Marina Squerciati, best known for her powerful portrayal of Detective Kim Burgess on Chicago P.D., is proving that the courage and resilience she brings to the screen are not limited to her fictional badge. In a recent Chicago Magazine feature, the actress peeled back the curtain on her real life—one defined by the same toughness, vulnerability, and relentless drive that make Burgess one of the most compelling characters on NBC’s long-running police drama.
Squerciati revealed that she returned to work just four weeks after undergoing a C-section, a move that highlights her dedication not only to her craft but to the intricate balance between her professional and personal worlds. While most new mothers are still recovering, Squerciati was already back on set—filming intense scenes, chasing suspects, and embodying one of Chicago P.D.’s most emotionally layered detectives.
Her story resonated deeply with fans, especially mothers who understand the physical and emotional toll of returning to work so soon after childbirth. “There’s this misconception that if you love your job, everything else falls easily into place,” she said. “But balancing 14-hour shoot days with raising two young children isn’t about ease—it’s about determination.”
That word—determination—has long defined both Marina and Burgess. Since joining Chicago P.D. in 2014, Squerciati has transformed Burgess from an eager patrol officer into a detective whose trauma and triumphs feel strikingly real. Over twelve seasons, Burgess has survived brutal physical assaults, kidnappings, heartbreak, and near-death experiences, all while emerging stronger each time. The parallel between character and actress is impossible to ignore.
Behind the camera, Squerciati’s days begin early and end late. She admits coffee has become her co-star, but so has a renewed sense of gratitude. “Motherhood changed the way I play Burgess,” she explained. “Her protective instincts, her empathy—it all feels more personal now. I bring that part of myself into her.”
The actress has also become a quiet inspiration to working parents in the entertainment industry. While she avoids glamorizing exhaustion, Squerciati has been candid about the importance of community—on set, with co-stars like LaRoyce Hawkins and Patrick John Flueger, and at home with her support network.
Her dual role—mother and detective, both on and off screen—has given her performance new emotional weight, especially as Chicago P.D. continues exploring Burgess’s recovery from past trauma. As the show moves deeper into Season 13, fans can expect Burgess’s storyline to intertwine her professional challenges with her responsibilities as a mother, mirroring the actress’s own life in subtle, authentic ways.
In an era when Hollywood often praises endurance but rarely spotlights the cost, Marina Squerciati’s honesty feels refreshing. She’s not just portraying resilience; she’s living it. And as she continues to balance the badge and the baby bottles, she reminds viewers everywhere that strength doesn’t always come from fearlessness—it comes from showing up, even when it hurts.
