Before Reacher, Elspeth Sampson Actress Kathleen Robertson Starred On A Kelsey Grammer Drama

Throughout Season 4 of Reacher, actress Kathleen Robertson may appear familiar due to her appearances in Beverly Hills, 90210 and The Expanse. However, Robertson is also known for her major role on the Starz drama Boss. In Boss, Robertson portrayed Kitty O'Neill, the personal aide to the corrupt mayor of Chicago. The mayor was played by Kelsey Grammer, who starred in Cheers and Frasier.

In 2012, Robertson spoke to the Hollywood Reporter about a particularly intense scene she shared with Grammer. In that scene, Mayor Kane eviscerates Kitty, telling her, "Do you think you have worth? Because if you think you have worth, you don't. You're nothing." Robertson found the scene challenging to act because of Grammer's intensity, causing her to cry.

Robertson described Kitty as a political animal, someone who feels alive through her political involvement. Between Kitty in Boss and Elspeth in Reacher, Robertson has carved out a niche in savvy political strategist roles. Kitty's character arc in Boss revolves around her embracing who she truly is, warts and all, even if it means accepting that she may not change. Robertson appreciated this aspect of Kitty's character.

Despite Kitty's struggles in Season 1, Robertson noted that the Season 2 finale was a turning point for the character. The writers deliberately delayed revealing this development until a pivotal episode. When Robertson read the script for that episode, she gave the thumbs-up to the showrunner, signaling her approval.

However, Starz canceled Boss in November 2012, leaving Kitty's story arc unresolved. In 2015, Robertson expressed her disappointment and shock at the news, especially given the show's critical acclaim. She was expecting the series to continue, as both Boss and its cast received praise from critics.