Torrey DeVitto Explains Why She Started Doing Hallmark Christmas Movies During Breaks From ‘Traumatic’ Experiences On Chicago Med

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Torrey DeVitto reprised her role as Dr. Natalie Manning on Chicago Med for Season 11, but under difficult circumstances. Following the 200th episode – which saw the return of Nick Gehlfuss as Will and featured Owen – she rushed back to Chicago from Seattle because her son was in a life-threatening situation. In an interview with TopMob, DeVitto discussed returning to Gaffney Med within the One Chicago universe and compared the experience to filming Hallmark Christmas movies.

Natalie’s return to Chicago was emotionally challenging as she fought to ensure her son, Owen, received the best possible medical care. This dedication went so far as to include donating a kidney while six months pregnant. The situation was filled with intense emotions – tears, shouting, and disagreements – a far cry from the cheerful atmosphere of typical Hallmark holiday movies. Actress Torrey DeVitto, a frequent star in those movies, has been appearing in them even before her role on the show Med.

If you’ve been enjoying all the cozy holiday movies lately, you’ve probably seen Rachel DeVitto! She’s become a bit of a queen of Christmas with films like Best Christmas Party Ever, Write Before Christmas, The Christmas Promise, and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas under her belt. But recently, I had the chance to chat with her about stepping back into a very different role – Dr. Natalie Manning on Chicago Med. After all that holiday cheer, it was fascinating to hear what it was like for her to return to the intense world of Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, especially for episodes 200 and 201, which you can stream now on Peacock.

I was much more emotional, and I definitely cried a lot more. There’s just something about how cheerful Christmas movies are. That’s actually why I started making them while I was on Chicago Med – during my breaks, I needed to do something uplifting. My character, Natalie, was constantly dealing with really difficult situations, so I wanted a change of pace.

It’s hard to argue with Torrey DeVitto’s point that her Chicago Med character, Natalie, was constantly facing hardship. Her storyline, which started in 2015 while she was pregnant after her husband’s death, was full of dramatic events – from a failed wedding to amnesia caused by a head injury, and everything leading up to her leaving the show. Even her recent appearances in Season 11 fit that pattern. She went on to say:

It felt right returning to set and greeting everyone I knew, then explaining I needed to focus on an emotionally intense scene for the next eight hours before being able to socialize. [laughs]

Hallmark movies definitely aren’t tear-free, but they usually end happily, unlike the dramatic season finales of shows like Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D. As someone who likes to relax with Hallmark after watching the intense One Chicago series, it makes sense that an actor like DeVitto would appreciate working on a lighter project in between appearances on Med.

For a glimpse of DeVitto spreading holiday joy, check out a scene from Write Before Christmas, which came out shortly after the fifth season of NBC’s popular medical show began.

You can rewatch Torrey DeVitto’s time on Chicago Med – including all her previous seasons and her two Season 11 episodes – now on Peacock. And if you’re looking for Hallmark’s Christmas movies anytime, Hallmark+ is the place to find them.

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2025-10-23 03:09