For over a decade, Marina Squerciati has brought fierce determination, emotional depth, and unshakable vulnerability to the role of Officer Kim Burgess on NBC’s Chicago P.D. A core member of the Intelligence Unit, Burgess has faced some of the show’s most emotionally taxing storylines—from near-death experiences and personal betrayals to the challenge of balancing motherhood with life on the force. Yet among all the harrowing moments the character has endured, Squerciati recently revealed that one scene stands out as the most difficult of her entire career on the show. And it wasn’t just physically demanding—it was emotionally devastating.

The scene in question came in Season 8, when Kim Burgess was kidnapped, brutally beaten, and left for dead in an abandoned building. The raw, heart-pounding sequence, which unfolded across the season finale, took fans to the edge of their seats and left many emotionally wrecked. But for Squerciati, filming those moments tested her like never before—both as an actress and a person.

“I had to imagine what it would feel like to think you might never see your child again,” she said. “To lie there and feel your body giving out, and the only thing keeping you going is the thought of someone who needs you. That hit me in a way I didn’t expect. It stayed with me long after we wrapped.” Adding to the difficulty was the fact that Squerciati performed many of her own stunts for the scene. The bruises and scrapes Burgess had on screen? Many of them were real. “I was thrown onto the concrete floor, dragged, and tied to a chair. We were in a warehouse in the middle of winter, and it was cold. I had to shiver not just for the camera but because I literally couldn’t stop. It all added to the realism, but it took a toll.”

The emotional impact wasn’t just confined to Marina herself. When the episode aired, fans flooded social media with messages of support and shock. Many described the scene as “gut-wrenching” and praised Squerciati’s performance as one of the most powerful in the entire series. Even longtime viewers of Chicago P.D., who were no strangers to intense drama, admitted they were left breathless by the rawness of her portrayal.

Co-star Jason Beghe, who plays Hank Voight, also commented on the scene, saying, “Marina went to a place that’s really hard to go to, especially on camera. What she did in that episode was beyond acting—it was living through something real. You could feel every second of Burgess’s pain and fear.” Despite the hardship, Marina doesn’t regret taking on the challenge. In fact, she believes it allowed her to connect with her character on a deeper level. “It reminded me of how layered Kim really is,” she reflected. “She’s tough, but not invincible. She’s a mother, a survivor, a fighter—but she’s also human. That scene showed a side of her we don’t often get to see, and I’m proud I was able to bring that to life.”

Squerciati’s commitment to her role is part of what makes Chicago P.D. such a compelling show. In an industry where actors often avoid the physical and emotional demands of extreme scenes, she leaned in. And in doing so, she not only delivered one of the most memorable performances in the series’ history but also deepened the audience’s love and respect for Kim Burgess.

As fans look ahead to Season 12, many wonder what lies next for Burgess—and whether the character will finally find some peace after years of trauma. But if one thing’s clear, it’s that no matter what the writers throw her way, Marina Squerciati will meet the challenge head-on. And that’s what makes her not just a fan favorite, but the emotional heartbeat of Chicago P.D.