Cote de Pablo Reveals Why Filming One NCIS Scene Was a Complete Nightmare!!!!

Cote de Pablo, best known for her role as Ziva David on NCIS, recently shared a challenging behind-the-scenes experience from her early days on the show. Despite her theatrical background, the actress faced a tough moment when she wasn’t prepared for a sudden filming schedule change.

During a visit on her NCIS podcast, which she co-hosts with Michael Weatherly (Tony DiNozzo), de Pablo discussed the bewilderment she felt during one of her first scenes.

Weatherly described the time when the crew notified de Pablo that they were moving on to an autopsy scene, putting her in a panic because she hadn’t mastered the lines. She found it difficult to acclimate to the fast-paced television environment after being used to a slower theater schedule.

De Pablo, a self-proclaimed “theater geek,” stayed up all night to memorize her lines and returned the next day determined to get it right.

Her hard work paid off, as the scene became part of one of her earliest appearances as Ziva in season 3, helping to solidify her place on the show.

Although Ziva was written off NCIS, de Pablo will reprise her iconic role this fall in the upcoming spinoff NCIS: Tony & Ziva on Paramount+.