It’s always a tough moment when a beloved character leaves a show, and for fans of Chicago Fire, the departure of Anna, played by Charlotte Sullivan, was particularly poignant. Her character’s heartbreaking storyline, culminating in her death from cancer, left many viewers in tears and, as Sullivan herself admits, made for some incredibly challenging scenes to film.
Sullivan, who’s no stranger to the screen with a notable role in Rookie Blue, found that her time on Chicago Fire brought a new level of recognition. "When I cross the Canadian border, when I’m in the airport, people tell me how much they love Chicago Fire!" she shared. She often found herself on the receiving end of fan reactions, with people asking, "Where is the relationship going? How could you have left Severide?" To which she’d playfully retort, "It’s the writers! Don’t get mad at me."
Working alongside Taylor Kinney, who portrays the resilient Lieutenant Kelly Severide, was a highlight for Sullivan. She described him as "so down-to-earth and lovely and normal, and he plays the role so well." The emotional weight of their final scenes together was immense. "I started crying reading the script," Sullivan recalled, particularly referencing a moment where Severide vowed to stay positive and by Anna's side. On set, when Anna finally broke down in his arms, Sullivan was deeply moved by Kinney's performance, calling him "a really wonderful presence and a compelling actor."
The actual filming of Anna's death scene was, by all accounts, incredibly difficult. "Oh, God! I’m sad even talking about it. It was horrible. I couldn’t wait for that scene to be over; it was so hard to shoot," Sullivan confessed. She praised the supportive crew for maintaining a quiet set during such an emotionally taxing sequence, and again, highlighted Kinney's strength through it all. "Taylor was amazing," she said.
It’s a running theme for Severide, isn’t it? Losing the women he loves. Sullivan noted the fan sentiment, "Never be Severide’s girlfriend. You’re either going to die or they’ll ship you away! The writers like to see him suffering." Yet, she believes Anna brought a different dimension to Severide, suggesting that his past experiences prepared him to be with someone he could envision a future with.
Interestingly, Sullivan’s final moments on the Chicago Fire set weren't the gut-wrenching death scene. A snowstorm rerouted her schedule, allowing her to wrap up her role with a much lighter scene: enjoying a burger and fries that Severide brought her. "It had been so emotional and heavy, so it was nice to end the role with a burger and fries," she said with a smile.
But Sullivan isn't one to rest on her laurels. She's diving into a new project, Lifetime's Mary Kills People, where she plays Nicole, the sister of the lead character, Dr. Mary Harris. This series explores a doctor who moonlights as a mercy killer, and Sullivan’s character, Nicole, has a complex and dark past, hinting at a potential role in their mother's death. Sullivan even had a hand in crafting Nicole's unique look, describing her as a "tattooed rockabilly truck driver" with deeply personal tattoos that reflect her own life and family.
It seems Sullivan has a knack for characters with intense emotional arcs, and her transition from the fiery halls of Firehouse 51 to the morally complex world of Mary Kills People promises more compelling performances.
