Donnie Wahlberg Praises Bridget Moynahan’s Support as Boston Blue Begins

Donnie Wahlberg is celebrating his longtime friendship with Bridget Moynahan, revealing just how important she has been throughout their years working together on Blue Bloods and beyond.

Speaking at a special screening of his new series, Boston Blue, in New York City on October 14, Wahlberg reflected on the bond he shares with his former on-screen sister. The actor stars in the Blue Bloods spin-off after the original CBS drama concluded its 14-season run in December 2024.

During a Q&A following the premiere alongside co-star Sonequa Martin-Green, Wahlberg shared that he always envisioned Moynahan playing Erin Reagan when he accepted the role of Danny Reagan.

“As I read Blue Bloods, I got offered the part of Danny Reagan and I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing my sister besides Bridget,” Wahlberg recalled.

When he reached out to her, however, she surprised him by revealing she had already turned down the role. Determined not to accept that answer, Wahlberg urged her to reconsider.

“I told her, ‘Come back. It’s going to be with me now,'” he said. His persistence paid off, and Moynahan ultimately joined the cast alongside Tom Selleck, Will Estes, and Len Cariou. The two had previously worked together in the 2009 television film Bunker Hill.

Wahlberg also credited Moynahan with helping him decide whether to continue the Blue Bloods legacy through Boston Blue. He described her as one of the “unsung heroes” behind his decision to take on the spin-off.

Rather than making the conversation about herself, Wahlberg said Moynahan offered thoughtful advice focused entirely on what was best for him.

“She challenged me in the best way,” he explained. “There was no ego involved. It was just my friend and my sister giving me honest advice.”

Although Moynahan is not a regular cast member on Boston Blue, she makes a guest appearance in the premiere episode and also steps behind the camera to direct one installment of the series.

Moynahan has also spoken openly about the emotional end of Blue Bloods. During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show in April 2024, she said the hardest part of saying goodbye was leaving behind the people who became like family after spending 14 years together.

She reflected on the many life moments the cast and crew shared over the years, including weddings, births, and personal losses, saying those experiences created an unbreakable bond.

Moynahan has previously described Wahlberg as her “biggest supporter,” especially when she decided to direct her first episode of Blue Bloods. Wahlberg remembered immediately backing the idea, saying he never doubted she was capable of succeeding behind the camera.

“I was like, ‘Yeah, she’s going to do it, right?'” he recalled. “She’s phenomenal. When you’ve worked with someone that long, you know what they’re capable of, and she stepped into directing naturally.”

Their enduring friendship continues to be one of the strongest connections to emerge from Blue Bloods, carrying over into the next chapter with Boston Blue.