For more than a decade, Marina Squerciati has been a cornerstone of the gripping police drama Chicago P.D.. As Officer Kim Burgess, she has captured the hearts of #OneChicago fans with a performance that balances grit, vulnerability, and unwavering determination. But behind the badge and the high-stakes storylines lies a personal and professional challenge that Squerciati now calls her greatest to date.
In a recent candid conversation, Squerciati opened up about what it truly takes to portray Burgess — a character who has endured kidnappings, heartbreak, life-threatening danger, and the emotional complexities of motherhood — all while remaining committed to serving and protecting the city.
“Burgess has grown so much,” Squerciati shared. “She’s not the same officer we met in Season 1. She’s been tested in ways that have changed her forever.”
Indeed, longtime viewers of the Chicago P.D. universe have watched Burgess evolve from a bright-eyed patrol officer into a seasoned member of the Intelligence Unit. Her journey has been anything but easy. From traumatic field incidents to navigating her on-again, off-again romance with Adam Ruzek, Burgess’ resilience has been pushed to its limits.
According to Squerciati, the biggest challenge hasn’t been the physically demanding scenes or the emotionally charged confrontations — though there have been plenty of those. Instead, it’s been portraying Burgess’ emotional recovery after trauma while ensuring the character remains authentic and relatable.
“Playing trauma realistically is incredibly difficult,” she explained. “You want to honor what the character has gone through without losing her strength. It’s a delicate balance.”
That balance became especially crucial following Burgess’ harrowing kidnapping storyline, a turning point that forced the character to confront fear, vulnerability, and the long road to healing. For Squerciati, diving into those darker emotional spaces required deep preparation and trust in the show’s creative team.
The series, produced by television powerhouse Dick Wolf, has never shied away from gritty realism. And as part of the larger #OneChicago franchise airing Wednesday nights on NBC, the stakes are consistently high — both for the characters and the actors portraying them.
Off-screen, Squerciati says the support from fans has been instrumental in navigating these demanding story arcs. “The #OneChicago fans are incredibly loyal,” she said. “They care deeply about Burgess, and that means everything to me.”
As the newest season unfolds, viewers can expect even more layered storytelling. Burgess continues to juggle her responsibilities as a police officer with her role as a mother, adding emotional depth to every episode. That duality, Squerciati notes, mirrors real life in powerful ways.
“The show does such a great job of showing that strength doesn’t mean you’re unbreakable,” she added. “It means you keep going.”
With new episodes of Chicago P.D. currently airing Wednesday nights on NBC, fans can follow Burgess’ continuing evolution — and witness firsthand the emotional intensity that Squerciati calls her most significant challenge yet.
For those who need to catch up, full seasons of Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med are available to stream.
And don’t forget to follow SCREEN Magazine on Twitter for polls, live chats, and behind-the-scenes conversations during Wednesday night premieres.
One thing is certain: whether facing danger on the streets of Chicago or confronting emotional battles within, Marina Squerciati continues to prove why she remains one of the franchise’s most compelling stars.
