Who is Monica Raymund?
American actress Monica Maria Raymund was born in St. Petersburg, Florida USA, under the Leo zodiac sign on 26 July 1986. She’s appeared in 18 TV series and movies, and is perhaps known best for starring as Gabriela Dawson in 139 episodes (2012-2019) of the action series “Chicago Fire”, which today stars Christian Stolte and Taylor Kinney, and was created by Michael Brandt. It follows a team of paramedics and firefighters in Chicago, Illinois, the series has been airing since 2012, and has won six of its 29 award nominations.
Education and early life
Monica was raised in St. Petersburg alongside her younger brother Will, by their mother Sonia (nee Lara) who’s a co-founder of the Soulful Arts Dance Academy, and father Steve Raymund who’s a retired CEO of The Data Corp. Monica’s brother held a degree from Berklee College of Music, but passed away in August 2015.
Monica studied at a local high school and became passionate about acting during her time there; she appeared in a number of school plays, then took part in the Broadway Theatre Project organized in Tampa, Florida, and was also a founding member of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts’ performing arts project.
Monica matriculated from Shorecrest Preparatory School in 2004 and then enrolled at Juilliard School in New York, from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2008.
Roles in movies
Monica made her debut film appearance in the 2008 short musical “Love? Pain”, and her following movie role came in 2012, when cast to play Reina – Jimmy’s Girlfriend in the popular thriller “Arbitrage”, which starred Susan Sarandon and Richard Gere, and was written and directed by Nicholas Jarecki. It follows a hedge fund magnate who’s facing problems at work, and has turned to his friend for help; the film won four of its 10 award nominations.
Also in 2012, Monica portrayed Dialect Tape in the short comedy “Fifty Grades of Shay”, while the following year saw her play Maya in the drama “Brahmin Bulls”, written and directed by Mahesh Pailoor, and which starred Sendhil Ramamurthy, Roshan Seth and Mary Steenburgen. It follows an architect and his father who’ve reunited after many years, and the movie was nominated for two awards.
In 2016, Monica played Maria in the drama “Happy Baby”, written and directed by Stephen Elliott, and which starred Aaron Sauter, Adam Busch and Alex Karpovsky; it follows the life of an orphan from New York City.
Monica’s had only one other film role, playing Tina in the 2022 romantic comedy “Bros”, which won two of its 17 award nominations; she’s currently shooting for the upcoming movie “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial”.
pic.twitter.com/FA2VtdhoLF
— best of Monica Raymund (@monicaraymud) November 3, 2022
Roles in TV series
Monica’s debut TV series role was playing Ria Torres in all the 48 episodes of the crime mystery “Lie to Me”, created by Samuel Baum, and which starred Tim Roth, Kelli Williams and Brendan Hines. It follows the life of the world’s best deception expert Cal Lightman, and the movie won four of its 12 award nominations.
In 2011, Monica played Luisa Sosa in the episode “Critical Condition” of the crime mystery “Blue Bloods”, and in 2011 and 2012, she was Dana Lodge in nine episodes of the critically acclaimed crime mystery “The Good Wife”, which starred Chris Noth and Julianna Margulies, and was created by Robert and Michelle King. The series aired from 2009 through 2016, follows Alicia Florrick who’s raising her children all by herself now that her husband’s been sent to jail, and it won 31 of its 245 award nominations.
Monica went on to appear in nine episodes of the crime action “Chicago P. D.” from 2014 through 2018, two episodes of the 2016 drama “Chicago Med”, and the 2017 episode “Party Animals” of the comedy “Special Skills”.
Most recently, in 2020 and 2021, she starred as Jackie Quinones in 18 episodes of the crime mystery “Hightown”, which also starred Riley Voelkel and Atkins Estimond, and was created by Rebecca Perry Cutter. It follows a woman who’s managed to beat her alcohol addiction, but has now been involved in a murder plot; the series was nominated for five awards.
Other credits
Monica produced the 2015 romantic movie “The Submarine Kid” and the 2018 drama film “Locating Silver Lake”, and she also has eight directing credits, which include an episode of the series’ “Hightown”, “The Sinner” and “The Endgame”, all released in 2021.
Some of her recent talk-show appearances have been in “Sidewalks Entertainment”, “Made in Hollywood” and “That One Audition”.
Awards and nominations
Monica was nominated for four Imagen Foundation Awards for Best Supporting Actress – Television from 2013 through 2016, all for her performance in “Chicago Fire”, and won in 2013.
She was also nominated for a 2013 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Action, for “Chicago Fire”, a 2021 Imagen Foundation Award for Best Actress – Television, for “Hightown” and a 2022 Women’s Image Network Award for Scripted Show Director, for “Hightown”.
Love life and marriage
Monica occasionally shares the details of her love life with her fans, but there are only two people whom she’s been with, that we know about.
She and American screenwriter Neil Patrick Stewart exchanged vows on 11 June 2011, separated in 2013, and divorced in 2014.
Monica then became a supporter of LGBT rights, and came out as bisexual on Twitter in February 2014; on 16 September 2015, she used her Twitter account to announce that she was in a relationship with American producer, cinematographer and camerawoman Tari Segal.
Monica’s yet to mention other men and women whom she’s dated; she’s in a relationship with Tari Segal as of May 2023, was once married to Neil Patrick Stewart, and doesn’t have children.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Monica’s a fan of tattoos, and has a feather on her sternum, and a moth on her arm.
More than 190,000 people are following Monica on Instagram today, and she’s posted over 120 pictures and videos onto the network; most of these serve to promote Monica’s TV series and movies, while she can be seen relaxing with her friends in others.
She’s passionate about art, especially painting and sculpting.
Monica works out at the gym several times every week, as it’s important for her acting career to stay in shape.
Her favorite actress is Jennifer Lawrence, while some of her favorite movies include “Winter’s Bone”, “The Hunger Games” and “Red Sparrow”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Monica’s age is 36. She has brown hair and eyes, is 5ft 4ins (1.63m) tall and weighs around 120lbs (55kgs).
Monica’s net worth’s been estimated at over $4 million, as of May 2023.