Justin Hartley and the wife Sofia Pernas it melts our hearts every time they talk about getting the chance to work together.
The couple initially met on the set of The Young and the Restless in 2015. After debuting as costars, Hartley and Pernas broke up before reconnecting after years off screen and then tying the knot in 2021. Hartley and Pernas have since enjoyed finding projects to collaborate on, including. The Quantum Leap again Tracker.
Trackersupported Jeffery Deavera novel The Never Gamefollows Hartley as a survivor named Colter. Viewers have been reminded that Colter was very reclusive – until someone from his past named Billie (Pernas) showed up in season 1.
Hartley is happy with how Colter and Billie's relationship has been received by fans since the launch.
“We had a great time together. I thought it would be a really good idea. It was my idea from the beginning to have this character that you just mentioned,” explained the actor, who is also an executive producer on the CBS show, Deadline May 2024. “I think it was in the second episode, there was a big payoff for the car. There's a line that one of the ladies said, 'Word on the street is that Billie is circling the case.' Then it's Coulter's kind of eye rolls. If you really pay attention, you say, 'Oh, you've got a rival, this guy Billie.'”
Hartley wanted to lay the groundwork for Pernas' character before he appeared.
“My idea was to tease that and deliberately name the character Billie, and reveal that Billie is, of course, Sofia.” We didn't get to tease it as much as I would have liked, just because we were so stressed out over time. But that was the intention,” he continued. “Then when he came, to be honest with you, I'm not sure how much of the character he brought was actually written.”
Keep scrolling for Hartley and Pernas' sweet comments about screen sharing:
Cooperation Before Their Love
After exchanging vows with Pernas, Hartley considered working with his wife before they started dating.
“You meet in different ways. We didn't work that close, and we didn't work together that long. I knew he was very kind and very good. I loved being with him. But I was in a different place in my life. I wasn't available,” Hartley said. Haute Living in 2021 about being introduced to Pernas years before they met. “Timing has a lot to do with that. I'm very fortunate that I not only found 'The One,' but I found him when he was available and the timing was right.”
Pernas also remembered Hartley well from their brief encounter The Young and the Restless.
“My first and only thought was, 'God, that guy walks in and leaves as soon as the bell rings,'” Pernas shared. Entertainment Tonight in March 2024. “Sometimes he would do as many as 65 pages a day. He would just tear off the pieces, throw them in the trash, as soon as he was done at the scene. It was almost like a pop smoke and then he left.
After meeting on set, Justin Hartley and Sofia Pernas continued to enjoy sharing the screen. The couple first crossed paths while filming The Young and The Restless in 2015. Hartley and Pernas called the soap for about a year before moving on to other projects. “You meet in different places and we didn't work […]
Always Looking for Something New
The Quantum Leap gave Hartley a guest spot as a bounty hunter while Pernas portrayed the head of a drug cartel.
“It was the best,” Hartley said E! News in October 2022. “I don't know if I've ever laughed more on set. We had such a good time. … Sofia has a great sense of humor. There were a few moments where she let loose, she did a little ad-libbing, which allowed me to do commercials. And the characters started getting really angry and we had a lot of fun.”
Hartley later said the experience made him more excited to play alongside Pernas on future projects, sharing with the store four months later, “It's amazing. It's good for the environment, too. You can collect cars and everything, so it's great. We're definitely going to do that. For sure.”
Adding to Their Scenes Together
After Billie's first introduction, Pernas discussed the conversations he had with Hartley about the dynamic between their characters.
“It wasn't really written for us to kiss,” he explained Entertainment Tonight in March 2024. “We've played at times where it felt like, are they kissing at this moment? Just because there's so much history, and there was so much tension, and there was some life-threatening event that happened before, so all of this is stressful.”
Taking Work Home
Hartley had nothing but praise for Pernas after he confirmed his return for season 2 Tracker.
“You're just watching a talented actor. There are a few things we've had the benefit of discussing privately, which, normally, you don't have time to do,” he said. Deadline May 2024. “But if you live with someone, you can talk about those things over dinner, and say, 'Hey, what about this?' So we got the chance to discuss that.”
Justin Hartley and Sofia Pernas reunited on screen for one episode of CBS' Tracker — and that's just the beginning. The Tracker, which premiered in February 2024, centers on a survivor named Colter (Hartley) who travels the country helping people and law enforcement solve various mysteries. As the series progresses, viewers learn […]
Making His Work Better
“He's so beautiful. I mean, if I had a choice, I'd spend every minute with him,” Hartley said to himself. Us Weekly at the Television Critics Association event in July 2024. “The most exciting thing is when you meet someone who means a lot to you, who you are proud to have and who you are proud of, and a fan like him, and to see his work, because he is a talented actor.”
He added: “He lifts the scenes, so he makes my job easier, actually. But yeah, it's fun to work with him.”
His Influence on Him
“[Our characters on Tracker] we cannot go too far against who we are. But we really enjoyed that,” said Hartley The Hollywood Reporter July 2024. “I love watching him. I'm a fan of his work as well. He's a smart player. But working with him is great. He elevates the show and my performance. Thank you for that.”
