Monica Maria Raymund (born July 26, 1986) is an American actress, known for her roles as Maria "Ria" Torres in the Fox crime drama Lie to Me (2009–2011), Dana Lodge in the CBS legal drama The Good Wife (2011–2012), Gabriela Dawson in the NBC drama Chicago PD (2012–2019) and Jackie Quiñones in the Starz crime drama Hightown (2020–present).

Monica Raymund
Raymund at the 2013 Imagen Awards
Born
Monica Maria Raymund

(1986-07-26) July 26, 1986 (age 37)
EducationJuilliard School (BFA)
OccupationActress
Years active2004–present
Spouse
Neil Patrick Stewart
(m. 2011; div. 2014)
PartnerTari Segal (2015–present)
FamilyEdward C. Raymund (paternal grandfather)

Early life and education edit

Raymund was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, to Steve Raymund, the board chairman and retired CEO of Tech Data Corp., a Clearwater-based distributor of computer components and software,[1][2] and Sonia (née Lara), a community volunteer and co-founder of the Soulful Arts Dance Academy in St. Petersburg.[3][2][4] Her father is of English and Eastern European Jewish descent. Her mother is Dominican. Raymund was raised Jewish, celebrated a bat mitzvah ,and attended a Reform Judaism temple.[5] Her paternal grandfather was businessman and philanthropist Edward C. Raymund. Raymund's younger brother, Will, was a graduate of Berklee College of Music, and a sound and lighting engineer and music promoter.[3][4] He died in August 2015.

In high school, she participated in the "Broadway Theater Project" in Tampa and was a founding member of The Performing Arts Project at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem."[3]

Raymund graduated from Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 2004, and from the Juilliard School in New York City in 2008.

Career edit

Reportedly, Raymund performed in Cymbeline directed by Richard Feldman, The Diviners (directed by Jonathan Bernstein), and Animal Farm (directed by Trazana Beverley) all at the Juilliard School.[6]

Raymund also appeared in her native St. Petersburg, Florida, in the LiveArts Peninsula Foundation's original production of Manhattan Casino (directed by Bob Devin Jones) where she originated the leading role of Althea Dunbar and Webb's City: The Musical (music & lyrics by Lee Ahlin, written and directed by William Leavengood)."[6][7] Raymund "is a three-year alumna of Ann Reinking's Broadway Theater Project, where she has been a featured performer."[6]

Raymund has also "worked with playwright José Rivera on Boleros for the Disenchanted at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston" in 2008.[3] In April 2008, she appeared in the NBC legal drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, in season 9 episode 17 titled "Authority" in the opening scene as a strip search prank call victim. From 2009 to 2011, she starred in the Fox crime drama Lie to Me, where she played Maria "Ria" Torres, a human lie detector who is a "natural", meaning she has no formal training in detecting lies or the emotions of others. She was using crutches because of a knee injury when she auditioned for this role.

From 2011 until 2012, Raymund had a recurring role in the third season of the CBS legal drama The Good Wife, where she played Dana Lodge, an assistant states attorney.[8]

In 2012, Raymund began starring in the NBC drama Chicago Fire. She played Gabriela Dawson, the paramedic in charge and a firefighter candidate. On May 15, 2018, Raymund confirmed that she was leaving the show after six seasons. She briefly appeared on the show in the seventh-season premiere "A Closer Eye". In November 2019, she returned to the show in the eighth-season episode "Best Friend Magic".[9]

In 2020, Raymund began starring as Jackie Quiñones in the Starz crime drama Hightown.

Raymund has also directed several episodes of television, an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, an episode of Dick Wolf's FBI, and an episode of Chicago Fire[10]

Personal life edit

On June 11, 2011, Raymund married writer Neil Patrick Stewart.[11] They separated in early 2013 and divorced in 2014.[12]

Raymund is an ardent supporter of LGBT rights. In February 2014, she came out publicly as bisexual for the first time via Twitter.[13] On September 16, 2015, Raymund announced via Twitter that she had begun dating camerawoman, cinematographer, and producer Tari Segal.[12]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Fighter Sarah Short film
2008 Love? Pain Short film
2012 Arbitrage Reina
Fifty Grades of Shay Dialect Tape Short film
2013 Brahmin Bulls Maya
2016 Happy Baby María
2022 Bros Tina
2023 The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Commander Katherine Challee

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Trinidad "Trini" Martínez Episode: "Authority"
2009–11 Lie to Me María "Ria" Torres Main role; 48 episodes
2011 Blue Bloods Luisa Sosa Episode: "Critical Condition"
2011–12 The Good Wife Dana Lodge Recurring role; 9 episodes
2012–19 Chicago Fire Gabriela Dawson Main role (seasons 1–6), guest (seasons 7–8); 139 episodes
Imagen Award for Best Actress in Television in 2013
2013 Body of Proof FBI Video Analysis Agent Episode: "Disappearing Act"
2014–18 Chicago P.D. Gabriela Dawson Recurring role; 9 episodes
2016–18 Chicago Med Recurring role; 2 episodes
2017 Special Skills Monica Episode: "Party Animals"
2020–present Hightown Jacqueline "Jackie" Quiñones Lead role

References edit

  1. ^ Winchester, Donna (May 23, 2004). "Bye, high school; hello, tomorrow". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Deggans, Eric (January 25, 2009). "St. Petersburg native, 'Lie To Me' co-star Monica Raymund ready to put in the work". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on September 11, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d Park, Mary Jane (January 11, 2009). "St. Petersburg actor has role in Fox's 'Lie to Me'". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Leal, Samantha (October 9, 2012). "Introducing 'Chicago Fire' Star Monica Raymund". Latina. Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  5. ^ "Celebrating 75 years of faith, progress" Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, St. Petersburg Times, March 7, 2004.
  6. ^ a b c "Biography". littlemary.info. Archived from the original on January 15, 2007.
  7. ^ Stephens, Janel (February 23, 2003). "Striking similarities". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on March 28, 2003. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  8. ^ Porter, Rick (September 9, 2011). "'The Good Wife': 'Lie to Me's' Monica Raymund will catch Cary's eye". Zap2It. Retrieved January 8, 2016.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ Cordero, Rosy (October 21, 2021). "'Chicago Fire': Jesse Spencer, Producer & Alum Monica Raymund On Tonight's Big Exit". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021. Raymund also confirmed she was due to return at the end of last season but was unable to do so due to Covid restrictions.
  10. ^ White, Peter (April 1, 2020). "Monica Raymund On Directing 'FBI's 'Chicago P.D.' Crossover Episode Amid Pandemic That Made It Season Finale". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 1, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2021. It is only Raymund's third television directing gig after an episode of SVU in 2018 and an episode of FBI earlier this season.
  11. ^ Heyman, Marshall (June 11, 2011). "Dinner, with Drama". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  12. ^ a b Gilchrist, Tracy E. (September 16, 2015). "Bisexual Chicago Fire Star Monica Raymund Introduces the World to Her Girlfriend Via Twitter". SheWired. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  13. ^ Hallowell, Lucy (February 10, 2014). ""Chicago Fire" star Monica Raymund comes out as bisexual on Twitter". AfterEllen. Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2014.

External links edit