Angie Harmon fits the role of Jane Rizzoli like no one else could. Her seemingly effortless ability when performing as Rizzoli most likely comes from her love of acting in law enforcement roles. Having started her acting career as an ADA on Law & Order followed by another detective role on Women's Murder Club prior to Rizzoli & Isles, Harmon can't get enough of chasing the bad guys. 

While much of her talent comes from the years of experience she's had with similar roles, Harmon credits her success to the real life homicide detective training she had. Prior to filming the first season of Rizzoli & Isles Angie Harmon had on the ground training and experience with the Boston homicide unit.

Angie Harmon told Vulture ‘I actually did a lot of research with the Boston homicide unit, and they were kind enough to let me go with crime scenes and hang out with the bodies. And it was so fascinating and so incredible. And if I didn’t do this, I would actually try to be a homicide detective. It’s the greatest job in the world."

Harmon wasn’t afraid to show her love and appreciation for homicide detectives. Wanting to push herself even further in her training she was always looking for more opportunities during her research.

‘I’d hear sirens in the middle of the night and would text the detective I was working with like, “This has got to be something! Let’s go! Let’s go!” And he’d be like, “Yeah, it’s a dead body in Dorchester, but it’s still going to be dead when we get there, so relax.”

Needless to say her time training with the Boston PD greatly paid off. Not only did she go on to become a TV crime drama icon as Jane Rizzoli but it would also eventually land her a Gracie Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama Series. Maybe one day if Harmon ever decides she's finished with acting she can pick up her homicide detective training where she left off and become the real Jane Rizzoli.