Jenna Dewan has been in Hollywood for over 20 years, but it’s her children who help her leave intense roles behind once she steps off set.
“Over the years, I’ve learned once I walk off the set, I sort of leave it on set,” Dewan, 44, told Us Weekly while promoting season 7 of The Rookie. “Mentally, it’s kind of [like] as soon as I’m done, I’m done.”
Dewan, who plays firefighter Bailey Nune on the ABC drama, admitted that some roles can be hard to shake, especially when dealing with dark storylines. That’s when she turns to her family to ground her.
“Having children is maybe the greatest antidote to this,” she said. “You come home, and they don’t really care [about your work]. They’re like, ‘What am I having for dinner? Give me a bath and read five books to me.’ So you naturally have to switch your brain.”
Dewan is a mom to daughter Everly, 11, whom she shares with ex-husband Channing Tatum, and son Callum, 4, and daughter Rhiannon, 8 months, with fiancé Steve Kazee.
Facing Dark Storylines on ‘The Rookie’
Season 7 of The Rookie took Dewan’s character, Bailey, into some of her darkest moments yet. After being kidnapped by her abusive ex-husband, Jason (played by Kazee), Bailey was forced to confront years of trauma. Though Jason was ultimately killed, his presence continued to haunt her—especially in the February 18 episode, where Bailey met another domestic violence survivor and finally accepted that she, too, had been a victim.
Dewan, who has spent time researching domestic abuse to better understand her character, said the role has given her new empathy for survivors.
“I felt like I gained a lot more insight and empathy into domestic violence victims just in the reading of the scenes and researching it,” she shared. “I hope that there are people—women and men—watching this who feel seen in some way, maybe even unlock something they didn’t think of before, and it helps them in their own life.”
Some fans have already reached out to Dewan, sharing personal experiences that mirror Bailey’s story. “I’ve gotten a couple messages from people saying, ‘I’ve been in a situation like this. I’ve had a [man] that’s really hunted me down and never let go. And you’re giving me hope that I can move on and find a relationship that’s healthy and sees me.’”
While she’s grateful for those conversations, Dewan admits they’re heartbreaking. “It’s devastating to think how many people are living with this kind of control and psychological [and] physical abuse in their homes.”
How Dewan Shakes Off Intense Roles
Dewan has learned how to transition from heavy roles back into her personal life by using specific self-care tactics.
“I can either reach out to somebody and talk on the phone or take a bath, take a long hot shower and [start] visualizing everything draining off me into the water,” she said. “There are some visualization techniques I’ve done after intense days on set.”
The Step Up actress called these methods part of her “toolbox” for handling tough scenes and ensuring they don’t linger in her mind.
While she’s able to leave Bailey’s pain behind when she comes home, she hopes The Rookie continues to shine a light on domestic violence and help survivors feel seen.