When NCIS: Sydney stormed back onto CBS and Paramount+ this week with its third season premiered on October 14, it wasn’t just another high-stakes return — it was a showcase of how far Olivia Swann has taken her role as Supervisory Special Agent Michelle Mackey. The British actress, who once ruled the supernatural realm as Astra Logue in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, has evolved into one of television’s most commanding procedural leads — a woman rewriting the rules of leadership and loyalty under pressure.

Swann’s Mackey is magnetic — an uncompromising NCIS agent-in-charge with layers of vulnerability and moral grit. As the show continues to rack up record-breaking audiences both Down Under and in the U.S., Swann reflects on Mackey’s evolution, the cultural heartbeat of filming in Australia, and how stepping into command has shaped her as both actor and storyteller.

Reckoning with Trust and Vulnerability

Season 3 finds Mackey at a crossroads. “At the beginning of the season, she’s dealing with the fallout from Darwin,” Swann shares. “She’s a bit shaken up after trusting the wrong person and has to fight to get back from that betrayal and learn to trust her gut again. The audience will see her cracks a bit more this season — her vulnerability — but that doesn’t necessarily mean the team will, and I think that’s really compelling.”

The evolution is a balancing act for Swann, who has spent three seasons finding nuance between Mackey’s toughness and her humanity. “The most rewarding thing for me so far has been allowing some of Mackey’s armour to fall away and to see more of her warmth come through,” she says. “The challenge has been not giving too much away too soon — revealing just enough to hint at what lies under the surface without showing all her cards.”

Sydney, Stage, and the World Beyond

Filming in Australia has become as integral to the show’s storytelling as its characters. “We’re so lucky that we’re able to utilise new filming locations,” Swann says. “This season we travel to Bilpin in the Blue Mountains and to Broken Hill in the outback. The diverse landscapes really help add to the vibrancy, the drama, and the danger of the show.”

That sense of scope mirrors Swann’s own journey — from British theatre stages to the sun-drenched tension of Sydney’s naval investigations. Her path has been undeniably international, something she believes has shaped her craft. “I’m always so invested in a character’s backstory,” she explains. “It gives such an insight into how they think and behave and it’s so important for specificity and nuance in performance, which I’m constantly striving for.”

Chemistry and Conflict

A major part of that nuance lies in Mackey’s connection with Todd Lasance’s Sergeant JD Dempsey — a dynamic that has inspired a loyal “will-they/won’t-they” following among fans. “Todd and I clicked instantly and we’ve got an incredible friendship off screen,” Swann says. “The will-they/won’t-they relationship with Mackey and JD is fun because it brings so much more depth and weight to their scenes. As the leader of the team, Mackey knows the big implications of disturbing the hierarchy, which potentially makes the idea of her and JD being together impossible. But I don’t believe that stops her from thinking about it…”

Redefining the Procedural Heroine

As one of few women leading a global NCIS series, Swann’s Mackey stands out for her complexity. “I’m very lucky to have strong, confident, and wise women in my life — my mother, Amy from Legends, and Mav from NCIS — so I look to them for strength,” she says. “I’m not naturally confrontational, so playing someone as fierce and occasionally combative as Mackey is a fun way to show a side of myself I might not otherwise get to show.”

Her approach to leadership on screen mirrors the example she observed early in her career. “I learnt so much from Legends of Tomorrow — how to act on camera, how to use imagination, and how to lead a show,” she reflects. “Caity Lotz was a perfect example of how a great Number One leads with kindness.”

From Legends to Law and Order

For DC’s Legends of Tomorrow fans, Swann’s turn as Astra Logue remains unforgettable — a mischievous, magic-wielding antihero. The transition from the supernatural to the procedural has been both challenging and rewarding. “I’ll forever be grateful that Legends was my first major acting experience,” she says. “The fans are still so supportive — their love for the Legends family is utterly unwavering.”

And many of those fans have followed her to Sydney, where they’ve found a new kind of magic in the grounded humanity of Mackey.

‘Come for the Crime, Stay for the Chemistry’

When asked why NCIS: Sydney resonates so powerfully, Swann doesn’t hesitate. “Honestly, I think it’s the dynamics of the characters and their connections,” she says. “We always say, ‘come for the crime, stay for the chemistry.’ The team is what brings the show to life — and because of the found family element, seeing these misfits build something together is just so fun to watch.”

That found-family energy, coupled with Swann’s commanding yet empathetic performance, has helped NCIS: Sydney carve its own identity within the franchise’s vast legacy.

What’s Next for Mackey

Without giving too much away, Swann teases that Season 3 will push Mackey into uncharted territory. “There’s a big threat looming over her,” she hints. “Mackey’s going to be tested in a way we’ve never seen before, and it’s pretty electrifying.”

Looking ahead, Swann’s hopes for her character are as layered as Mackey herself. “I’d love to see Mackey’s dynamics explored with other members of the team, and for her growth with JD to continue,” she says. “I’m intrigued to discover how her relationships with Blue and Evie evolve — how those two very different women could influence and challenge her in new ways.”

A Commanding Presence

Three seasons in, Olivia Swann has more than proven that she’s not just leading a team on screen — she’s commanding a new chapter in global television. Through Mackey, she’s helping redefine what it means to be the one giving the orders, all while showing that strength and vulnerability can, in fact, coexist.And as NCIS: Sydney continues to chart new waters, Swann’s performance remains its true north — fierce, fearless, and impossible to ignore.

Photography Credits:
Photography @rebeccahitchphotgraphy
Makeup & Hair @melissagigliottihairnmup
Fashion
Trousers – COS
Tank – Stylist’s Own