Missy Peregrym

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Melissa Peregrym was born on June 16, 1982, in Montreal, Quebec, to Darrell Peregrym, a Pentecostal minister, and Vanessa Peregrym, a housewife. She has described her childhood self as a tomboy. At the age of 18, she launched her professional career by signing with the Lizbell modelling agency. Her early work in modelling led to her agency encouraging her to transition into television commercials, where she appeared in advertisements for major brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Sprint Canada, and the Olympic Games. This commercial work provided a foundation for her move into on screen acting, which began shortly thereafter in Vancouver.

Acting Career and Breakthrough

Missy Peregrym made her acting debut in 2000 with a guest appearance on the science fiction series Dark Angel, which was filmed in Vancouver. Throughout the early 2000s, she built her resume with numerous guest-starring roles on popular television shows. Her early television credits include appearances on The Chris Isaak Show, Black Sash, Jake 2.0, Smallville, Tru Calling, Life as We Know It, Andromeda, and Heroes. She also appeared in the television film Call Me: The Rise and Fall of Heidi Fleiss. After an uncredited cameo in the 2004 film Catwoman, Peregrym made her feature film debut in 2006, landing the lead role of rebellious gymnast Haley Graham in the Disney film Stick It.

Her television career advanced significantly with a recurring role as the illusion-generating Candice Wilmer on the series Heroes, a character promoted as a female temptress. She first appeared in a non speaking capacity in the episode Company Man before her proper introduction. From 2007 to 2009, Peregrym secured her first lead television role as Andi Prendergast on The CW series Reaper, a show about a young man working as a bounty hunter for the devil. The role was originally played by Nikki Reed in an unaired pilot.

Peregrym's major career breakthrough arrived in 2010 when she was cast as Officer Andy McNally, a rookie police officer, in the Canadian produced series Rookie Blue. The show aired simultaneously on Global in Canada and ABC in the United States, giving her significant exposure in both markets. Rookie Blue ran for six successful seasons, concluding in 2015. Her performance was critically acclaimed, leading to a nomination for a Canadian Screen Award in 2016, though she lost to Tatiana Maslany of Orphan Black.

During and after her time on Rookie Blue, Peregrym took on other notable projects. In 2012, she starred as Chloe Jocelyn in the Norton sponsored web series Cybergeddon, a role for which she won a Streamy Award in 2013. She co starred in the 2014 survival thriller film Backcountry alongside Jeff Roop and Eric Balfour. From 2017 to 2021, she had a recurring role as Scarlett Harker in the second through fifth seasons of the series Van Helsing, appearing in a total of 14 episodes.

Lead Role on FBI and Recent Work

In 2018, Missy Peregrym began her current and most prominent role, starring as FBI Special Agent Maggie Bell in the CBS procedural drama FBI, created by Dick Wolf. The series follows the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's New York office. Peregrym's character is a dedicated and skilled agent, and the role has established her as a lead in a major American network television series. As of 2026, she continues to star in the series and has also taken on additional responsibilities as a producer. Her work on FBI represents a sustained commitment to a high profile, long running television project, solidifying her status in the industry.

Notable Film and Television Roles

Throughout her career, Missy Peregrym has portrayed a variety of characters across film and television. Her most significant roles have often placed her in positions of authority or physical prowess, from law enforcement to action oriented parts. Her film debut was the lead role of Haley Graham in the 2006 gymnastics film Stick It, which followed an uncredited appearance in Catwoman. On television, her early work included guest spots on series like Dark Angel and Smallville before her recurring role on Heroes. Her first series lead was as Andi Prendergast on Reaper from 2007 to 2009.

• Haley Graham in Stick It (2006), Lead film role as a rebellious gymnast.
• Andi Prendergast in Reaper (2007 to 2009), First lead television role.
• Officer Andy McNally in Rookie Blue (2010 to 2015), Breakthrough lead role on a major series.
• Chloe Jocelyn in Cybergeddon (2012), Lead role in a web series, earning a Streamy Award.
• Scarlett Harker in Van Helsing (2017 to 2021), Recurring role across 14 episodes.
• Agent Maggie Bell in FBI (2018 to present), Current leading role and producer credit.

Missy Peregrym has demonstrated her range through diverse roles across her career. She anchored the ensemble cast of the television series Rookie Blue for six seasons. She also took on leading roles in standalone projects like the film Stick It and the web series Cybergeddon. Her ability to carry a series is further shown by her current lead role on FBI. This role has continued since the show began in 2018.

Personal Life and Philanthropy

Missy Peregrym has been married twice. She first married American actor Zachary Levi in June 2014. She filed for divorce in April 2015, citing the date of separation as December 3, 2014. In December 2018, she married Australian actor Tom Oakley in Los Angeles. Peregrym and Oakley have two children together, a son born on March 21, 2020, and a daughter born on June 6, 2022. Outside of her acting career, Peregrym has been involved in philanthropic work. In 2006, she partnered with the shoe company TOMS, which donates footwear to communities in need. She has spoken publicly about her travels to Argentina with the organization and the positive impact of such charitable initiatives.

Awards and Recognition

Missy Peregrym's work has been recognized with nominations and awards from industry organizations. Her most significant honour to date is the Streamy Award she won in 2013 for her performance in the digital series Cybergeddon. Her portrayal of Andy McNally on Rookie Blue earned her a nomination for a Canadian Screen Award in 2016 in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role. While she did not win, the nomination highlighted the critical regard for her work on one of Canada's most successful television exports of the period. Her enduring role on the hit series FBI represents a different form of professional recognition, demonstrating her ability to sustain a leading position in a competitive primetime network slot.

Questions about Missy Peregrym

What is Missy Peregrym best known for?

Missy Peregrym is best known for playing Officer Andy McNally on the television series Rookie Blue. She is also widely recognized for her leading role as FBI Special Agent Maggie Bell on the CBS series FBI. She has played the role of Maggie Bell since the series began in 2018. As of 2026, she also serves as a producer on the show FBI.

Is Missy Peregrym married and does she have children?

Yes, Missy Peregrym is married and has children. She married Australian actor Tom Oakley in Los Angeles on December 30, 2018. The couple have two children together, a son born on March 21, 2020, and a daughter born on June 6, 2022. She was previously married to American actor Zachary Levi from June 2014 until their divorce in 2015.

What was Missy Peregrym's first major film role?

Missy Peregrym's first major film role was the lead role of Haley Graham in the 2006 film Stick It. This film revolves around a rebellious teenager who returns to gymnastics. This role served as her feature film debut. She had previously made an uncredited cameo in the 2004 film Catwoman.

What other TV shows has Missy Peregrym appeared in?

Beyond Rookie Blue and FBI, Missy Peregrym has appeared in numerous television shows. Early in her career, she guest starred on series like Dark Angel, Smallville, Heroes, and Reaper, where she had her first lead role. More recently, she had a recurring role as Scarlett Harker on the series Van Helsing from 2017 to 2021. She also starred in the web series Cybergeddon in 2012.

Where is Missy Peregrym from in Canada?

Missy Peregrym is from Montreal, Quebec. She was born there on June 16, 1982. Her father was a Pentecostal minister and her mother was a housewife. She began her professional modelling career in Canada at age 18 before moving into acting.

Did Missy Peregrym win any awards for her acting?

Yes, Missy Peregrym won a Streamy Award in 2013 for her role in the web series Cybergeddon. She was also nominated for a Canadian Screen Award in 2016 for her performance as Officer Andy McNally on the television series Rookie Blue. However, she did not win that particular award, as it ultimately went to Tatiana Maslany from Orphan Black. Peregrym's career includes several notable roles that have garnered recognition. Her lead role in Rookie Blue was a major breakthrough, airing from 2010 to 2015. She has held leading roles in other series such as Reaper and currently stars as Agent Maggie Bell on FBI.

Sources and further reading

• Missy Peregrym (Wikipedia)
• Missy Peregrym, Actress (tvinsider.com)
• Missy Peregrym Movies & TV Shows List (rottentomatoes.com)
• Missy Peregrym Movies and Shows (tv.apple.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-01.