Carmela Zumbado opens up about her expanded role on Chicago P.D. Courtesy of NBC Universal
Carmela Zumbado has built a career defined by momentum, opening the door to the next role in unexpected, often deeply personal ways. After becoming well-known on You, her journey into Chicago television was one of those rare moments where timing, instinct, and fate seemed to align perfectly.
Landing a Role on Chicago P.D. After You
After working on You, Zumbado was given the opportunity to make a brief guest appearance on Chicago P.D. Anna’s role, as a woman driven by grief and vengeance, was only supposed to last for 4 episodes. But something clicked, she shared with Gianni Paolo and Michael Rainey Jr on The Crew Has it Podcast.
The performance was effective, the character became more complex, and a limited arc gradually expanded into an eight-episode run. For Zumbado, the experience was electric. Chicago quickly became her love, and she felt a sense of belonging in the city she wasn’t prepared to leave behind.
It felt like a cinematic twist that her character’s dramatic end in the season nine finale was the very same week she was reading chemistry for another major project. Rather than packing up, she stayed put—quite literally. The sound stages on Chicago’s west side became her temporary home, a creative hub that housed Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, Power Book IV: Force, and The Bear in close proximity. She later recalled how it felt like a smaller Hollywood hidden in the Midwest.
The role was even more meaningful due to an eerie personal connection. Anna’s storyline centers on avenging the death of her brother Miguel, a name that Zumbado had permanently tattooed on her body long before the role ever came into her life. Throughout the entire shoot, she carried a Miguel tattoo, which she found so striking that she shared it with her agent. Half-jokingly, she said that casting should be aware of her level of commitment to ‘riding for Miguel.’
About the Author
[[Anthony L. McKnight II]] also known as Krispy was Born in Rochester, NY attending the “School Of The Arts” Class of 2009. He graduated with a Regents Arts diploma while studying Creative Writing and other arts. He recently became the founder of the Los Angeles Lakers Fan Club on Clubhouse. His club has hosted several celebrity interviews inside the fan club, from names such as Robert Horry, Gloria James, Mark Medina, Jovan Buha. His favorite hobby is spending a day out in nature, favorite sports basketball & football.
