In the high-stakes world of CBS’s FBI, fans have grown accustomed to seeing Special Agent Maggie Bell at the center of the action. However, due to actress Missy Peregrym’s real-life maternity leaves, the show’s writers have had to develop creative—and often terrifying—ways to temporarily write her off the screen. These exits have not only allowed Peregrym to focus on her growing family but have also provided some of the series’ most intense and memorable character moments.
The Undercover Assignment (Season 2)
When Peregrym welcomed her first child in 2020, the writers opted for a classic procedural trope. Maggie was offered a high-level, temporary undercover assignment by the FBI’s Assistant Director in Charge. This “offer she couldn’t refuse” served as the perfect narrative bridge, allowing her to exit the New York field office for several months without the need for a tragic injury. When she returned in Season 3, she brought back the hardened edge of an agent who had been operating in the shadows.
The Sarin Gas Tragedy (Season 4)
For her second maternity leave in 2022, the stakes were raised significantly. In one of the most harrowing episodes of the series, Maggie and her partner, OA, tracked down a terrorist cell possessing sarin gas. During a confrontation, a canister was breached, trapping Maggie in a room with the deadly chemical. This led to a near-fatal exposure that landed her in a coma, providing a dramatic and realistic reason for her multi-episode absence. This exit was particularly emotional, as it focused on OA’s guilt and the team’s desperate hope for her recovery.
Balancing Motherhood and the Badge (Season 7)
Most recently, in Season 7, the show has explored a different kind of absence. Rather than a singular dramatic event, Maggie has been navigating her new role as the guardian of Ella, the daughter of her late friend Jessica. This has led to “one-off” absences explained as Maggie taking much-needed R&R (Rest and Relaxation) or dealing with childcare conflicts.
“She loves Ella and feels fulfilled caring for her, and she wants to provide stability and joy.” — Missy Peregrym on Maggie’s Season 7 Arc
However, the drama continues to escalate. Recent episodes have shown Maggie making the heart-wrenching decision to let Ella live with her uncle full-time after realizing that her dangerous job makes the child a target for predators. While Peregrym remains a central fixture of the series, these evolving storylines ensure that her character stays grounded in reality, reflecting the difficult choices of a working mother in law enforcement.
