From blackmailing her peers to impersonating professionals, Gia represented the opposite of everything her current role stands for. But the early life and career of Marisa Ramirez was even more different from her two best-known roles.

Ramirez broke into the business at the age of 15, starting out as a print model and acting in commercials. Eventually, she landed on acting as a profession, being cast in a few minor roles, including one in the Backstreet Boys music video, “As Long as You Love Me.”

In 2000, Ramirez scored her aforementioned breakout role as Gia on General Hospital, her character often causing some sort of mischief and chaos (which Soap character hasn’t?), and she was a key member of the cast until 2003.

“I had such an amazing time on GH. It’s such a beautiful learning experience and so many amazing people there,” Ramirez explained.

After she starred on General Hospital and had really established herself as an actress, she left to film the series Miracles in 2003. That show, however, was canceled after only 13 episodes due to low ratings.

Over the next few years, Ramirez had a few minor roles until 2006, which was when she was cast in The Young and the Restless, the actress playing two characters: Carmen Mesta and her look-alike cousin, Ines Vargas. Like her previous soap opera role, Ramirez’ characters were a bit mischievous.

Following her departure from Y&R, Ramirez went back to the guest roles, scoring spots on Shark (2007), Supernatural (2008) and Castle (2009). In 2009, the actress had a role on the series Mental, but the show was canceled after one season.

There were other minor parts, but it wasn’t long before she booked her longest-running and most popular role in 2013.

“There was a phase where I was the crying girlfriend… It was like a bunch of guest star roles that was happening for a little while. Then maybe something happened in my personal life, where I just kind of evolved as a person and found some strength that was being seen in these casting rooms.”

The “crying girlfriend” becomes an admirable detective

During Blue Bloods‘ third season, Ramirez was brought on as the new detective partner to Danny (Donnie Wahlberg). But the actress was only meant to portray the role for a five-episode arc, and while there was potential for her to become a regular, one could never have imagined that she would ultimately be a part of the show for over 200 episodes.

The detective duo has even sparked romance rumors on-screen, years after Danny lost his wife, Linda, in a helicopter crash. But for now, the two are just good friends and partners. As for the real-life duo, Wahlberg and Ramirez are very close.

“You hear so many horror stories about actors who worked together so long, and they secretly hate each other. And we just love each other…” Ramirez explained of her friendship with Wahlberg. “I’m so excited to be at work with him and to feel safe with someone who knows me, because I feel like I keep my guard up with other actors, or crew, or whoever, and this is a place where I can let it down… It feels very safe and comfortable.”

Ramirez’s personal life

Ramirez was previously married to Nathan Lavezoli from 2002, but the couple divorced in 2011. In 2016, she announced that she was expecting a daughter, Violet Rae. “This was a complete surprise. It just seems like it was meant to be — a happy surprise.”

“From year to year, I don’t like to look at anything as a guarantee, because you never know what can happen…So, every year when I do get the official pickup letter I’m, like, ‘Yes! I get another year! I get another year,’” Ramirez explained of her career. “I just want to continue to work, and pay my bills, and be able to raise my daughter, and not have to worry about getting food on the table.”