A great new interview with Mary McDonnell was posted today from The Hollywood Reporter, with lots of great new insight into the transition between The Closer and Major Crimes, Raydor’s backstory, and what to expect as the season progresses.

THR: You’re now leading your own show, taking the reins from Kyra Sedgwick. Was there any moment of hesitation?

McDonnell: No, there really wasn’t. To be perfectly honest with you, it evolved so organically. It was a natural evolution. The whole idea that it would blossom into more of an ensemble was also a part of the equation. On the one hand, I knew and was quite happy to carry the bulk and I loved James Duff’s writing and his mind — the transition of this character from antagonist to protagonist, which I’ve never done in my career — but I also felt very strongly about this whole group of people was a whole new show as well, I knew there was tons of story to be mined.

Read the whole interview here.