Monica Raymund: Why She Leaves Chicago Fire Series After Six Seasons?

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Monica Raymund, the actress who played Gabriela "Gabby" Dawson on the hit series Chicago Fire, was departured from the show after the sixth season.

The official announcement was made on May 15, 2018, ending speculation about her future on the show.

Raymund's decision to leave her role as a paramedic and then a firefighter was motivated by a desire to explore broader professional opportunities.

She felt "hungry to explore different roles, different stories, and different worlds," after her six-year contract expired.

This was later confirmed in an article by Lex Briscuso. 

Gabby Dawson's departure from the series was marked by a move to Puerto Rico to lead a rescue team, amidst a marital crisis with her partner, Matt Casey.

Monica Raymund announced her decision to leave Chicago Fire in a social media tweet on May 15, 2018.

She had been a series regular since the series debut in 2012, with her role as Gabby Dawson ending after six seasons.Raymund explained that her six-year contract had expired, and she felt a strong urge to seek new acting experiences.

She also wanted to reorganize her personal life in Los Angeles, after five years living in Chicago for filming.

The actress admitted that leaving the successful show was a risk, but felt it was necessary to diversify her acting opportunities.

She expressed her desire to do something "dark, messy, and violent" that would "hit her from everywhere."Her departure was confirmed not due to creative disagreements or conflicts with the series' crew or producers.

"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. I wanted to explore a different world," she told the Chicago Tribune. 

Gabby Dawson's storyline involved her move to Puerto Rico at the end of season six.

She accepted a job offer to lead a rescue team tasked with helping hurricane victims there.

This decision came amidst personal struggles and tension in her marriage to Matt Casey.

The couple faced a crisis following a miscarriage and disagreements about adoption, which ultimately led to their divorce on the show.

Despite leaving the show as a main character, Raymund made a brief appearance.

She appeared in the seventh season premiere, "A Closer Eye," to provide proper closure for Dawson's character and her relationship with Casey.

In the episode, Dawson confirmed her acceptance of a permanent position in Puerto Rico.

Raymund returned for one episode of season eight, titled "Best Friend Magic," in November 2019.

Following her departure from Chicago Fire, Monica Raymund didn't take long to land a new leading role.

She starred in the Starz crime drama series, Hightown, as Jackie Quiñones.

The series premiered in 2020 and ran for three seasons.

In addition to acting, Raymund is also active behind the scenes as a director.

She has directed several episodes for television series such as FBI and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Interestingly, she also directed an episode of Chicago Fire, despite no longer being a main character.

Raymund also directed several episodes of Dexter: Original Sin and its sequel, Dexter: Resurrection.