NCIS Star Speaks Out on Departing the Show After 8 Years: “That Was a Real Adjustment”

The show must go on, with or without key cast members, and that was certainly the case when Emily Wickersham departed NCIS after eight seasons. Wickersham portrayed Ellie Bishop, stepping into the role left vacant by Cote de Pablo’s Ziva David. Her character exited the series in the Season 18 finale, “Rule 91,” when Bishop embarked on an undercover mission that required her to tarnish her reputation as an NCIS agent. Now, three years after her departure, Wickersham is opening up about her time on the long-running CBS crime drama.

In a recent appearance on the Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch podcast, hosted by former co-stars Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly, Wickersham reflected on her exit from the show. She revealed that her life took a dramatic turn shortly after leaving NCIS, which influenced how she processed the end of that chapter in her career. “I found out I was pregnant a month later,” Wickersham shared. “So it was a combination of decompressing and trying to relax while figuring out how to navigate life without work.”

She explained that working on NCIS was all-consuming, leaving little time for anything else. “Your life becomes all about NCIS when you’re on that show,” Wickersham said. “It’s all day, every day, and you’re not left with much time for anything outside of it. So that was a real adjustment for me.” Reflecting on the transition, she described it as a “wonderful and weird” period in her life. “As you both know, it’s strange to leave something that has been ingrained in you for so many years,” she added.

Despite the significant life changes, including moving to New York to be with her boyfriend and adjusting to her pregnancy, Wickersham expressed no regrets about her decision to leave the show. “I was ready to move on to something else,” she said on the podcast. Katrina Law eventually filled the void left by Wickersham’s departure, playing Jessica Knight, who herself faced a potential exit at the end of Season 21 when she was offered a tempting new job.

Wickersham, who hasn’t acted since leaving NCIS, remains open to the idea of returning. With her schedule clear and old memories resurfacing, the door could be open for Ellie Bishop’s return.

Fans can catch up on all 21 seasons of NCIS on Paramount+ ahead of the Season 22 premiere on October 14 on CBS.