Cheers to Another Year of Brilliance: Happy Birthday, Cote de Pablo!
Cote de Pablo: A Talented Chilean-American Actress and Singer
In this Spanish name, María José de Pablo Fernández, professionally known as Cote de Pablo, was born on November 12, 1979, in Santiago, Chile. At the age of 10, she moved to the United States, where her journey in acting and singing unfolded.
Early Life: Cote, born to Francisco de Pablo and María Olga Fernández, has a younger sister, Andrea, and a brother, Francisco. Growing up, she attended schools in Miami, Florida, including Arvida Middle School and New World School of the Arts, where her passion for musical theatre began to blossom. While studying at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater and graduated in 2000.
Early Career: De Pablo’s entertainment career kicked off at 15 when she co-hosted episodes of the talk show Control on Univision alongside Carlos Ponce. Moving to New York City after graduation, she worked as a waitress to support herself while seeking acting opportunities. Her early roles included appearances in Fox’s The $treet and CBS’s The Education of Max Bickford.
NCIS Stardom: Cote de Pablo’s breakthrough came when she landed the role of Ziva David in the CBS series NCIS in 2005. Her portrayal of an Israeli Mossad officer turned NCIS agent garnered critical acclaim, earning her awards such as an Imagen Award in 2006 and an ALMA Award in 2011. De Pablo left the show in 2013 but made surprise returns in later seasons, delighting fans.
Post-NCIS Career: Beyond NCIS, Cote de Pablo ventured into film, featuring in The 33, a movie about the 2010 Copiapó mining accident, and the CBS miniseries The Dovekeepers. She also explored music, showcasing her singing talent with a rendition of Tom Waits’ “Temptation” on an NCIS episode.
Personal Life: Cote de Pablo was in a long-term relationship with actor Diego Serrano, though they reportedly separated in June 2015.
Current Ventures: In 2018, it was announced that de Pablo, along with former NCIS castmate Michael Weatherly, would be executive producers of the CBS detective drama MIA. Despite her diverse career, she continues to captivate audiences with her multifaceted talents.
Cote de Pablo’s journey from Santiago to the heights of Hollywood exemplifies her resilience and artistic prowess, making her a celebrated figure in the world of entertainment.
