‘Blue Bloods’: The Dramatic Way Vanessa Ray Got the Part of Eddie Janko

When you see your favorite Blue Bloods actors on television, you likely don’t think about how they got to where they are today. What you might not know is a lot of blood, sweat, and tears goes into snagging one of the most coveted roles on TV. Here’s what actress Vanessa Ray said about the dramatic way she got the part of Eddie Janko on CBS’ Blue Bloods.

How Vanessa Ray became famous

Vanessa Ray made her acting debut in a 2003 short video titled The Sparky Chronicles: The Map. In 2008, she made her film debut in the movie Finding Chance, in which she played the character Katrina. The actress made her television series debut in a 2009 episode of the show Bored to Death. Ray landed a recurring role on the series The Battery’s Down, in which she played the role of Vanessa from 2008 to 2009. Ray began playing the character Eddie Janko on Blue Bloods in 2013. Her other television appearances include As the World Turns, Suits, and Pretty Little Liars.

How Vanessa Ray got the part of Eddie Janko on Blue Bloods

In an interview with CBS Watch! magazine, Ray shared the exciting story of how she snagged her dream job on Blue Bloods. The actress was persistent in her pursuit of a job on the show:

I auditioned on tape and then went to meet with CBS in Los Angeles. The day I went in for my callback, the casting director got stuck in an elevator and they were like, “Maybe we should reschedule for tomorrow.” But sometimes as an actor you’re like, No! I’m ready right now and I don’t want to come back tomorrow. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but I know today I can get this job. So, I waited on the CBS lot for two hours until the fire department got the casting director out of the elevator and then I was like, “Ready?” And I got it!

Vanessa Ray says she didn’t know Blue Bloods would last so long

During an interview on The Rhode Show, Ray spoke about the success of Blue Bloods and her thoughts on playing Eddie Janko. When asked if she ever thought the show would last as long as it did, she said she had no idea but she’s thankful for the opportunity. “I had no idea that I would be blessed enough to be on a show that’s so well-loved and running so long. It’s a pretty cool gig to get. It’s kind of like winning the lottery as an actor. I’m really grateful,” said Ray. Here’s a look at her interview on The Rhode Show.

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