‘Criminal Minds’ Star Recalls Their Mom Flirting with Jensen Ackles

When your mother starts asking about Jensen Ackles’ gum-chewing habits in front of your father, you know you’ve entered peak embarrassment territory.

“Criminal Minds: Evolution” star Aimee Garcia recently shared a hilarious behind-the-scenes story from her 2008 appearance on “Supernatural.” She revealed how her mother couldn’t resist flirting with Jensen Ackles during a family set visit. The actress, who currently plays Dr. Julia Ochoa on the CBS procedural, opened up about the memorable experience during a TV Insider interview on June 7.

Garcia appeared in the third-season episode “Jus In Bello,” portraying Nancy Fitzgerald, a devout Catholic secretary at a sheriff’s station under demonic attack. Her character volunteered to be a virgin sacrifice to help destroy the demons, though Dean Winchester ultimately found another solution.

During filming, Garcia’s parents visited the “Supernatural” set, leading to an amusing encounter that still makes the actress cringe. Her mother, whose first language is Spanish, became fascinated with Ackles’ on-set habits and decided to investigate directly.

“I had the best time with those guys. My parents came on set, and I do remember my mom flirting with Jensen shamelessly in front of my father, and she’s like — She’s Mexican, so English is her second language,” Garcia told the outlet. “She’s like, ‘Oh, Jensen, you are chewing gum before they start the scene. And then they call action. And then where does the gum go? I [don’t] see it while you shoot the scene.’ I’m like, ‘Mom, you cannot flirt with Jensen!'”

A Fun but Tragic Character Arc

Despite the embarrassing family moments, Garcia thoroughly enjoyed her “Supernatural” experience, particularly playing a character with such unique circumstances. Nancy Fitzgerald was described as a self-imposed celibate who witnessed supernatural events firsthand and became deeply impressed by the Winchester brothers’ demon-fighting abilities.

“It was so much fun to play a virgin that needs to be sacrificed to save the world. I wish she would’ve gotten to have some fun before she did,” Garcia shared. Though Nancy helped devise an alternative plan and survived the initial demon siege, the character met a tragic end when Lilith killed everyone in the building after Sam and Dean’s departure.

The actress praised the “Supernatural” cast and crew for their accommodating attitude toward her family during the production. “I do remember those guys just being so welcoming to my family, and it was just a blast,” she noted.

From Supernatural Guest to Criminal Minds Regular

Garcia has since become a recurring character on “Criminal Minds: Evolution,” playing Dr. Ochoa. Ochoa is described as one of the country’s most respected neuropsychiatrists. Her current role presents a stark contrast to her brief appearance in “Supernatural,” with fans speculating about her character’s true motivations and potential connections to the show’s antagonists.

Meanwhile, Ackles has moved on to new projects following the conclusion of “Supernatural” in 2020, after 15 seasons. The actor recently discussed his upcoming Amazon Prime series, “Countdown,” in which he plays LA detective Mark Meachum, noting similarities between this character and his beloved role as Dean Winchester.