Tracker’s Sofia Pernas Shares Why Billie Declined Colter’s Dinner Date: ‘She Is Terrified of Being Vulnerable’ (Exclusive)

Sofia Pernas and Justin Hartley may be married in real life, but they’ve developed more of a will-they-won’t-they dynamic on screen.

Hartley, 47, who stars and serves as an executive producer on CBS’ new drama Tracker, he plays “reward winner” Colter Shaw. He is calm, cool, collected and will come to solve any problem … for a certain price.

On Sunday night, Pernas, 34, guest-starred on the show’s sixth episode, titled “Lexington,” as Colter’s rival. Billie Matalon is a bit of a bounty hunter herself, and while she may have a special interest in Colter, she doesn’t let on (that much).

Sofia Pernas as Billie and Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw in Tracker.

Ed Araquel/CBS

“I love this role. I love everything about it. I’ve always loved playing strong women, and I think those roles just find me, honestly,” Pernas tells PEOPLE. “I never play cheerleader. I do not know why. I would like to, but I don’t think it’s in my plans.”

Pernas says she grew up watching Xena: Warrior Princessand she maintained that sense of inspired girl power throughout her career.

“I just love to see strong women on screen, but strong women who show vulnerability,” she says. “Those are my favorite people to watch. It’s like strong women can feel things. We’re not machines. We’re just covering it up.”

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The same feeling applies to PernasovTracker the character of Billie, who, thanks to her shared past with Colter (the two have worked together on jobs before, albeit not always successfully) is as strong-willed as she is cautious.

“Well, I just think, who was that girl? Why do they have that history? You simply become the PI in their life and just ask a bunch of questions. And some writers give you, and some you simply have to give yourself freedom and fulfill them yourself”, says Pernas about how she approached the role.

“For me, I played like [Billie] I wanted to see him on this job,” she adds. “Every time he goes to one of these jobs, he asks, ‘Is Colter going to be here?'”

With that context in mind, Pernas was ready to jump into the role first, even if her husband’s character surprised her.

“He’s so different in this role that it was very disarming at first because I was like, ‘Oh my God, you’re a completely different person now,'” she says. “There are some roles that are just so different. Colter is one of those, I think for Justin, and I think it’s really cool to see him really, really get into the shoes of this guy.”

The couple has worked together before. They met for the first time while acting in a soap opera Young and restless 2015 when Pernas joined the cast.

Sofia Pernas and Justin Hartley at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 7, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Christopher Polk/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024/Getty

“It was like riding a bike and at the same time so different because of how different it is, which honestly made it a lot easier,” she said when asked if she would star opposite Hartley again. “It’s a lot easier to play chemistry when you feel like you don’t know the person.”

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Throughout the episode, which follows the story of a missing, prized racehorse that Billie and Colter must find together, the two prizefighters end up in several compromising positions — including hiding chest-to-chest under a table, almost kissing a car, and a difficult conversation at the end of the episode.

After the case is finally closed, Colter invites Billie out to dinner – an idea she had brought up earlier – but Billie shockingly declines.

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“I think she’s afraid to be vulnerable, and I think if she were to have dinner with him, she’d have to go to the pink elephant in the room inside and say, ‘Oh, shit, I really like this guy,'” Pernas says of her character’s decision. “I think she’s someone who probably doesn’t like to talk about her feelings as readily as she does about other things.”

good news? Fans can expect to see Billie again, but they may have to be a little patient.

“There will be a second season for sure,” Pernas says of his eventual return. “I think Colter has too many things to deal with before we move on to Billie.”

Tracker airs Sundays at 9:00 PM EST on CBS.

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Source: HIS Education