One of the worst parts about falling in love with a TV show is the inevitable moment when one of your favorite characters leaves. And in the case of Chicago Fire, despite being on the brink of its 10th season, which is set to debut on September 22, fans are fixated on the hole that’s been left behind following Monica Raymund’s exit from the show at the end of season 6.
As a refresher, Monica played Gabriela “Gabby” Dawson on the beloved firefighter show. She was a mainstay in the first six seasons of the show, appearing in more than 130 episodes. So, naturally, fans were shaken by her departure.
Why did Monica Raymund leave Chicago Fire?
In an interview with Chicago Tribune, Monica revealed the reason for her departure.
“I’m not sure the exact moment when it happened, but I knew that my six-year contract was coming to an end and I felt like I was hungry to explore a different role, a different story,” she said in the interview. “I wanted to explore a different world. I had been in Chicago for five years and just personally where I was in my life, I was ready to create my home and kind of plant some roots in Los Angeles.”
While many fans questioned her departure, largely out of being attached to her role in the show, Monica said it came down to wanting to explore other options.
“It’s kind of a double-edged sword because on the one hand, it’s wonderful to be employed for that long and to have job security,” she said. “And to be able to delve into a storyline and to flush it out over that amount of time. To get that opportunity is extremely rare and special. Job security is always the two favorite words an actor can say! But sometimes you have to take a risk to diversify your opportunities.”
Where is Monica Raymund now?
Since leaving Chicago Fire, Monica has done exactly what she set out to do. She joined the cast of Hightown, a Starz show that follows a woman as she grapples with sobriety during a murder investigation, as the lead. The show was picked up for a second season, which will air on Sunday, October 17.
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Additionally, in April, she revealed that she was directing the much-anticipated FBI Chicago PD crossover.
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So while we miss seeing Monica on Chicago Fire, we’re so excited about Hightown!
Rebecca Ravee Norris is a freelance writer with a decade’s worth of lifestyle media experience. Based out of the Washington metropolitan area, she covers everything from beauty and wellness to style and celebrity news. She is a graduate of George Mason University and has a B.A. in Media: Production, Consumption, and Critique, along with a minor in Electronic Journalism. When she’s not writing, she can be found with her beloved Jack-Chi, Cash, working through reps at the gym, dreaming up her next home decor project, testing a new recipe, getting lost in the pages of a book, or catching up on her favorite shows.
