How ‘FBI’ Star Missy Peregrym Shaped Maggie’s Foster Mom Story Arc
This season on “FBI,” Missy Peregrym’s character Maggie Bell was already considering IVF to become a single mother, and, after the events of last week’s “Unforeseen” episode, she’s now the sole guardian to a late friend’s young daughter.
Ahead of Tuesday night’s episode, TheWrap spoke with Peregrym about the impetus for the story arc and how it allows the actress to show “more of my feminine maternal side.”
Peregrym, who is a mother of two in real life, discussed how seriously Maggie takes the duty of caring for Ella (Rose Decker) whose mother Jessica (Charlotte Sullivan) died unexpectedly after temporarily entrusting her child to her best friend.
TheWrap: Where did this motherhood story come from? Did you have input on this?
Missy Peregrym: I did. I was talking with [producer] Joe [Halpin] last year, and I really tried to come up with a way that I got to play more of my feminine maternal side. We know Maggie’s a badass. That’s great, but she’s also got other sides to her and I really wanted to explore that.
There’s so much richness in that dynamic and internal conflict over what’s a good mother. I mean, there’s so much pressure. I like the idea of depicting this moral conflict and also exploring what is the right thing for her to do and who Maggie is. Can we get to know Maggie in this situation? What does she really want in her life outside of work? I’m so happy that they were open to expanding my character in this direction.
I love the storyline. It’s so beautifully complicated. It’s in Maggie’s blood, to take care [of people], right? If there’s a problem, she’s going to find the solution. And now, her job is potentially a serious issue for being a caretaker, because all Ella needs is someone to really show up and be there.
And she can’t always be there because of work. It’s her instinct to always throw herself into dangerous situations and now she can’t do that wholeheartedly, because she has to be able to go home for Ella.
Maggie has a nanny, but there’s no long-term plan right now. It’s just kind of day by day?
Yeah, there isn’t. I’m not really sure where it’s going. I know that things might get tricky down the line, in terms of legal issues. And what is the right thing to do? She loves Ella and wants to take care of her and to honor Jess’ request, but there’s a reality to her position in life. Just because this happened this way, doesn’t mean it’s the right thing for her.
