character hasn’t done much beyond some of her fellow One Chicago stars, having appeared briefly on “Chicago Med” and “Chicago P.D.”. However, when Miranda Rae Mayo was asked what her dream look might entail, her answer was a bit zigzag when you think it might be off the mark, and she went on to highlight one Other works by Dick Wolf with which the show One Chicago shared story lines.
“I think the best thing would happen if they called and needed some expert opinion on ‘SVU,’” Mayo said. “If there was a case that happened at ‘SVU’ and they needed to talk to an officer with very specific knowledge. I had never thought about that before, but it was the first thing that came to my mind. I want to go see Mariska. “
“Chicago Fire” airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC.
