Here's Why Cote de Pablo Left NCIS 11 Years Ago (Only to Come Back Later)
One of the show’s most painful departures.
Even though the majority of NCIS fans are happy to see Ziva and Tony together, and even more excited about the new spinoff that will focus entirely on their relationship, they are still cautious about the actors staying on for the long haul.
Given that both Cote de Pablo, who portrays Ziva, and Michael Weatherly, who portrays Tony, have left the franchise before, their comebacks are something viewers prefer to remain cautious about. This is especially true for de Pablo, who has never addressed the details of her decision to step away from the role.
Why Did Cote de Pablo Leave NCIS?
Back in 2013 fans of NCIS were shaken by the news of a fan-favorite character, a special agent Ziva David, exiting the show. Even though her character wasn’t initially loved and it took some time for the fans to warm up to her, throughout 8 years in NCIS she’s become an extremely important part to the family.
While the actress behind the character, Cote de Pablo, has never opened up about her decision in detail, she gave a very substantial answer to all the questions in an exclusive interview with TV Guide.
“As far as my decision to leave, that's a personal thing, and I'd rather leave it at that. The idea of leaving was not something I toyed around with for a long time. It was an overwhelmingly hard thing — at times terrifying. Leaving NCIS was not planned, so there is no plan,” she said.
Though the actress admits there was no plan to leave NCIS, and her departure must have been rushed from a writing standpoint, de Pablo managed to maintain a friendly relationship with the show's production. So when the time was right, she came back to make a surprise appearance and wrap up Ziva's story.
Years later, however, the actress came back one more time, and this time she's here to stay. So, if you were a fan of Tony and Ziva's will-they-won't-they romance and still can't get over the news that they have a daughter to raise together, be sure to keep an eye out for more news and updates so you don't miss the premiere date.
Source: TV Guide