LAW & ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME: Tamara Taylor on Angela (Accidentally) Blowing Her Cover

Angela Wheatley (Tamara Taylor) was seemingly holding all—or at least many—of the cards on LAW & ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME…until a pesky glass of water ruined everything.

At a coffee meeting with Elliot (Christopher Meloni) during the January 6 episode, “Nemesis,” Angela continued her charade that she was still suffering from the effects of being poisoned, seemingly struggle to move and talk. But when Elliot knocked over a glass of water, Angela quickly caught it.

“I think [her first thought] was probably, ‘Oh, shit,'” Taylor says with a laugh. “I think she knew in that moment that her cover was blown. And, quite frankly, I wonder if there might have been just a little bit of relief in knowing that she didn’t have to keep up the act anymore, because she’s been doing it for a minute.”

As to when Angela actually recovered from her injuries, Taylor speculates it was likely “some time between the first time we saw her doing that crossword puzzle [in the season 2 premiere], where she was having legitimate memory failure and motor skill issues” and “The Christmas Episode” reveal.

“She was very much still healing and struggling [in the premiere],” she says. “[What] the writers wanted to explore was her being problematic in terms of her being a credible witness. So it really was real. I just think she, quietly, over the course of months, probably was getting better and just not letting people know.”

Of course, with Elliot no longer in the dark about her manipulation, Taylor teases, “knowing who Stabler is, [her question is] what’s coming next?”

And while Elliot was deceived, Taylor also notes that wasn’t Angela’s motive for the deception. “The thing that I do think Angela’s really practiced at is dodging and parrying. She’s staying alive,” Taylor notes. “It’s funny, because I think we all wish her to be this huge criminal mastermind. And, really, the truth of it is, she’s trying to protect her kids and stay alive.”

“She went from being a very important key witness in Richard’s trial and having protection to having none; just essentially being sort of abandoned by the NYPD, which she mentions to Stabler,” she continues. “So what is a gal to do when no one’s looking out for her? Well, just hide in plain sight. If Richard doesn’t think that she is a credible witness or threat, he’s not going to come after her. So it’s essentially not [done] to manipulate Stabler, it is actually to stay out of Richard’s way.”

Of course, with Richard insisting Angela is the love of his life, he may not want to let go of her that easily…

LAW & ORDER: ORGANIZED CRIME, Thursdays, 10/9c, NBC

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