Cote de Pablo

Learn about Cote de Pablo (born November 12, 1979), the Chilean-American actress famed for her role as Ziva David on NCIS. Explore her early life, acting journey, challenges, and continuing influence.

Introduction

María José de Pablo Fernández, professionally known as Côté de Pablo, is a Chilean-American actress and singer, best known for her defining role as Ziva David on the long-running TV procedural NCIS. Born November 12, 1979, de Pablo has built a career bridging television, film, music, and stage work. Her portrayal of Ziva—an Israeli Mossad agent turned NCIS operative—made her a fan favorite, and in recent years she has returned to reprise the role in a new NCIS spin-off, NCIS: Tony & Ziva.

Beyond her signature character, de Pablo’s journey reflects resilience, artistic risk, and a commitment to privacy and authenticity.

Early Life and Family

• Born: November 12, 1979, in Santiago, Chile

• Parents: Francisco de Pablo and María Olga Fernández

• Siblings: One brother, Francisco, and one sister, Andrea

• Around age 10, de Pablo moved with her mother and siblings to Miami, Florida, when her mother accepted a job in Spanish-language television.

In Miami, she attended Arvida Middle School and then the New World School of the Arts, where she studied musical theater. She later enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA), where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater in 2000.

The nickname “Côté” comes from a Chilean usage: when her given name María José was hard for people to pronounce, she asked to be called “Côté.”

Acting Career & Achievements

Beginnings & Early Roles

• At age 15, she co-hosted episodes of the Latin American talk show Control (1994–95) on Univision, alongside Carlos Ponce.

• After graduating, she moved to New York City, working odd jobs (waitressing, babysitting) to support her acting aspirations.

• She secured early screen appearances:
   • The $treet (2000) – role: Fiona  • The Education of Max Bickford (2001) – role: Gina  • The Jury (2004) – recurring role as Marguerite Cisneros

• She was slated for a Broadway debut in The Mambo Kings as Dolores Fuentes, but the production closed during trial runs in San Francisco.

Breakthrough as Ziva David on NCIS

In 2005, de Pablo landed the role that would define her career: Ziva David, an Israeli Mossad liaison who becomes NCIS agent.

Her audition process included chemistry tests alongside NCIS cast members—e.g. Michael Weatherly. Ziva’s character resonated with fans due to her complexity, strength, vulnerability, and moral ambiguity.

Awards & recognition:

• She won the Imagen Award in 2006 for Best Supporting Actress (TV) for NCIS.

• She also earned ALMA Awards and other nominations during her tenure on the show.

She remained on NCIS as a regular through Season 10, exiting early in Season 11 (2013).

Interestingly, her character "death" was later reversed off-screen: in NCIS Season 16, Ziva is revealed to be alive and de Pablo returned in cameo appearances.

In 2024, it was announced that she would reprise Ziva fully in a new spin-off, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, alongside Michael Weatherly.

Other Projects

• Film: The Last Rites of Ransom Pride (2010) – role: Bruja

• The 33 (2015) – role: Jessica Vega (a film about the Chilean mining accident)

• The Dovekeepers miniseries (2015) – as Shirah

• Prototype (2016) – cast in a Syfy thriller pilot (the show was not ultimately produced)

Additionally, she has sung in various projects:

• In an NCIS episode "Last Man Standing" (2008), she performed part of Tom Waits’ “Temptation.”

• She sang on Roberto Pitre’s album Vivo En Vida (songs like “Samba in Prelude” and “Cry Me a River”).

Personal Life & Public Image

• De Pablo tends to keep her personal life private.

• She was in a long-term relationship with actor Diego Serrano, which reportedly ended around June 2015.

• In recent years, she has become a mother in real life, and this experience has informed her portrayal of motherhood in NCIS: Tony & Ziva.

• She’s commented that saying goodbye to co-star Michael Weatherly in 2013 was an emotional moment.

• During filming of the spin-off, she even stepped in to perform a stunt when needed.

Legacy, Impact & Continuing Work

• Cote de Pablo’s performance as Ziva remains one of the most beloved and iconic in the NCIS franchise. Her character’s arc—straddling intelligence, conflict, identity, and loyalty—has resonated with fans for years.

• Her return in NCIS: Tony & Ziva signals her character’s enduring appeal and her continued relevance in television.

• Through music and acting, she has demonstrated versatility beyond her flagship role.

• Her guardianship of personal privacy while navigating fame is a model of maintaining boundaries in public life.

Notable Quotes

Here are a few memorable remarks by or about Cote de Pablo:

“I have never done anything in Spanish and I would love to be able to do it.” On leaving NCIS: she cited dissatisfaction with the direction of her character’s arc and script quality as reasons for her departure. Upon her farewell scene with Michael Weatherly (Tony), she said she thanked him for being a “great partner and friend.”

Lessons from Cote de Pablo’s Journey

1. Take bold risks
   She accepted a complex role (Ziva David), often in conflict with norms, and made it her own.

2. Value versatility
   Beyond acting, she sings, performs stunts, and participates in production phases—demonstrating multi-faceted talent.

3. Respect personal boundaries
   Keeping her private life largely private allowed her to maintain artistic control and avoid overexposure.

4. Hold to standards
   Her decision to leave NCIS was partly based on remaining true to what she felt was good writing for her character.

5. Return with intention
   Her re-entry into the NCIS universe is not just nostalgia, but part of a continued storytelling journey.