Most actors spend their entire lives waiting for a breakout role, and the sad truth is that many never get one. That’s why actors who do manage to break out often stick with those roles for a very long time, trying to make sure they have more than 15 minutes of fame. Not all actors do this, though. In fact, one of TV’s most popular actors left her iconic TV show at what was arguably the height of her fame.
We’re talking about Cote de Pablo, someone who rose to worldwide fame thanks to her role in the long-running crime procedural NCIS. She played Ziva, one of the most popular characters, before departing the show back in season 11. The actor came back before and now has her own NCIS spinoff show. Since that show premiered, though, fans have wondered what Cote de Pablo did after leaving NCIS.
Are you one of those fans? Keep reading to discover everything you need to know!
A star is born

These days, it’s hard for new TV shows to succeed. That’s because there’s so much competition out there that it can be hard for a new series to get off the ground. But in this modern media landscape, NCIS is genuine television royalty, having been on the air for over 22 seasons. Those who star on this show instantly become household names, and that’s exactly what happened with Cote de Pablo.
Her character wasn’t part of NCIS from the beginning, but she was introduced in Season 3. She played Ziva Davis, a Mossad agent who eventually joins the NCIS team. Fans quickly took to the character because she was tough, smart, and had great chemistry with the team (especially Tony). But in Season 11, the unthinkable happened: Cote de Pablo left the series that made her famous.
Whatever Happened to NCIS Star Cote de Pablo?