For fans used to seeing her in tactical gear and interrogating suspects as Officer Kim Burgess on Chicago P.D., actress Marina Squerciati looked completely unrecognizable during a rare, incognito beach day. Far from the flashing sirens and gritty streets of the Windy City, Squerciati was spotted soaking up the sun in a casual, relaxed look that had fans doing double takes.
So when Squerciati takes a break, she really takes a break. Sources close to the actress said she was enjoying a quiet getaway with close friends and family, away from the cameras and chaos. “She values her privacy, and when she’s off duty, she likes to keep things low-key,” a source revealed. “You won’t see her at flashy parties. She prefers meaningful conversations and ocean air.” It’s not uncommon for stars to blend into the background when they leave Hollywood (or Chicago) behind for a while. But in Squerciati’s case, the transformation was particularly surprising. The usually tough-as-nails actress swapped intense stares for relaxed laughter, her typical black-and-blue wardrobe for sun-kissed neutrals.
One fan who happened to walk by said, “I didn’t even recognize her at first. Then I heard her laugh—and I thought, wait a second, that sounds familiar!” Another beachgoer added, “She was totally chill, reading a book under an umbrella and walking along the water like nobody knew who she was.” Squerciati herself has previously said she treasures moments when she’s not being watched, when she can simply be Marina. “Playing Burgess is amazing, but I don’t take myself home. I try to reset when I can, and the beach is my sanctuary,” she shared in an earlier interview.
Unlike many celebrities who flood Instagram with curated beach selfies, Marina kept her beach day strictly offline. The only glimpses fans got were blurry candid shots and secondhand reports—exactly how she prefers it. This choice is in line with Squerciati’s carefully managed public image. She maintains a strong connection with fans through behind-the-scenes Chicago P.D. posts and occasional humor-filled updates, but rarely shares her private life. In an age where oversharing is the norm, her approach is refreshingly intentional.
Fans are still reeling from Season 12’s intense episodes—especially those surrounding her relationship with Ruzek and the aftermath of traumatic events. There’s speculation that Burgess will take on a more central leadership role in Intelligence, possibly filling in the growing emotional gaps left by recent departures. Whether she’s ready for that or not, one thing’s for sure: a calm, sun-drenched beach break might be exactly what she needed to gear up for the storm ahead.
Moments like this are important reminders that behind every complex television character is a real person—one who needs space, rest, and joy. For Squerciati, stepping away from the screen allows her to reconnect with herself, and it shows in the balance she brings to her performances. Her fans appreciate that about her. “She’s grounded,” one longtime Chicago P.D. viewer said. “You can tell she’s not playing for attention—she’s playing for depth.” That grounded nature is what’s kept Kim Burgess compelling for over a decade, and what makes Squerciati herself one of the most quietly beloved members of the One Chicago family.
Marina Squerciati’s incognito beach outing may not have made major tabloid headlines—but it resonated with fans who admire not just her talent, but her authenticity. She wasn’t performing. She wasn’t promoting. She was just living. And in today’s celebrity-saturated world, that’s something worth celebrating. In the end, she may have gone “unrecognized” by some, but the people who matter most—her fans, her colleagues, and perhaps most importantly, herself—know exactly who she is. And whether she’s walking barefoot along the beach or chasing bad guys through the streets of Chicago, Marina Squerciati does it with quiet power, poise, and the kind of grace that doesn’t need to announce itself.
