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Brian Lucci
Hey, I'm Brian Lucci, and this is the official one Chicago Podcast.
Marina Squarciati
Action.
Brian Lucci
We had an incredible season over here on Chicago pd and I can't believe how fast the final stretch of episodes came up. Damn, this season flew by faster than a New Year's diet. I'm always thinking about what makes PD such a special place to work. And there's one person who really stands out to me. An og. Been there since day one. One of the best of the best, Marina Squarciati, AKA my detective, Kim Burgess. So I sat her down to learn more about the incredible way she approaches her craft, how she shows up as a leader on set, and how Chicago PD has changed her life for the better.
Marina Squarciati
I was at my day job as a paralegal and I got a call from my agent being like, I think your life's about to change. And I was like in the middle of like, filing, and I was like, do I leave right now? And I'd just like burn into the ground and be like, I'm out. Maybe like two days later, I went to Chicago to train to be a cop.
Brian Lucci
So let's get into it with the one, the only Marina Squarciati, better known as Detective Kim Burgess. That's coming up next. After a quick break. Don't go anywhere.
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Brian Lucci
hi, I'm Brian Lucci and this is the official One Chicago podcast. Today I have a veteran, an OG, and I'm talking all the way back to day one, the One and only Marina. How do I say it?
Marina Squarciati
No, you could just. You got it to try.
Brian Lucci
Try Scorchatti.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah, that's it.
Brian Lucci
Squirt. Chatty. My Italian little princess. Who is this incredible actress, an amazing human being, super, super smart. And here we go.
Marina Squarciati
Here we go.
Brian Lucci
You're an OG season one, Chicago PD cast member, 247 episodes.
Marina Squarciati
Is that right?
Brian Lucci
Yeah. We had to look it up 247 that you've been in because you missed a few, but not because you want it.
Marina Squarciati
Okay. Like, I was like, you know what, I don't feel like working today. No.
Brian Lucci
So we. They always start out like a. How the hell did you get into the wolf world? What started it?
Marina Squarciati
I mean, I think I was on. Like most actors in New York, you got to. If you haven't done a dick wolf show, it's like a rite of passage, you know, the criminal intent. I think I did. And I did svu. So I've done guest stars on both of those.
Brian Lucci
When, when. When they called, you were. You did you tried out for this. This part?
Marina Squarciati
Oh, for this part? I think. Well, the. I started out like a bab and they're like, you know, it's like, do we like her? I was at my day job as a paralegal and I got a call being like from my agent, being like, I think your life's about to change. And I was, like, in the middle of, like, filing, and I was like, do I leave right now? And I was like, burn into the ground and be like, I'm out. But no, I finished my day, and then maybe, like, two days later, I went to Chicago to train to be a cop.
Brian Lucci
Get out of here. So. But did you. Back then, we don't send in tapes or nothing. They just. They.
Marina Squarciati
I had a one audition with Jonathan Strauss.
Brian Lucci
Oh, I love Jonathan.
Marina Squarciati
And I heard, like. So there's a little. There's. Every actor listens to the other person auditioning in front of them, and you're doing mind games, like, better than that, or, oh, my God, I'm not good as. As good as that. So I heard Kim Burgess was originally. Her main characteristic was a stewardess. She was a flight attendant who decided to become a cop.
Brian Lucci
Right, right, right.
Marina Squarciati
So I heard everybody sort of going into the flight attendant mode of, like, talking to Voight because it was a. It was a. It was a screaming match with Voit talking very softly and, you know, like this. So I was like, I got to go the other way. So I went in with a thick New York accent, which is crazy because we're in Chicago being like, don't you talk to me like that. And I was slamming the walls. I was throwing things around, and I got it the next day.
Brian Lucci
Oh, my God, I wish I could see some of those tapes. Jaslyn said something that she did a. It's a test with the. With. With Hanukkah from Chicago Fire. Like, they did that. What were you going to say? Interrupt?
Marina Squarciati
I would love to see that audition,
Brian Lucci
to go back and see it.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah. Because if all the auditions I've thought I've nailed, this was not one of them.
Brian Lucci
So before the wolf world.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
Even started, and all of that craziness where you've had to move to Chicago and bed down your family. Who. How did you get into. Like, how did you even know you wanted to be an actor? So how'd you get into this?
Marina Squarciati
I wanted. I knew I wanted to perform. I just didn't know how. And I did ballet at sab, School of American Ballet for many, many years. I don't know if you've seen the Macaulay Culkin movie the Nutcracker. I'm dancing in it.
Brian Lucci
I know you are.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah. Yeah. Ye.
Brian Lucci
I will be heading to the Nutcracker.
Marina Squarciati
I hated ballet. I hated how much you had to keep in. I. I know as a dancer, you can express yourself, but to me, it didn't feel like enough. So then I did sports for a while and then after sports I realized, like, I liked being loud and enjoying a team and. And then I went into, sort of into the theater.
Brian Lucci
Did you go to school for acting?
Marina Squarciati
Yeah, I went to Northwestern in Chicago. The funny thing is I didn't go to school on the east coast or on the west coast because I figured, well, I want to be an actress. I'm going to be working in LA or New York my whole life. I'm going to go to Northwestern and get a taste of the Midwest. And I've been back here for 13 years. That's literally the reason I didn't go to the school on the east coast. I was like, I'd like to do something different before I start my career here. I've been for 13 years. Yeah.
Brian Lucci
How different was it stepping in a law enforcement role as Burgess compared to your regular life when you were doing all that other crazy?
Marina Squarciati
I think training to dancer is like one of the greatest things you can do as an actor because you're really in your body. And I feel like the training was great. Like, I know how to use my body. Once you tell me how to do something, which you do, yeah, I can implement it because I'm used to working with my body.
Brian Lucci
Every day on set is constant training. And I, over the years I've got calls from cops all over the place who say, dude, there's nobody that moves. Like Burgess and Ruse. Those are the two compliments. Not to take anything away from anybody.
Marina Squarciati
No. Rusk is amazing.
Brian Lucci
He's effortless, he's. He floats, he's.
Marina Squarciati
But also I, I just love that we move in tandem. Like, you know, he's my work husband, like, and like, I know how to. I know what he. We actually say, Patty and I, that it's disgusting how well we know each other. Like, I know the second I see him how he is. Like, I just know him so well. But means we can dance and clear a room really well together. Which is.
Brian Lucci
Yeah, you move. Is one.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah. It's priceless. I can see how having a good, like, partner on the beat would be like, so important.
Brian Lucci
All right, what has been fun and what has been challenging about becoming a cop?
Marina Squarciati
How do I explain it? It's so. It's such a good set and everyone loves each other. And when you're working in these really difficult conditions and doing double up days, which means two episodes at once and everyone's scattered, like, it's really a blessing that everyone is happy usually. And so that makes all of the other stuff easy. What makes it fun is the vibe. It's a great vibe. Dick Wolf has picked people that are just wonderful people. I don't. There's a lot of bad people in the world, and he's just managed to pick really good ones and get us on set. What is hard is probably not what you expect. It's that after 13 years trying to find. In every script, I try and find something new. I try and find something different, small or big. Like in one episode recently, I took. I was like, nursing a head wound and I took some Advil as people were talking. And, like, it just helps me, like, keep things fresh. Like, I've never done that. I've popped popping pills in interrogation room. And I just. I like that I can still bring little things into it after 13 years. I work hard to make the whole thing work and not just scene by scene, which I think is a. Can be a mistake that maybe young actors can do, or old actors. But just working on that scene, you have to. Because you film out of order. You have to know exactly where you are in that graph or in that bell curve. Like, where am I in this story so that I can end here. Like, that is like, the most important thing an actor can do.
Brian Lucci
When you're breaking down a script, are you say at a 10, you're supposed to be at the end? Are you marking? Like, I should be six, seven? Or do you just know mentally?
Marina Squarciati
Not like that, but yeah, 100. I see a script sort of like as an XY graph. Like, all my lines on this thing, I'm here and an actor. In order for the episode to be interesting, I need to end here, right? So I sort of chart it out. And then when a line sort of dips, I'm like, that doesn't work in my. I work on it to try and figure out what I'm missing. Why is that line dipping? Why did that writer write that? What am I missing? Do I have to shift my line or do I have to change that line? And I try and make it work for me because I think the last resort is to call the showrunner and be like, I can't make this line work. And that. And then I work, work, work till I have two or three, maybe zero, but two or three Max asks in order to get my trajectory where it needs to go.
Brian Lucci
The ask to Gwen.
Marina Squarciati
Also, my mother is a writer. So, like, I have to respect that. That's what they thought I needed to do. And I need. It's My job to figure out how to say it. It's not my job to figure out how to change it.
Brian Lucci
We've had a few episodes where me and you, like, work together, like, incredibly. But I'll see. You'll be like, I love that you double check. And you care enough to say, are we getting this?
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
One is the diner. I know. I just loved. There was a moment in our relationship. We did the diner scene, and you sat there. And it wasn't about the directors anyway. Because the director was fabulous. Church. He was. He was amazing. But you wanted to get all the gravy off the plate.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
And you sat in that booth, and I watched you transform. And you. You looked around the room and we talked, and I seen the thoughts, like, this is where that little girl died and got shot. And this happened. That happened. And you. You legit turned into somebody else. Like, you. You became part of the set.
Marina Squarciati
Oh, what a cool compliment.
Brian Lucci
You really did. You know what I mean? You just melted in. And I was like. I just sat there with my mouth open, going home. I just loved it, you know? I mean, like. Because you could just phone it in after so many. You know what I mean?
Marina Squarciati
Yeah. I think. I hope the audience sees, and I think they do. I think that's why people still love it. That, like, we're all really working hard to give the best performance and the best sort of like, complete picture that we can. Every time, there's a part of me that wishes I could just be like, what day is it? Give me my lines. Let's go. You know, But I would save me a lot of time.
Brian Lucci
Your trajectory as a character, which I kind of love is. Burgess starts with plaid and patrol, which I gotta say is some of the greatest days. We should talk about that. Patrol. You worked your way into intelligence, which wasn't easy, and you ultimately make detective, you know, Is Marina proud of Burgess? Because I know Lucci is.
Marina Squarciati
Oh, God, am I proud of Burgess? What an interesting question. I don't know. I never thought of it that way at all. No.
Brian Lucci
Oh, my God.
Marina Squarciati
I think of our. Our trajectories are sort of the same. Like, I come in, all of those guys had been on, like, some pilot together. They all grew up in LA together. They're all auditioning. I was in college at tailgate parties. I mean, like, I was not. I was working on theater, but, like, I was not trying to make it quite yet. So I was like the odd man out, which is sort of Burgess in the beginning and really green and really happy. And really light on her toes, really quirky. And. And as I get more confident, as I know. Understand the camera better, because I do come from theater. And as I get, like, more confident as a actor, more confident as a woman getting older, like, all those things, I feel like Burgess is. We're doing the same things sometimes in different ways. I think that she's gotten darker and more serious, which I don't know that I am, but I do feel like we're both formidable women, and I like that.
Brian Lucci
So here you are now. You're up in intelligence, your little chair. You have a little airplane on your desk that some people may or may not get. Is that your own?
Marina Squarciati
No, I asked for the airplane.
Brian Lucci
You asked for other stuff. What else did you ask for? You kind of burgerized it.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah, I burgerized it. I asked for pink pens. I always use pink pens, which I think is, like, people are, like, taken aback by. But I. I just feel like sometimes when we get powerful women, we have to totally emasculate them in order to be powerful. And I feel like I'm a woman, and I'm really powerful, and I like pink. Like. Yeah. I mean, I don't understand why I have to be, like, just so dour. I don't. I can like pink. And I have a. I have a little figurine from my daughter. It was for Michaela. And then my. My daughter came to go visit the set, and she was like, absolutely not. So it's been replaced by something that she made.
Sponsor/Ad Voice
Really?
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
I love.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah. And then I think that's it. Oh, then a cheesy photo of me and Ruic and, like, the year three
Brian Lucci
being like, yeah, we got to get rid of that.
Marina Squarciati
It's pretty cheesy. Every time I look at it, I'm
Brian Lucci
like, so from patrol in a uniform, become intelligence, ultimately become a leader in intelligence.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah. You.
Brian Lucci
You study, and you really did study. You were going through some stuff.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Brian Lucci
I sent you that, and you were reading that, and you were going through, and you were. It was kind of badass. And the next thing you know, you're the only detective.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
And then we. We talk about, like, what is the detective's role? So you're in a. You're in a Bureau of organized Crime. You're working in intelligence through the Chicago Police Department. Like, as a detective, like, you're. You're number one on the scene.
Marina Squarciati
So my first episode where I'm like, become a detective with Elizabeth Rodriguez, she was, like, the person mentoring me, and
Brian Lucci
she was mean and cool. All in one.
Marina Squarciati
So I remember one line that she said to me because I was like. She was. I. I lose something because I go. I run after the perp. And she goes, you're a detective now. You don't run. Others run. And I was like, fabulous. I'm not running anymore. On this show, it's not your job to chase. Now the patrol do the pursuits. Delegate. Your job is to maintain the crime scene. That was a lie. I'm running all the time. Gwen, you wrote that line. You're a detective now. You don't run. Like, you make others run. I was like, this is it. I'm sitting pretty from now on. I have run a lot.
Brian Lucci
Yeah. I don't know. I don't know if the other guys, like, they're like, I got an answer to her. Yeah. She's above you. She's the detective.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
When the old man ain't around. When voiding around, I'm sorry, but she's holding down the scene like she's testifying. You did that. What was that episode? It was so cool. I can't remember it. We brought you to home and square, and then the girl came up, and you seen something in her that is.
Marina Squarciati
I love that episode. I'm so proud. I'm usually like, I could have done better. I'm so proud of that episode.
Brian Lucci
I don't remember the episode number, but I loved it. And this. This was cool because it was the first time. Okay. She's a detective, and they're bringing her back, and she's going to do training. Could you tell us about that episode a little bit? Because I loved it.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah. It's. It was a young girl who sort of. I see something in. And I take her with me and, like, sort of try and build her up, and. And it was really fun. The young woman was just incredible and was that person. So that was easy. And Gavin was there in the beginning, so he helped us in the beginning. Massage it. It was great. It was so fun. I think it's good because in that episode, I did things I'd never done before. I went to an undercover house. I laid back. I ate popcorn. We were bonding more like chicks, which we don't really do on the show. And it felt, like, interesting. I loved it.
Brian Lucci
And you taught her. There was. There was a moment where they do these things they call them roundups. The Chicago police does a roundup where they bring in 20 groups from the Bureau of organized Crime, Narcotics, intelligence, whatever, and cover a night. They go do multiple breaches. Which you guys were going to do. So you had, like, the midnight watch, and you guys were out there sitting, and she was so excited, and you were like, oh, my God. Because this is your 6000 surveillance. You know what I mean? And you. You two with your faces. No words. There didn't have to be any words. You know, you've seen the excitement in her.
Marina Squarciati
They were. The thing is, we're supposed to be drinking coffees in the car. And I was like, what if it's a Slurpee? Just, like, just trying to get sugar in to stay awake. And so we start the scene with me being like, oh, the straw.
Brian Lucci
Yay.
Marina Squarciati
Just trying to find those little moments that'll bring us in different. In different directions than we normally go on. Pd. Yeah, just like, little. Not. You know, it's still pd. You still have a tone you need to hit, but it just brings you off your trajectory just a little. It's one of those dots that goes like that.
Brian Lucci
But sitting. So being on the other side of the camera and watching it go down and seeing these two women there and knowing, like, you being this cool leader and stuff, and you helping her, you helped her a lot tactically inside the house when we were shooting. But what's called, like, there's. There's a certain core of people, like Kyle and what's going on when there's an excitement and you're like, these two together, there's a little magic there, you know? And at the end of the episode, because we've seen it already, people were like, we got to figure a way to get them back together.
Marina Squarciati
Oh, really?
Brian Lucci
Yeah. Oh, every. They loved it. That. That was a good episode.
Marina Squarciati
It was a good episode. And Victor, who's our A cameraman, is now directing, too. And so it's really interesting because when he's a very opinionated man and I love him, but he. He knows when this is not his episode, he can't, you know, he can't direct. He can't say anything. But you could tell when he doesn't agree. The camera's shaking. Yeah. He's just biting his lips. So I'm glad that, like, you know, he gets to, you know, direct and be with me.
Brian Lucci
And he loved you guys in that. He looked. It was. It was about friendly fire. Was about an officer under fire who accidentally shoots another police officer.
Marina Squarciati
I will say with Victor, I feel like to go back to the way I work on a script, I think he had trouble in the beginning because we were sort of doing one portion of, like, we never Film in order. So it was like. It was sort of not the boring portion, but the portion where I'm all cop and I'm just trying to get her ready for an undercover episode and, like, for her to go undercover.
Brian Lucci
Yeah.
Marina Squarciati
So there's not a lot of, like, intrigue. There's no relationship yet. I'm like, I'm. You need to do this. You need to do this. And I think Vic was nervous because he hadn't seen the bond and the relationship, which will be established. But we haven't filmed those scenes yet. Right. But I know exactly where I am in the script. I know we're going to get there. I kept telling him, I know it seems like we don't. That it's boring and it's just all business. We'll have the love, we'll have the friendship. It's not yet. We're in this part of the graph.
Brian Lucci
And you talked through all.
Marina Squarciati
I talked to him like that. Yeah. He, you know, I think. And then I gave him ones that, like, were a little bit more what he needed, but I think he ultimately saw what I was trying to do.
Brian Lucci
And he trusted you and trusted him,
Marina Squarciati
and I trust him. Yeah. I'm not just saying I'm taking all the credit. I trusted him and he would tell me, you know, you're not doing something right. And.
Brian Lucci
All right, guys, we gotta take a little break, but stick around. We'll be back with more from Marina right after this. This episode is brought to you by Fandango. People say fans are too distracted these days, but the truth is, when a great movie hits the screen, you show up, you stay glued, invested, part of the story. And without fans like you, there'd be no cinema magic, no shared moments. So head to fandango.com to get tickets, stream or rent or buy top movies and series. Fandango loves fans.
Marina Squarciati
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Brian Lucci
From the producer, Bohemian Rhapsody. There are many legends, but There is only one Michael. Rated PG13, in theaters April 24th. And we're back talking with the wicked, smart, incredibly talented, gorgeous Marina Squarciati. AKA Detective Kim Burgess. Looking back over all the seasons, what is a scene or a moment that you think defines who Burgess is a character?
Marina Squarciati
I'm going to tell you something a little different. I'm going to tell you what defines Marina as a character. There is a scene, maybe episode three, where I'm dressed as, like, a Blue Jays fan. And I go. I'm still under. I'm still on the beat. And I go upstairs, they have me dress as a tourist, and I, like, wear, like, a jersey, and, like, I dress up like a tourist. And I come up and Jesse, like, is like, what are you doing? And I'm like, I'm supposed to be a tourist. It's working. That's it. Okay. And after that scene, I left. I went found, like, the backside of the stage, and I just started sobbing. Oh. Because tonally, it's very hard on the show. The hardest thing on the show, I find, is when you get a line that's humorous. Right. Because it's not a funny show.
Brian Lucci
No.
Marina Squarciati
So you can't. I know how to hit a joke. You can't hit the joke the way you want to hit a joke in a sitcom. You need to sort of glide it in, be real, but not be too funny. And I was. I was nervous because I was up in intelligence. I didn't know how to hit the joke in the right way lightly. And I just felt like I looked at it, it was totally fine. But Jesse found me sobbing. He's like, what's wrong? And I was like. I was just like a tourist. I don't know that I landed the line. I think it's like I'm a bad actor. And he was so kind to me. And I feel like in that moment, I realized, like, what this show was and what it needed to be and how I couldn't be too hard on myself. I don't know. It was like a good mo learning moment. And Jesse is such a good director and such a good friend for him to help me out of it. Anyway, I know you wanted a Burgess moment, but I feel like that moment for Marina was really defining.
Brian Lucci
No, you don't meet me being the cop. I'm always looking for the cop stuff. I'm fighting with Gwen se and I'm fighting with the writers. Come on, It's a cop show. This ain't no Little House on the
Marina Squarciati
Prairie Cop Show 1 When I was shot, and Chad, who's our executive producer and a director, said to me, we're going to have the camera here. Do you think we could do it all in one shot? So instead of breaking it up, because normally, do one angle. One angle, one angle. Just do the whole thing. Like a three minute take of you being shot, trying to, like, get your shoe off, take your sock, staunch the bleeding, somehow tie it on, and then crawl to the car.
Brian Lucci
Crawl into the. Break into the car. Get it? Yeah. Oh, my God.
Marina Squarciati
One shot. And I was like, I think I can. And you know, it's also embarrassing and exposing to just, like, do this thing all by yourself because you don't know how, if you're being too big, like.
Brian Lucci
Right.
Marina Squarciati
Or if you're being too little. So anyway, we did it in one take. And afterwards there was this silence and I was like, maybe this will be my last season. And then I heard the Lucci clap, which means you did a good job.
Brian Lucci
I don't. The other side. Yeah, probably when they were kidnapped and you were. They beat the hell out of you and made you crawl. Yeah, that. Yeah, that episode is one of my favorites. I. I listed, like, three of them.
Marina Squarciati
Oh, really, Don?
Brian Lucci
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Down the road.
Marina Squarciati
That was brutal to film. It wasn't my favorite episode.
Brian Lucci
We filmed on the south side.
Marina Squarciati
I was sticky with blood the entire.
Brian Lucci
The entire time. Yeah. Laying there, laying on the ground, getting whacked in the head. Yeah. Yeah. Your nails were broken.
Marina Squarciati
Oh, yeah, they were. It was terrible.
Brian Lucci
There's a scene in that where Rusic shows up and your car is under the vic. And I remember him walking around the corner and he wasn't acting. We put blood on your vest and on your radio and on your garrison belt that they ripped off you.
Marina Squarciati
Oh, right.
Brian Lucci
And I remember, like, we weren't even ready for the shot. And I remember him sitting there and I don't know if he was preparing himself or not, but he didn't need to. You seen, like, goldfish swimming in his eyes because there was water in there, you know, and he was like, because he loves you. You know what I mean?
Marina Squarciati
Oh, my God. I think, like, what a career. Dick Wolf has given me one. But I'm going to get so emotional because, like, Patty and I are not meant to be friends. We are the most opposite people in the world. Like, there's literally anything he does I do different. Like, and being with this person for 13 years, he's like, my friend saw me. Like, I. I would never have had him in my life if not for, like, Tracy and I could have been friends, you know, and it would have happened. And I'm lucky that I have a Best friend with her and we're traveling to Greece this summer. But. But Patty never would have worked.
Brian Lucci
Yeah, yeah, he's bananas, he's free spirited, care Midwest. Yeah, but you guys, I mean, people love you two together. I mean, they absolutely adore it. How did you feel when you found out that Burgess was going to get to become a parent to Michaela?
Marina Squarciati
I get nervous with every, every big move because you're like, what, what do you do now? Like married, what do you do now? I have a kid. What do I do now? I remember Dick Wolf. I was pregnant once. I was pregnant twice, but I was the first time I was pregnant on the show. I asked Dick Wolf at a dinner. I was like, why don't you just write it in? Then we don't have to hide it. And he's like, no, because everyone's going to be wondering, you're like, in the thick of it. Why aren't you home with your kid? And I was like, I get that. Why are you running into that fire? And I get it. We have people with. Who are first responders, have children. I understand that. But when they're on tv, you don't want to think of it. You don't want to think about that. I understand you judge it. I. I totally understand that. So I was nervous, you know, I'm like, oh, no, are they. But I think we've established something with Rusic too. Like, we're in and out with Michaela in episodes. We're like, who's got Michaela? We're like, we've done it in a way that I think is acceptable.
Brian Lucci
Well, it's awesome. It's. It's the. We go home with you.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
But we're still doing the Please show. And it's the only you, you, me. And you were talking the other day and you brought up fun fact about you're the only.
Marina Squarciati
Oh, I'm the only mom on the Chicago shows.
Brian Lucci
Out of all three shows. Mad Fire pd. You're the only mom.
Marina Squarciati
I'm the only one with children.
Brian Lucci
Two children.
Marina Squarciati
A woman with woman with children.
Brian Lucci
We call them set babies.
Marina Squarciati
Do you really?
Brian Lucci
Yeah, we call like, like Jamo had two kids that Kyle had his baby. Like, who had kids. You have two of them. Yeah, but they were all able to show them. You had to hide them. We would hide your belly.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah. Behind Larois's head or a file or something.
Brian Lucci
Royce's head works perfect for hiding a lot of stuff.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
Yeah.
Marina Squarciati
For my biggest episode, I was. I like, work out very hard and I'm wearing, like, sweaters and big jackets. And the one time it said, burgess goes to the club dresses the Nines. I was almost nine months pregnant. I was like, you guys couldn't be going to a club dressed as the Nines when I'm, like, not heavily pregnant.
Brian Lucci
How is being played a parent as a storyteller helped you in real life? Being a parent?
Marina Squarciati
I do. Oh, here's something. Sometimes I feel like when actors don't have children, they make the moments with their children on screen quite precious. Like, you're. We gotta get out the door. Backpack, food, let's go. Yeah, yeah. And, and I try, you know, you only see one scene with Michaela. Right. So I can't always be like, hey, hey, no iPad, no iPad, no iPad. I can't just do that. Because that's all you see with me, with Michaela. Right. But I do try and not make every scene a, like, hallmarky and sweet. Like, it's like, Kayla, Yeah. Just like, please put your dishes away, you know? But I do think, I do think about, like, we don't get that many, so don't do it all the time. But don't make every singing like, baby, just no iPad.
Brian Lucci
Yeah, yeah.
Marina Squarciati
No.
Brian Lucci
You're such a leader on the show. Okay, okay. And very unselfish to anyone that comes on. Is there any advice that you'd give to any young actor that's coming on that you think would help them as an actor?
Marina Squarciati
I think when you are a guest star, I think it's really hard to not memorize because you have these, like, couple lines in a certain rhythm. But if you memorize in a certain rhythm, it is really hard to break the cadence. So know ex. Know what you want to say, have those feelings, know the lines. Don't know exactly how you're going to say it because we want to play with you. And if you are stuck in a rhythm, there's no way we can play. It's really hard to break.
Brian Lucci
I mean, I'm so fortunate to be there to watch it seven, eight times and then to see it grow. But I've watched you unselfishly work with all of these actors that came on, and you, you're, you're, you're a little too respectful, to be honest with you. You'll be like, because you don't want to step over the line.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah, I, I, you really are. I am. I hear that.
Brian Lucci
Honest to God, it kills me. I sit and I'll be like, oh, God, he's so freaking smart. Like, and you'll see. You'll ask the director. Do you mind if I say this to someone? Or. Or you'll come to Luch. Do you think you could say this, and there's all of this in you that is so good to make it better? Like, I'm like, stop editing yourself. You know, I've told you this.
Marina Squarciati
No, I know. You're right. You have. But I'm also, you know, I'm.
Brian Lucci
You're professional.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah. And. And also, it's not always my place, you know, And I do. I understand that when Jason's not there, I'm that leader of that set. But I do feel like you are.
Brian Lucci
You are, and you got to know that.
Marina Squarciati
I do know that. But I also, you know, there's. I. Maybe I. I toe the line too much, but I do try and be
Brian Lucci
respectful when we're in the bullpen and things aren't working no matter what, and. Or we should do this or that, and we don't want them to feel contrived or this doesn't feel real. There are. There are times that ideas are made. Like, and a lot of times Void has no problem saying his. And then you'll go. You'll go to say something, and I'm like, I'm. It's her turn. And you always bring something really, really cool. And I've. I've seen lately that it's a little bit more this bridge of, like, great ideas to make this interesting. And I. I just want to tell you that, like, thanks. When you open your mouth, it elevates. And I'm not just blowing smoke up your ass, you know, that I believe it. And Gwen says that, you know, like, I had a conversation with her and I spoke about it. It's like every time you're on the phone with her, you make it better. You know, you just know the story. And when you're there on this, on the scenes, you make it better. And it's so nice that people aren't just like, okay, let's shoot this. Let's get it done. No, we. We're going to take the time. We're going to make it better.
Marina Squarciati
But I also feel like what people might not know is that as actors, we have, like, numbers on the call sheet. And so instead of your name, it's a number. And the number one always sets the tone of the show.
Brian Lucci
Yeah.
Marina Squarciati
And yes, Jason can be brusque and all those things, but to have a number one after 13 years, really care about the show. Always know the story, always know the lines. Never, you know, never not. He never phones it in. Like, that is a blessing. And that sets the tone for me that I'm allowed to, like, continue to be like, no, this is not right. And, you know, because without that. Because you can't have a number one that's been there 13 years and just is like, all right, let's go. Okay, I'm gone. That's not him. And he sets that tone and that trickles down.
Brian Lucci
And you better know your words.
Marina Squarciati
Oh, yeah.
Brian Lucci
And you better know the story.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
And if you don't, he's looking at you sideways and then you're.
Marina Squarciati
I've been on shows, number ones had no idea what their lines were. And, you know, it's. It's different. You know, maybe they can cut it together differently. But our show works because Jason cares that much.
Brian Lucci
Yeah. And you both, you.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah, yeah.
Brian Lucci
The team.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
Yeah. I gotta say, two great leaders. I have been told by numerous people how Amani is one of them, how when she came here, one of her first calls was you.
Marina Squarciati
Oh, that. I called her.
Brian Lucci
Yeah. You reached out and said, hey, welcome to Chicago, and what do you need? Do you need help finding a place to live? You know, blah, blah, blah. And I. I thought, that's so amazing. And there's this whole women's club, you know, of. I see pictures that you guys post, and I want to be in it.
Marina Squarciati
Well, actually, I have. I'm having all the women over to my house for a tequila tasting, so.
Brian Lucci
So this isn't the first time you've done this?
Marina Squarciati
I've done it a couple times.
Brian Lucci
Yeah. Several times. You get everyone together and it makes you feel like part of this. This wolf universe, but, like, it's almost like watching Survivor. I'm a big Survivor fan. The women come together all the time to vote the men off. So I see you guys conniving and stuff in the breeze way, and it's just. It's awesome how you guys look out for each other. That's all. And you got many compliments about that.
Marina Squarciati
Thanks.
Brian Lucci
And another thing that people don't know, that I think should. That people should know out there behind the scenes is a lot of times we have parties or Christmas parties or something, and you guys come together and you. You pay for those. You know what I mean? It's kind of neat. You guys all kick in, oh, there's a thousand dollars on the bar for you. You know what I mean? Other birthday parties, you make it special. Looking back, what has been your top favorite Burgess episode or scene to Shoot. Of all times. And why.
Marina Squarciati
Oh, my gosh. The top. The thing that popped into my head was when a pool. It's in a well, right? So I climbed down in real life into a well. And it's like, it's maybe this tall, so I have to, like, crouch underneath. And then I actually. You built a pool on set.
Brian Lucci
I have pictures of you there.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah. So they had to. Because they had to carry me, because I had to be dry onto the ladder in the middle of the pool, which is the pretend entrance to the well. And so you only have one take of me dry leaping in. And I will tell you, there's a mistake that I. Kills me, because the water is like 97 degrees. They overheated it. It was like a. It was like a hot tub. But the water is supposed to be freezing, right. And you only get one tape to be holding. There's a little kid down there, and I jump in one taste. I forgot to like that the water's cold or something like that. And I was like. I mean, I didn't go like, oh, this is lovely, but I forgot. And there's no going back. And so I think about that moment all the time that when you have one take, you always. I mean, I thought I was prepared. You can forget something, and no matter how prepared you are, it's so hard when you only have one take.
Brian Lucci
All right, here we go.
Marina Squarciati
Okay.
Brian Lucci
I'm gonna tell you mine.
Marina Squarciati
Okay.
Brian Lucci
The other side, when you were kidnapped.
Marina Squarciati
Okay.
Brian Lucci
Was how you got prepared for that every day. And how they beat you up like a pinata. And how you were just. It was amazing the hell that they put you through. That was with Chad. Seen and unseen. The diner.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
I loved you in the diner.
Marina Squarciati
That was cool. But you and I, we had fun together.
Brian Lucci
I was. Here is when you rushed in to save a victim. You fought the offender in the bathroom. Badass.
Marina Squarciati
Oh, God. Yeah.
Brian Lucci
Yeah.
Marina Squarciati
It's so funny. You're telling me all these scenes that you love and all. I'm like, oh, right. I can't feel the left side of my knee because of that one. Oh, yeah. My hip got a fracture for that one. I mean, that's. That's an artist, right?
Brian Lucci
I'm like, you've been known to run into a wall.
Marina Squarciati
Oh, God. I have Peter Jankowski, who is like, Dick's right hand man. Right. Whenever you get a call from him, there's a little bit of like, am I. Did I do something really good or did something really bad? Yeah. And so I got an email from him, Season two. And it's just a take. And it's just this. Ouch. It's just a take of me running like a badass and then just smacking into the wall, passing out. And they called an ambulance, and the gang went.
Brian Lucci
I was there, and it was like a cove that came through.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah. And I didn't like it. Yeah.
Brian Lucci
Oh, dear Lord.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
Yeah, I was there. You were knocked out. You were. You. You were.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah, But Peter just took that out of the film. Ouch. No, like, are you okay?
Brian Lucci
Okay.
Marina Squarciati
No, just like, ouch.
Brian Lucci
He cares. He meant.
Marina Squarciati
I know.
Brian Lucci
All right. You've got to do so many cools in Chicago pd. What's left on your bucket list?
Marina Squarciati
I love that. Like, my. The way that you sound. I. You sound like you're talking to, like, Helen Mir. And I'm like, I've done so much.
Brian Lucci
Gotta see something on that bucket.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah, no, I have a lot on my bucket list. I would love to do Shakespeare in the park in New York. In case they're watching this episode. Theater would be more theater. I would love to do something like the Gilded Age, like something in the 1920s or 30s or 40s. Some antiquated piece. I feel like my face is very much like, belongs in the 30s. So I loved. And I love that sort of, like, stylized acting. I would love to do something like that. I also just want to be a drunk neighbor on, like, any show. Apple, cbs, abc, NBC.
Brian Lucci
Really?
Marina Squarciati
Yeah. I just want to come in, show the world I'm funny for one day, and then leave. Like, I'll do it for pennies. Just let me be funny.
Brian Lucci
Yeah. Yeah. I want you to be funny.
Marina Squarciati
I know.
Brian Lucci
There's so many times that your New York comes out in you when you're mad. Like, that lady slips out. And what? Also, people don't know you're fluent in Spanish? Oh, my God.
Marina Squarciati
We.
Brian Lucci
We only explored it a few times on the show.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah. Well, now we have Torres, so who cares? My son, I. You know, I'm working so much, and I get weekends with him, but, like, I. I not with him a lot. And my nanny only speaks Spanish, so he doesn't really speak English, so he'll be, like, talking to me. And I'm like, he's looking at an owl, and he's like, boo, Boo. And I'm like, no, that's a ghost. That's an owl. And I realize he's saying bujo, which is owl in Spanish.
Brian Lucci
Oh, my God.
Marina Squarciati
It takes me a minute to be like, oh, this kid thinks Owls is boo. No.
Brian Lucci
You know, you're catching up to him. Foreign. It's time for a lightning round of rapid fire questions. But on our show, we call it rapid pd. Marina.
Marina Squarciati
Oh, God.
Brian Lucci
If you could bring any character from any Wolf Entertainment show, Law and Order, svu, FBI, or any of the Chicago shows onto Chicago pd, who would you choose and why?
Marina Squarciati
To work with as an actor or as, like a person that I want to hang with?
Brian Lucci
Let's do both.
Marina Squarciati
Okay. I actually love Stephen Weber. I've been trying to. I've been texting him and Oliver because I want to take them out to this certain restaurant because they're both big foodies. I feel like he and I talk in a way that I can't talk to about many people. Like, we talk philosophy, we talk about death, we talk about these. Like, he's so smart and my mom is really smart. Like, they could go toe to. They. They have met each other, go toe to toe. We actually set up our parents to go meet each other in New York.
Brian Lucci
Honest to God.
Marina Squarciati
Honest to God. And he's so smart. And I love. And I love intellectuals. My mom's an intellectual. I love talking like that and I love elevating and like, he's recommending me, like, some, like, philosophy websites, and it's great. I love talking to him. He's fabulous.
Brian Lucci
Stephen Weber, he, I. He was one of the guys that was so scared to interview because he's so smart.
Marina Squarciati
Oh, he's not scared, but he, he,
Brian Lucci
yeah, he made me feel so comfortable. I got a ged. Like, I didn't even finish high school. Like, he, he didn't try. He's just kind, you know, he's a
Marina Squarciati
kind guy and he's smart. He's interesting. Yeah. Yeah.
Brian Lucci
So smart.
Marina Squarciati
He's. He's also not guarded. I have found. So I like that too. He's just like, this is me. I like him.
Brian Lucci
Marina, which PD character would you most want to be at your side or holding your six as you bust down the door of a bad guy?
Marina Squarciati
Patty.
Brian Lucci
Patty Rusk. Right.
Marina Squarciati
I mean, I just, like, I was in such a. Not a bad mood when I got to set at 10 o' clock at night, 11 o' clock at night. But I'm not a night owl. I'm a morning person. And Patty is just like Patty. No matter what. He's put me in a great mood, Just a great mood. And I, I don't have to explain. He knows exactly like his. I know where his body's going. He knows where my body is. Going like, it's just a great relationship.
Brian Lucci
That's awesome. If you could pick one cast mate to throw into the interrogation room, sweat him a little bit, and ask them a burning question you've always wanted to ask. Who would you pick and why?
Marina Squarciati
Jesse Lee, Softer. I'd ask him why he didn't like me in the beginning. I know, Jesse, you're going to say that I didn't like you, but it's not true. You didn't like me.
Brian Lucci
It's a running thing in the real world.
Marina Squarciati
In the real world, he didn't like you. He did not like me, but he says that I didn't like him, which is not true. It's not true.
Brian Lucci
I love my Jesse.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
I miss her, man. Tracy, if you could go on vacation with any character from any of the one Chicago shows, who would you pick and why?
Marina Squarciati
Probably Platt. I think she's the only one with money. And she's like, has a dad who's like, left her a trust fund. I was like, I'll milk that a little.
Brian Lucci
All right, this is the one Chicago podcast. This is my amazing friend who I get to work. Can I say co worker?
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
Yeah. We kind of co Work together. Co work 13 years together through the sweat of it all.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
In this amazing wolf world, I'm so blessed to have you as a friend.
Marina Squarciati
Same.
Brian Lucci
And you. I. I gotta say one thing people don't realize, like, every day out there, you learn, right. And. But we learn from each other. And you have been an amazing teacher for me. Where you pull me to sign, you say luch. You can't say that. Or Lucha can't do that. Like in. In a wonderful way because you protect me and I'm just so, like.
Marina Squarciati
Well, same goes that you. I mean, like, you are like, hey. That. You don't do that. Don't. Look. You look stupid doing that. Or you sound. You sound too panicked. That's a big one for me because, like, when I get tired, when I'm like, you know, I'm nervous, I. I'm. I get nervous about other people and, and, and, And I feel for them and I'm. I'm not in the moment and I sound like I'm not a detective. You bring me back a veteran cop. You bring me back. Don't worry about that. This is what, you know, like, we all get in those.
Brian Lucci
You have time to grieve later.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Brian Lucci
I gotta say that I am so happy and so I feel so rewarded for working with you. And what I've. What I've been able to take away from not only is the friendship, but like, what you've taught me and, and I know it's easy to say, hey, I get in there and stuff, but I love you. Let me just put it that way. You're an amazing human being and thank you so much for doing this. The Wolf Company has got to be so happy with what we have in this world. Like, I talked to Jason Begay today on the phone and he was like, I'm so proud to be part of this, this Wolf Company. And I know you said it too. You know, this opportunity of. And we just want to keep going.
Marina Squarciati
Yeah.
Brian Lucci
So, I mean, that's it. Thank you very much and I love you today.
Marina Squarciati
Thank you.
Brian Lucci
Didn't I tell you? Talented, funny, thoughtful, all rolled up into one beautiful ball. That was Marina Squarchetti, our detective, Kim Burgess. Catch her on Chicago PD every Wednesday night and catch all our one Chicago shows Wednesday nights on NBC and anytime on Peacock. You don't want to miss what we got cooking. Once Chicago airs on Wednesday night at 8, 7 Central on NBC and you could stream it on Peacock. The One Chicago podcast was is a production of Wolf Entertainment and USG Audio. The series is hosted by me, Brian Lucci. It's executive produced by Dick Wolf, Elliot Wolf and Steven Michael at Wolf Entertainment, Josh Block at USG Audio and John Yell Kastner at Spoke Media. Our showrunner is Derek John. Our producer is Maggie Debrizzi and our audio producers are Jason Mark and Kelly Kauf. Video production by Bo Delmore. Coordinating production by Tess Ryan. Our production assistant is Montserrat Rodriguez with engineering and mix by Evan Arnett and original music by John o'. Hara. This series is produced by Spoke Media and distributed by Realm. Production support for USG Audio by Josh Lalonghi. I'm Brian Luch. Thanks for listening and we're and we'll see you all soon.
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One Chicago Podcast
Episode: Marina Squerciati (Kim Burgess on Chicago P.D.)
Host: Brian Luce
Date: April 9, 2026
In this episode of the One Chicago Podcast, host and former Chicago cop-turned-producer Brian Luce takes listeners behind the scenes with Marina Squerciati, who has played Detective Kim Burgess on Chicago P.D. since the show's inception. The conversation explores Marina’s journey from paralegal to TV star, her unique approach to her character and the craft of acting, the camaraderie and challenges on set, and personal reflections on her 13-year run on the series. Fans get a revealing, heartfelt, and often humorous deep dive into the making of a beloved TV detective—and the remarkable woman behind her.
Landing the Role of Kim Burgess
“Don’t you talk to me like that!” (06:05)
Coming Up as an Actor
“I figured… I want to be an actress, I’ll be working in LA or New York my whole life. I’ll go to Northwestern and get a taste of the Midwest. And I’ve been back here for 13 years.” (07:36–08:03)
Physical Craft and Preparation
Partnerships on Set
“It’s disgusting how well we know each other… it means we can dance and clear a room really well together.” (08:44)
Keeping It Fresh
Transformative Scenes & Method
“There’s a part of me that wishes I could just be like, ‘What day is it? Give me my lines, let’s go.’ But I work hard to give the best performance every time.” (12:47)
Evolution of Burgess
“I was not trying to make it quite yet… I was the odd man out, which is sort of Burgess in the beginning.”
Personalizing the Set
Becoming a Detective
“You’re a detective now. You don’t run—others run.” (16:05)
Gripping Storylines and Performances
“It was great. I did things I’d never done before—bonding with another woman on the show, went undercover, ate popcorn. I loved it.” (17:18–17:48)
“Afterwards there was this silence and I was like, maybe this will be my last season. And then I heard the Lucci clap, which means you did a good job.” (25:00)
Behind-the-Scenes Camaraderie
Staying Real—On Acting & Parenting
“I try not to make every scene with Michaela Hallmark-y and sweet. Sometimes it’s, ‘Please put your dishes away.’” (29:15)
Advice for New Actors
“Know what you want to say, know the lines, but don’t know exactly how you’re going to say it because we want to play with you.” (30:12)
Leadership and Set Culture
“To have a number one after 13 years really care about the show... that is a blessing. And that sets the tone for me.” (32:48)
Breaking Through Vulnerability
“The hardest thing on the show is when you get a line that’s humorous… You can’t hit the joke the way you want in a sitcom. You need to sort of glide it in, be real, but not too funny.” (23:32)
Favorite and Most Challenging Scenes
Bucket List & Dreams
“Just let me be funny!” (38:27)
The conversation is warm, candid, and playful, full of wit and genuine care—for the work, for colleagues, and for fans. Marina’s passion for craft, humor, and motherhood shines through, as does the close-knit camaraderie of the Chicago P.D. cast and crew. Both the challenges and rewards of sustaining a character for over a decade are reflected with humility and resilience:
“What a career Dick Wolf has given me… being with this person for 13 years, he’s my best friend. I would never have had him in my life if not for this.” (26:27)
Fans and newcomers alike will leave with a deeper appreciation both for Marina Squerciati’s artistry and the ensemble spirit that keeps Chicago P.D. compelling, season after season.