Cuban-American actress Bevin Bru is stepping into a powerful new role on ABC’s drama R.J. Decker, portraying Detective Melody “Mel” Abreu, a sharp and determined investigator navigating the crime-filled streets of South Florida. Starring alongside Scott Speedman and Jaina Lee Ortiz, the series follows a disgraced newspaper photographer who reinvents himself as a private investigator, tackling unusual cases with help from the people around him.

Bru recently spoke with Entertainment Affair’s Raffael Alejandro about bringing Mel to life and the unique dynamic her character shares with R.J. Decker. While R.J. often brings chaos to investigations, Mel serves as the grounded and morally driven detective who keeps things in check. Bru describes her character as someone deeply committed to the law and truth, with strong values and a sharp instinct for solving cases.

As the season unfolds, the relationship between Mel and R.J. continues to evolve. According to Bru, the two characters develop a sibling-like dynamic, often challenging and pushing each other while ultimately realizing they share more similarities than they initially thought.

For Bru, the role carries an even deeper personal meaning because of her own background. Born and raised in Miami, she understands the culture, environment, and rhythm of the city that serves as the backdrop for the series. That familiarity helped her bring authenticity to the role.

Her connection to law enforcement is also surprisingly personal. Bru shared that her mother’s wife was a detective in Miami, meaning she grew up around someone doing the very job she now portrays on screen. Playing Mel, she says, often feels like portraying a version of someone she admired growing up.

“I literally grew up with that,” Bru explained during the conversation. Drawing from those experiences helped shape how she approached Mel’s confidence, intelligence, and sense of responsibility.

The cultural representation in R.J. Decker is another element that makes the show special to her. As a Cuban-American actress, Bru is proud to portray a Latina detective on a major network series—something audiences do not see often enough. The show also embraces the reality of South Florida’s Latino culture, including moments where Spanish is spoken naturally rather than forced into English dialogue.

Bru believes that representation matters, especially when it shows Latinos in positions of authority and strength. Seeing a Cuban-American detective navigating complex cases in Miami, she says, is a powerful image that many viewers will connect with.

Beyond the cultural authenticity, Bru promises that the storytelling will keep audiences on their toes. When reading the scripts herself, she often finds that the twists and reveals constantly shift expectations.

Each episode, she says, takes viewers on a fast-moving journey full of surprises. Just when you think you know who committed the crime, the story throws another twist into the mix. According to Bru, it’s the kind of show that demands attention—definitely not something to watch while scrolling through your phone.

R.J. Decker airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.