Monica Raymund Shines in 2025 With Bold Roles and Directorial Success

Monica Raymund: From Chicago Fire Favorite to Multi-Hyphenate Powerhouse

When viewers first met Monica Raymund as paramedic-turned-firefighter Gabriela Dawson in Chicago Fire’s 2012 pilot, few could have predicted how far her career would soar. Thirteen seasons later the show is still blazing, yet Monica Raymund has forged an equally bright path beyond Firehouse 51—directing prestige TV, headlining new dramas and championing on-set inclusivity. This in-depth look (about 1,250 words) explores her journey, her 2025 projects and why Monica Raymund remains one of One Chicago’s most influential alumni.

1. Breaking Away to Grow: Leaving—Then Revisiting—Chicago Fire

After six seasons of heroics (and a brief guest return in Seasons 7 and 8), Monica Raymund stepped away from Chicago Fire in 2018. Creative restlessness and a desire to direct drove her exit, while the writers sent Dawson to Puerto Rico for hurricane-relief work—fitting for a character fueled by service. Fans rejoiced when she cameoed in 2019 and again in 2020, providing closure for Dawsey shippers and proving that Monica Raymund can always spark chemistry with her former castmates.

2. Calling the Shots: Directing Dexter: Original Sin & Dexter Resurrection

Behind the camera, Monica Raymund has flourished. In late 2024 she helmed four episodes of Dexter: Original Sin, Showtime’s 1990s-set prequel that bows this summer. Early reviews of her kinetic visuals call the series “alarmingly immersive,” and producers quickly tapped her for multiple chapters of the 2025 sequel, Dexter Resurrection. Episodes such as “Business and Pleasure” showcase her knack for psychological tension, earning her a coveted Directors Guild nomination.

Directing isn’t a side gig; it’s now central to the Monica Raymund brand. She has previously steered installments of Law & Order: SVU, FBI and Hightown, proving that the pulse of network procedurals beats in her creative DNA—only this time she’s behind the lens.

3. Switching Frequency: Prime Video’s On Call

Early 2025 saw Monica Raymund headline On Call, Dick Wolf’s gritty half-hour cop drama told partly through body-cam footage. She plays Officer Maria Delgado, whose shocking on-duty death in episode one triggers the season-long manhunt that powers the story. Though her screen time is brief, critics applaud how Monica Raymund infuses Delgado with compassion and moral weight, ensuring her presence haunts every subsequent episode.

The decision to cast Monica Raymund—then kill her character—was strategic, Wolf later revealed: viewers instantly invest when a beloved performer exits violently, and Delgado’s legacy frames the show’s exploration of policing reform.

4. Personal Life & Advocacy: Visibility Matters

Openly bisexual since 2014, Monica Raymund has long championed LGBTQ+ representation. Her relationship with cinematographer Tari Segal, public since 2015, remains steady—and she credits Segal’s eye for shaping her own directorial aesthetics. Off-set, Monica Raymund mentors young Latinx and queer filmmakers through workshops in Los Angeles and Chicago, echoing the same community-first ethos that drove Dawson’s Puerto Rico storyline.

This year she partnered with GLAAD’s “See Us” initiative, speaking at SXSW on authentic queer storytelling. The panel trended on social media, reminding fans that Monica Raymund backs her activism with action, not just hashtags.

5. Why Chicago Fire Still Calls Her Name

Rumors of another Dawson cameo surface every hiatus, yet showrunners stress that any return would need narrative weight. With Season 14 premiering this fall—and Lieutenant Severide newly married to Kidd—space for Dawson remains slim. Still, both NBC executives and Monica Raymund herself have said “never say never.” Loyal viewers keep the flame alive, proving that the cultural imprint of Monica Raymund on Chicago Fire endures. One Chicago CenterYahoo

6. Looking Forward: Producing, Directing—and Maybe Broadway?

What’s next? Insiders hint that Monica Raymund is developing a limited-series adaptation of the novel The House of Broken Angels, aiming to both produce and direct. She is also eyeing a return to theatre—her Juilliard roots run deep—with discussions underway for a 2026 Broadway revival of Anna in the Tropics. If schedules align, the project would mark the first time Monica Raymund headlines a New York stage since her pre-television days.

7. Conclusion

From fearless firefighter to fearless filmmaker, Monica Raymund embodies creative evolution. Whether she’s acting, directing or advocating for representation, her career arc underscores a simple truth: leaving a hit show can ignite new fires. As 2025 progresses, expect Monica Raymund to keep challenging genres, elevating stories and reminding audiences why her name still commands attention across the entertainment landscape.

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