Missy Peregrym: FBI Star’s Career, Family, and Comeback
There’s a particular kind of TV actor who makes juggling a high-stakes procedural and a growing family look almost effortless, and Missy Peregrym is one of them: she stepped away from her leading role on CBS’s FBI not once but twice for maternity leave—and returned both times to a show that kept her character’s desk warm. What unfolds is a career story of flexibility, resilience, and the quiet negotiation between Hollywood and motherhood.
Born: June 16, 1982 ·
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) ·
Spouse: Tom Oakley ·
Children: 2 ·
Notable Roles: Haley Graham (Stick It), Andy McNally (Rookie Blue), Maggie Bell (FBI) ·
Instagram Followers: 493K
Quick snapshot
- Canadian actress, former model, born in Montreal (Wikipedia)
- Married Tom Oakley since 2012 (HELLO!)
- Two children: son Otis (b. March 2020), daughter Mela Joséphine (b. June 6, 2022) (Yahoo Entertainment)
- Exact duration of second maternity leave beyond standard CBS coverage (TVLine tracked the planned September return)
- Whether she will continue on FBI beyond season 9 (Entertainment Tonight)
Seven facts, one pattern: Peregrym’s career is defined not by one breakout role but by a steady return to the same high-profile gig.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Melissa ‘Missy’ Peregrym |
| Date of Birth | June 16, 1982 |
| Birthplace | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Occupation | Actress, producer, former model |
| Years Active | 2001–present |
| Spouse | Tom Oakley (m. 2012) |
| Children | 2 (1 son, 1 daughter) |
What is Missy Peregrym doing now?
Current FBI role
- Missy Peregrym stars as Special Agent Maggie Bell on CBS’s FBI, which is currently in its ninth season (2024-2025), per Entertainment Tonight.
- She has reprised her role after two temporary leaves for maternity, returning most recently in season 6.
Other projects
- Outside of FBI, Peregrym has not announced any new film or television projects as of early 2025.
- She remains active on Instagram (493K followers), occasionally posting behind-the-scenes content and family updates.
The implication: Peregrym has effectively anchored her career to one franchise, but the trade-off is that she has prioritized stability and flexibility over chasing new roles.
Why did Missy Peregrym leave FBI twice?
First departure (maternity leave)
- Peregrym took maternity leave after the birth of her first child, son Otis, in March 2020, according to Yahoo Entertainment.
- She described that six-month leave as “a tremendous blessing,” per the same report.
Second departure (maternity leave)
- She welcomed daughter Mela Joséphine on June 6, 2022, with husband Tom Oakley, per HELLO!.
- This triggered a second leave from FBI. The show wrote her absence into the storyline as medical leave following a previous injury, per TVLine.
Return to the show
- Peregrym returned for season 4 after her first maternity leave, then left again, and returned for season 6 after her second leave.
- Her return episode after the second leave aired November 15, 2022, titled “Ready or Not,” per Entertainment Tonight.
What this means: Peregrym’s two departures were not career breaks but strategic pauses—CBS kept her character alive, and she returned each time to a show that clearly values her.
Is Missy Peregrym actually a gymnast?
Role in Stick It
- Peregrym played gymnast Haley Graham in the 2006 film Stick It, a role that required extensive physical preparation.
- The film itself is a comedy-drama about a rebellious teen gymnast forced back into competitive gymnastics.
Real-life gymnastics training
- She had no prior gymnastics experience and trained five to six hours daily for three months before filming, performing many of her own stunts, according to Yahoo Entertainment.
- Despite the intensity, she was not a competitive gymnast—her training was purely for the film.
Peregrym looks the part, but calling her a “former gymnast” is a stretch. She trained like one for three months—enough to land flips on screen, not enough to compete.
Why this matters: The Stick It role launched Peregrym’s film career, but it also created a persistent misconception that continues to pop up in Google searches and fan forums.
How many children does Missy Peregrym have?
Husband Tom Oakley
- Peregrym married English actor Tom Oakley in 2012, per HELLO!.
- Oakley is known for roles in British television and has largely remained out of the Hollywood spotlight.
Children: two (son and daughter)
- Son: Otis, born March 2020.
- Daughter: Mela Joséphine, born June 6, 2022 (per HELLO!).
Both children arrived during Peregrym’s FBI tenure, meaning the show has accommodated two pregnancies and two returns—a rare degree of flexibility in a network procedural.
The pattern: Peregrym’s family timeline is tightly interwoven with her FBI schedule. The births dictated the breaks; the breaks did not end the job.
Do Zeeko Zaki and Missy Peregrym get along?
On-screen chemistry
- Zeeko Zaki and Missy Peregrym play partners Special Agents OA Zidan and Maggie Bell on FBI. Their partnership is a central dynamic of the series.
- The show has built much of its dramatic tension around their professional reliance on each other.
Real-life friendship
- Zaki has described Peregrym as “an incredible scene partner and a dear friend” in interviews with TV Guide.
- Peregrym has echoed this in her own press appearances, referring to Zaki as a trusted collaborator.
The trade-off: A strong off-screen friendship translates directly to believable on-screen chemistry—but it also means that if one leaves the show permanently, the other’s role may shift.
Timeline
- June 16, 1982: Born in Montreal, Quebec (Wikipedia)
- 2001-2004: Modeling career (Fashion Model Directory)
- 2006: Starred as Haley Graham in Stick It (IMDb)
- 2010-2015: Played Andy McNally in Rookie Blue (Wikipedia)
- 2018: Began role as Special Agent Maggie Bell in FBI (IMDb)
- March 2020: Son Otis born; first maternity leave from FBI (Yahoo Entertainment)
- 2021: Returned to FBI for season 4 (YouTube interview)
- June 6, 2022: Daughter Mela Joséphine born; second maternity leave (HELLO!)
- November 15, 2022: Returned to FBI in episode “Ready or Not” (Entertainment Tonight)
- 2023: Returned to FBI for season 6 (The Wrap)
- 2024-2025: Continues as Maggie Bell in FBI season 9 (CBS)
Confirmed facts
- Canadian actress and former model (Wikipedia)
- Married Tom Oakley in 2012 (HELLO!)
- Two children, a son and a daughter (Yahoo Entertainment)
- Plays Maggie Bell on FBI; took two maternity leaves and returned both times (TVLine)
- Performed her own stunts in Stick It after intensive training (Yahoo Entertainment)
What’s unclear
- Exact reasons for the duration of her second leave beyond childbirth
- Whether she will continue on FBI beyond season 9
The timeline settles the question of whether Peregrym’s leaves were exits: each return was to the same show, and the network scheduled around her.
Quotes
It feels like coming home.
— Missy Peregrym, on returning to FBI after maternity leave (paraphrased from CBS press, per TVLine)
She’s an incredible scene partner and a dear friend.
— Zeeko Zaki, on working with Missy Peregrym (paraphrased from TV Guide interview)
For CBS, the calculation is clear: keep Peregrym on contract, or risk losing the chemistry that drives one of its most reliable franchise dramas. For Peregrym, the choice is equally clear: stay on a show that accommodates motherhood, or leave for unproven opportunities. For now, she stays.
tvinsider.com, comingsoon.it, imdb.com, australiabrief.net, imdb.com, ukstylemag.uk
Frequently asked questions
What is Missy Peregrym’s net worth?
Estimates vary, but Peregrym’s net worth is reported to be around $3 million, according to celebrity net worth trackers. Most of her income comes from her long-running role on FBI and earlier work on Rookie Blue.
How tall is Missy Peregrym?
She is 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) tall.
Who is Missy Peregrym married to?
She has been married to English actor Tom Oakley since 2012. They met while he was working on a film set in Canada.
How old is Missy Peregrym?
She was born on June 16, 1982, making her 42 years old as of 2025.
What movies has Missy Peregrym been in?
Her most notable film role is Haley Graham in Stick It (2006). She also appeared in Americana (2015), Backwards (2012), and several TV movies.
Where was Missy Peregrym born?
She was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Does Missy Peregrym have any siblings?
She has a brother named Justin Peregrym. She is of Ukrainian descent on her father’s side and English-Irish on her mother’s.
For Peregrym, the return has always been the answer: two leaves, two comebacks, and an ongoing place on FBI.
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