Most fans know her as the cool, collected Emily Prentiss on Criminal Minds. You know the one—the multilingual profile expert who can stare down a serial killer without blinking. But if you’re a die-hard fan of the Dick Wolf universe, you might have done a double-take while binge-watching old reruns.
Paget Brewster Law and Order history is actually a bit of a mind-bender. She didn't just show up for a quick "hey, look at me" cameo. She actually played two completely different characters across the Special Victims Unit timeline.
And get this: she wasn't always the "good guy" we’ve come to expect.
The First Appearance: Sheila Tierney (Season 8)
Way back in 2007, long before she was leading the BAU, Brewster landed a guest spot in the SVU episode titled "Scheherazade."
She played Sheila Tierney. It was a heartbreaking, smaller role. Sheila was the daughter of a dying man (played by the legendary Brian Dennehy) who claimed to be a prolific murderer on his deathbed. Honestly, it was one of those "classic" SVU episodes where the drama is dialed up to eleven. Sheila was caught in the middle of a decades-old mystery, trying to reconcile her love for her father with the monstrous things he might have done.
It was a total 180 from the high-stakes profiling she’d eventually do on CBS. She was vulnerable. She was confused. It showed that she had the dramatic chops to carry a heavy emotional arc in under an hour.
The Villainous Return: ADA Paula Foster (Season 14)
Fast forward five years to 2012. Brewster returned to SVU, but she wasn't playing a grieving daughter this time.
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She stepped into the shoes of Paula Foster, the Bureau Chief of the Public Integrity Unit. This was a massive, high-stakes arc that kicked off Season 14. If you remember the "Lost Reputation" and "Above Suspicion" episodes, you know exactly how intense this got.
Foster was basically the ultimate antagonist because she was one of them. She was tasked with investigating Captain Donald Cragen after he woke up next to a dead woman.
Talk about a mess.
Why Paula Foster Was So Ruthless
Here’s what most people forget: Paula Foster wasn't just a "mean boss." She was deeply corrupt.
She was being blackmailed by a high-end madam named Delia Wilson. Why? Because Paula had a daughter, Sarah, who suffered from Lobstein syndrome (a condition where bones are as fragile as glass). The medical bills were astronomical. Her husband had walked out. She was drowning in debt.
Basically, she sold her soul to pay for her kid’s treatment.
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She wasn't just investigating Cragen; she was actively trying to frame him to protect the sex trafficking ring that was paying her off. It’s a gut-wrenching motivation. You kinda want to hate her, but then you see her with her daughter and it gets complicated.
The Criminal Minds "Conflict"
There’s a fun bit of TV trivia here. When Brewster filmed these episodes in 2012, she had just left Criminal Minds for the first time.
The crazy part? The SVU Season 14 premiere actually aired on the exact same night as the Criminal Minds Season 8 premiere. NBC and CBS were basically going head-to-head using the same actress.
Fans were flipping back and forth between channels, seeing her as a corrupt lawyer on one station and then missing her as the departed Agent Prentiss on the other. It was a weird moment in TV history that probably wouldn't happen quite the same way today with streaming.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of casual viewers assume her appearance was a "crossover."
It wasn't.
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Emily Prentiss never met Olivia Benson. As much as we all want to see a BAU/SVU team-up (imagine the interrogation scenes!), it never happened. When Brewster was on Law & Order, she was strictly playing characters native to that world.
Why Her Role Still Matters
Paget Brewster’s time on SVU is a masterclass in how to play a "gray" character.
Most villains in the Dick Wolf world are either mustache-twirling creeps or corporate suits with no soul. Paula Foster felt real. When Olivia Benson finally arrests her at the end of "Above Suspicion," she does it quietly so Paula’s daughter doesn't have to see it.
It’s a rare moment of empathy between a hero and a villain.
Key Takeaways for Fans:
- Watch Season 8, Episode 10 for her "victim/witness" era.
- Watch Season 14, Episodes 1 and 2 to see her play a high-level corrupt official.
- Notice the nuance. She uses her "Prentiss" authority voice to intimidate the detectives, which makes the reveal of her corruption even more jarring.
If you’re doing a rewatch, pay attention to the desk scene where Benson sees the photo of the daughter. It's the exact moment the "tough-as-nails" ADA mask slips.
Next Steps for Your Rewatch:
Go find the "Scheherazade" episode first. It’s a great pallet cleanser before you jump into the Season 14 premiere. Seeing her go from a daughter seeking truth to a mother hiding lies is a wild ride for any Brewster fan.