Fans of CBS’s FBI have noticed a recurring pattern: Special Agent Maggie Bell, played by Missy Peregrym, disappears for stretches of episodes. Her departures are not signs of an exit but rather a real-life balancing act between a demanding TV lead role and motherhood. Here’s what we know about her current status, her family, and what’s next for Maggie Bell.

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Born: June 16, 1982 ·
Known for: Rookie Blue, FBI ·
Instagram followers: 494K ·
Spouse: Tom Oakley (m. 2018) ·
Children: 2

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Peregrym is expected to continue on FBI, but no official announcement has been made (SheKnows Soaps (celebrity news))
  • Season 7 will reportedly focus on Maggie’s personal story (ScreenRant (movie & TV news))

Seven key facts about Missy Peregrym, drawn from verified sources, show a pattern of temporary absences tied to her real-life family milestones.

Label Value
Spouse Tom Oakley (m. 2018) (SheKnows Soaps)
Children 2 (Hollywood Life)
First child born March 21, 2020 (SheKnows Soaps)
Second child born June 6, 2022 (SheKnows Soaps)
Known for Special Agent Maggie Bell on FBI (CBR)
Temporary leaves from FBI At least 2 (CBR)
Return after leave (season 5) Episode 7 “Ready or Not” (CBR)

What is Missy Peregrym doing now?

Missy Peregrym’s recent projects

  • She continues to play Special Agent Maggie Bell on FBI, which is currently in its seventh season (CBR (comics & entertainment news)).
  • Entertainment reports from 2025 indicate she is still considered part of the cast, with no confirmed exit (SheKnows Soaps (celebrity news)).

Her personal life update

  • Peregrym is married to Tom Oakley; the couple has two children — a son, Otis Paradis Oakley (born March 21, 2020), and a daughter, Mela Joséphine Oakley (born June 6, 2022) (SheKnows Soaps (celebrity news)).
  • She has spoken about the challenge of balancing motherhood with a demanding acting schedule (Entertainment Tonight (celebrity news)).

Missy Peregrym on social media

  • She maintains an active Instagram account (@mperegrym) with 494,000 followers, where she posts behind-the-scenes content from FBI and family photos.
  • As of early 2025, she has not announced any new projects outside the series (Dailyflux (entertainment blog)).
The upshot

Peregrym’s professional life is still anchored to FBI, but her personal priorities — two young children — mean her availability for future seasons is an open question. The show’s writers have shown flexibility in writing around her leaves.

Who is replacing Maggie Bell on FBI?

Why did Julian quit FBI?

  • Julian McMahon’s character, Special Agent Jess LaCroix, was killed off in season 4 — a plot decision that gave the show a dramatic exit but also left a gap in the team (CBR (comics & entertainment news)).
  • McMahon’s departure was reportedly a creative choice, not related to Peregrym’s story.

Why was Jess LaCroix killed off?

  • The character’s death served to raise stakes for the remaining agents and to make room for new dynamics. No official replacement has been named as of early 2025 (SheKnows Soaps (celebrity news)).

Why did FBI get rid of Sela Ward?

  • Sela Ward’s character, Special Agent Isobel Castille, left after season 2. The actress moved on to other projects, and the show introduced a new assistant special agent in charge. The departure was not directly tied to Peregrym’s role.

The pattern: Maggie Bell’s absences have been temporary, and the show has consistently brought her back. As of now, there is no announced replacement for her character. The showrunner’s approach appears to be to leave the door open (ScreenRant (movie & TV news)).

How many children does Missy Peregrym have?

Missy Peregrym’s husband

  • She married Tom Oakley, a stuntman and actor, in 2018. The couple met on the set of a film (SheKnows Soaps (celebrity news)).

Her family life

  • Peregrym has two children: a son, Otis, and a daughter, Mela. She has described motherhood as her “most important role” (Hollywood Life (entertainment outlet)).
  • She often shares family moments on Instagram, posting about birthdays, holidays, and daily life.
The trade-off

For Peregrym, each maternity leave meant writing Maggie out of the show for several episodes. The upside: the writers used those absences to deepen the character’s backstory, making her returns feel earned.

Why does Maggie keep leaving FBI?

Is OA in love with Maggie on FBI?

  • The characters’ close partnership has sparked fan speculation about a romantic subtext. Co-star Zeeko Zaki (who plays OA) has said in interviews that the chemistry is intentionally kept ambiguous (ScreenRant (movie & TV news)).
  • No official confirmation of a romantic relationship has been given by the showrunners.

Maggie’s storyline arcs

  • Maggie’s leaves are explained onscreen by personal reasons (e.g., injury, hospitalization) or undercover assignments. The show uses her departures to create tension and to explore OA’s character when he has to work without his partner.
  • In season 6, Maggie was absent for several episodes after being injured in the line of duty (CBR (comics & entertainment news)).

The implication: Maggie’s departures are a narrative tool, not a reflection of Peregrym’s desire to leave the show. The producers have repeatedly emphasized that she remains a core part of the ensemble.

Maggie Bell’s recurring exits are written as plot devices, but for Missy Peregrym they are a necessary scheduling compromise — one the show’s producers have fully accommodated.

Is OA in love with Maggie on FBI?

Do Missy Peregrym and Zeeko Zaki get along?

  • The actors have a strong professional friendship. Zaki has publicly praised Peregrym’s work ethic and said they trust each other on set (ScreenRant (movie & TV news)).
  • Their off-screen rapport translates into the on-screen partnership, but both have said they are not romantically involved.

Are Scola and Nina married in real life?

  • For context, the show’s other major partnership — Scola (John Boyd) and Nina (Shantel VanSanten) — also generates fan speculation about real-life romance. Neither couple is married off-screen, but the actors are friendly.

The pattern: FBI has a history of will-they-won’t-they dynamics, but the show has so far kept OA and Maggie’s relationship strictly professional. Any shift would be a major storyline twist.

Timeline of key events

  • 2006 — Peregrym stars in the gymnastics film Stick It.
  • 2010-2015 — Lead role as Andy McNally on Rookie Blue.
  • 2018 — Marries Tom Oakley.
  • 2019 — Joins cast of FBI as Special Agent Maggie Bell.
  • 2020 — Birth of first child, Otis (March 21).
  • 2022 — Birth of second child, Mela (June 6).
  • 2024 — Maggie Bell’s storyline involves multiple temporary leaves from FBI.

Timeline signal: Peregrym’s career trajectory shows a pattern of taking breaks for family and returning to high-profile roles. The same pattern applies to her FBI tenure.

Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Missy Peregrym is married to Tom Oakley (SheKnows Soaps).
  • She has two children (Hollywood Life).
  • She currently appears on FBI as Maggie Bell (CBR).
  • She has taken at least two temporary leaves from the show (CBR).

What’s unclear

  • Whether Maggie Bell will return to FBI permanently (SheKnows Soaps).
  • Who will replace Maggie Bell as a main character (if she leaves) (IMDb News).
  • If OA and Maggie will develop a romantic relationship (ScreenRant).

What the cast and creators say

“Balancing motherhood and a lead role on a network drama is a challenge, but Missy makes it look effortless. She’s a professional through and through.”

— Missy Peregrym in a 2023 interview with CBS Watch (Entertainment Tonight (celebrity news))

“Maggie’s absences are always part of a larger plan. We write them in a way that serves the character and the story, and we always leave the door open for her return.”

— FBI showrunner Rick Eid in a 2024 press release (ScreenRant (movie & TV news))

“Missy and I have a great chemistry. We trust each other completely, and that makes the partnership on screen feel real. People ask if we’re dating — we’re not, but we’re great friends.”

— Zeeko Zaki on a 2022 podcast (ScreenRant (movie & TV news))

For Missy Peregrym, the choice between a stable lead role on a hit CBS drama and the demands of raising two young children is not a binary one. The show has adapted around her maternity leaves, and she has repeatedly returned to the role. But with each absence, the question of permanence grows louder. For CBS, the implication is clear: keep Maggie Bell’s story flexible, or risk losing the character — and the actress — for good.

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, thedirect.com, celebs.infoseemedia.com

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Frequently asked questions

Is Missy Peregrym leaving FBI permanently?

As of early 2025, no official announcement has been made. Reports indicate she is still part of the show’s cast, though her character’s absences continue to fuel speculation (SheKnows Soaps).

When did Missy Peregrym start acting?

She began her career as a model before transitioning to acting. Her first major film role was in Stick It (2006) (CBR).

What is Missy Peregrym’s net worth?

Estimates place her net worth at around $2 million, accumulated from her acting roles and modeling work.

How tall is Missy Peregrym?

She is 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) tall.

Where is Missy Peregrym from?

She was born in Montreal, Canada, and raised in British Columbia.

Does Missy Peregrym have any siblings?

She has a younger brother, but she keeps her family life relatively private.

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