One half of the crime-busting duo in Rizzoli & Isles, Angie Harmon plays the tough-as-nails detective Jane Rizzoli. Among the first to be cast on the hit crime drama series, Harmon has no problem fitting into the part of the Boston detective.

While Harmon was one of the first actors cast on the hit crime drama, the road for Harmon to find her dream road would be a long one. Prior to being cast on Rizzoli & Isles, Harmon considered potentially retiring from acting altogether.

"I was pretty much getting ready to retire and thinking that I'm going to move back East with my kids and raise my little girls and go be a mommy," said Angie Harmon on her idea of leaving acting behind.

In the late 2000s, Angie Harmon had been a variety of guest star roles in television series such as Chuck, Samantha Who, and Fun With Dick and Jane. Looking for something more in her acting career, Harmon was determined to give one last push to find her dream lead role.

"I wasn't really finding the roles that I wanted to play really. So I just made a deal with God. I was like, 'Okay, I would love something on cable, shoot five months a year, and then I get to be mommy the rest of the time. I'd like to be funny and strong and intelligent.'"

The day after making this promise she would find the part of Jane Rizzoli waiting on her doorstep. Her manager, who was also her neighbor, had found her the funny, strong, and intelligent role of her dreams.

"It was very, very lucky, and I feel very lucky. I feel very blessed because you don't often get exactly what you wanted and hoped for."

Within just one read-through of the script, Harmon knew the part of Jane Rizzoli was for her.