Daniela Ruah, known for her role as Kensi Blye on NCIS: Los Angeles, recently revealed that when she started her acting career over two decades ago, she had initial fears of being fired. Her big break in national television came when she joined the cast of NCIS: Los Angeles as Agent Kensi Blye in 2009.
Before her role on the CBS cop drama, Ruah had primarily worked in Portuguese television. Her journey included her first significant role as Sara in the soap opera Jardins Proibidos, where she appeared for a year. She also had roles in other Portuguese dramas like Filha do Mar, Dei-te Quase Tudo, and Tu e Eu.
During her early days in the industry, Ruah reflected on the challenges she faced, especially working on Portuguese soap operas. She shared her experiences on The Wayne Ayers Podcast, emphasizing how tough it was in the beginning and how newcomers often felt the need to agree to everything to secure their positions.
“It felt very difficult in the beginning, and then you’re just happy to be there,” she said. “And this is a good lesson to teach any young people who want to be actors: you’ll always say yes to everything. For one thing, you’re thinking, ‘I don’t want to be difficult, I don’t want to get fired.’ You always feel like you’re going to get fired for being tough, yet it’s critical that you stay firm on certain issues.”
She stressed the importance of not being late and being punctual on set, respecting the schedules and the people waiting to go home. However, she also highlighted the need to stand up for oneself and not accept conditions that would be detrimental to one’s well-being, such as working excessively long hours.
Ruah acknowledged the challenges actors face in navigating various requests and expectations, and she encouraged aspiring actors to determine what they are comfortable with to ensure their long-term success in the industry.
NCIS: Los Angeles recently concluded its 14th season, but Ruah has remained active in her career. She has taken on roles in projects like the Netflix Portuguese series Turn of the Tide, where she played the character Fatima, and the upcoming film Luso, in which she portrays Maria Francisco (currently in post-production).