GREAT FALLS – After 14 seasons and nearly 300 episodes, the CBS hit series “Blue Bloods” is in the home stretch of its great streak. A large part of the success of the New York City-set police family drama can be attributed to stars like Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg and Bridget Moynahan.

But the series also features an incredibly talented supporting cast, including Abigail Hawk, who plays the recurring role of Detective Abigail Baker.

End of an era: 'Blue Bloods' star reflects on TV show's success

“She doesn’t judge a book by its cover, but she can. She absolutely can,” Hawk said in a recent interview with MTN. “And she has great sarcasm and wit that she just keeps in her back pocket and expresses when needed.

The Atlanta-born actress describes her character as the smartest person in the room, which co-star Tom Selleck affectionately calls the mistress of subtext.

After 14 years on the show, she says it's hard to believe it's coming to an end.

“Obviously it changed the course of my life. It's strange not seeing my best friends every day. Super weird,” Hawk said. “But you know, the overwhelming feeling I feel right now is gratitude that it happened.”

Abigail says that when she read the last episode, she sobbed.

“You will shed a tear. I’ll leave it at that,” Hawk said.

She called it a well-written, perfect ending. She says besides a great cast with great lyrics, it's the nostalgia of family dinners that has kept “Blue Bloods” going for so long.

“I think it's really, really important and a lesson that we can all understand that the Reagans really take the time and take the time to reconnect, to pause and just take their feet off of it for a second To take fire, and a lesson we can all understand.”

Hawk jokes that she sang before she could talk. Her career has included performing in local theater and even starring opposite Ryan Seacrest in a show called Reality Check.

“I was 12 and he was 19. And he had this perfect hair, like Zach Morris,” Hawk said. “And I was just really excited about him, but he was so much fun to work with.”

Her Blue Bloods career includes starring in the independent film Daruma, about two unlikely people who embark on a journey of forgiveness and redemption. The special thing about it is that the two main characters are disabled in real life.

“But it’s not about disability at all,” Hawk said. “And I think that’s what sets it apart: It’s just people. And it’s not an inspiring story about what they’ve overcome.”

The second half of the final season of “Blue Bloods” premieres Friday night, October 18th on CBS.