Missy Peregrym: From Rookie Blue to FBI — The Actress Behind Special Agent Maggie Bell

Missy Peregrym has spent more than a decade playing characters who carry a badge — first as a Toronto cop on Rookie Blue, now as an FBI agent on FBI — but her own story includes gymnastics mats, two maternity leaves, and a guarded personal life. This grounded look explores who she is, what she’s doing now, and how she keeps returning.

Full Name: Melissa ‘Missy’ Peregrym ·
Born: June 16, 1982 ·
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) ·
Spouse: Tom Oakley (m. 2014; div. 2021) ·
Children: 2

Seven key facts, one pattern: Peregrym’s professional milestones are tightly tied to three major TV series, with a brief film breakout in between.

What is Missy Peregrym doing now?

As of 2024, Missy Peregrym is actively starring as Special Agent Maggie Bell on FBI, which was renewed for a ninth season. According to Paramount Press Express (official CBS studio talent page), she moved from Los Angeles to New York City for the role and lives there full time with her children.

She temporarily left the show twice. The first departure, in 2021, was related to personal reasons and maternity leave; she returned to air in November of that year, as reported by Entertainment Tonight (celebrity news outlet). CBR (pop culture news site) noted that Maggie Bell was written off in Season 4, Episode 18 during one absence, and that both leaves were tied to maternity.

Recent projects and upcoming work

• Peregrym continues as the female lead on FBI, with no announced end date. Dailyflux (entertainment blog) states she remains active into season 9.
• She has not taken other acting roles during the current season, focusing on FBI production in New York.

The pattern: Every time Peregrym has stepped away from the show for family reasons, the producers have written Maggie out temporarily rather than recast — a sign of how central she is to the series.

How many children does Missy Peregrym have?

Missy Peregrym has two children: a son born in 2018 and a daughter born in 2020. She has not publicly released their names. According to Paramount Press Express (official talent bio), she lives in New York with her husband, son, and daughter, but the bio was written during her marriage to Tom Oakley.

Her marriage to Tom Oakley

• Peregrym married Australian actor Tom Oakley in 2014. They divorced in 2021. Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) confirms the marriage and divorce years.
• She co-parents with Oakley. In a 2024 Instagram post cited by Instagram (social media post), she thanked him for his support of her work and family.

Details about her children

• Both children were born during her tenure on FBI. Her first pregnancy was written into the show; Maggie Bell had a storyline involving a complicated family situation.
• Peregrym has spoken little about her children publicly, preferring to keep their lives private.

The trade-off: The actress has balanced two pregnancies and two brief career pauses while holding a lead role on a network drama — a pattern that few TV leads manage without losing their part.

Who is replacing Maggie on FBI?

When Missy Peregrym took leave from FBI, the show brought in Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina Chase. According to CBR (pop culture news site), Chase was a temporary fill-in while Maggie was written off during Season 4.

Shantel VanSanten as Nina Chase

• VanSanten debuted as Nina Chase in Season 4, Episode 18. Her character was a new agent who partnered with Omar Adom “OA” Zidan (Zeeko Zaki) during Maggie’s absence.
• After Peregrym returned, VanSanten continued as a recurring guest star, appearing across multiple episodes in later seasons.

How the replacement storyline played out

• The show did not recast Maggie Bell. Instead, the writers created a separate character who could fill the tactical role without erasing the lead.
• Nina Chase developed her own romantic storyline with OA, creating a love triangle dynamic that persisted after Maggie’s return.

What this means: The temporary replacement approach let the show keep its core ensemble intact while giving Peregrym the time she needed — a practical solution that respected both the actress’s life and the audience’s attachment to Maggie.

Do Zeeko Zaki and Missy Peregrym get along?

Zeeko Zaki, who plays Peregrym’s partner OA Zidan on FBI, has repeatedly praised her professionalism and friendship. In interviews with Variety (entertainment trade publication), Peregrym described their on-screen chemistry as natural. Zaki told TV Insider (TV news site) that their off-screen relationship is warm and collaborative.

On-screen chemistry vs off-screen friendship

• Zaki and Peregrym have been paired as FBI partners since the show’s 2018 premiere. Their characters share a close, trust-based dynamic.
• Both actors have said in multiple press appearances that they enjoy working together and have never had a public conflict.

Interviews about their working relationship

• Peregrym told CBS News (network news outlet) that she was “proud” to portray an FBI agent alongside Zaki.
• TV Insider (TV news site) reported Zaki describing Peregrym as “the big sister I never had” on set.

The implication: The strong off-screen rapport between the two leads helps sustain the compelling partnership that is the emotional anchor of FBI.

Is Missy Peregrym actually a gymnast?

Peregrym’s breakout film role was as gymnast Haley Graham in Stick It (2006). She was not a professional gymnast, but she trained intensively for the part. According to Wikipedia (community encyclopedia), she had previous dance and gymnastics experience as a child, which helped her perform many of her own stunts.

Her gymnastics training for Stick It

• Peregrym spent months working with professional gymnastic coaches to learn routines, including a beam routine and a floor exercise.
• She did not compete at any level; the film choreographed advanced moves using stunt doubles for the most dangerous flips.

Other athletic pursuits

• Besides gymnastics, Peregrym has mentioned being active in dance and soccer during her youth.
• On Rookie Blue, she performed many of her own physical stunts, drawing on her athletic background.

The catch: Peregrym is often described as a former gymnast, but the more accurate label is “actress who trained intensively as a gymnast for a movie.” Her real athletic roots are broader and more amateur.

Missy Peregrym has built a career that many actors dream of — a lead role on a hit network procedural, a loyal fanbase, and the rare ability to pause and return without losing her place. The pattern is clear: she chooses family when she must, and the industry makes space for her. Missy Peregrym’s ability to step away and return underscores the value of a strong role and a supportive production team.

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