Initially working at Olivia Pope's consulting firm, Whelan went on to become one of the consultant's closest friends and confidantes, which also became the case in real life between Darby Stanchfield and Kerry Washington, who played Olivia Pope over the course of its run. "Everyone talks about how drop-dead gorgeous, smart, and fashionable she is, and she is all of that, but I must add she's the hugest goofball," Stanchfield said of Washington in an interview with Flare. "She has the best sense of humor and lightheartedness that makes coming into work everyday delightful." 

The series also gave Stanchfield the opportunity to test the waters as a director. The actor was at the helm of the Season 7 episode "The Noise," and she thoroughly enjoyed being behind the camera as well as in front of it. "I feel really grateful to have been given this opportunity before the end of the series," she told Variety. "My intent was really to just help tell the very best story we can with the script. This is a special episode in that it's the first set-up piece for the end."

Fans of the supernatural Netflix series "Locke & Key" will also recognize Stanchfield as Nina, the matriarch of the Locke family. The series sees Nina and her three children discover a series of keys in their family home that can unlock doors in reality-bending ways (via Vulture).