Why did NCIS Star Cote de Pablo almost not play Ziva?
Though she almost didn't play Ziva David, Cote de Pablo was a major player on Ncis and it's hard to picture the common NCIS universe without her. Staying with the show several years over her six-year contract, De Pablo would later play the character from NCIS seasons 3 through 11. Inspired by Ziva David, one of the most adored characters in NCIS history, the brand would bring her back for a new series anchored on her life: the spinoff NCIS: Tony & Ziva.
Ziva David and Anthony DiNozzo, the original Ncis stars, deserved their spinoff as their chemistry on the flagship show was irresistible. Although their friendship developed across several NCIS seasons, it was discovered in the new podcast Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch that several key events occurred outside the show and shaped the interactions among the characters. Off Duty also revealed that Cote De Pablo believed her chances of landing the part were unattainable, therefore altering the entire trajectory of NCIS history.
Almost Lost The Function Of Ziva To Someone Auditioned Over Fifteen Times
De Pablo described the circumstances of her test screening on the Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch podcast, in which de Pablo and Michael Weatherly revisit key Tony and Ziva NCIS episodes. Another actor was there for an audition when she arrived at the theater. De Pablo felt the other possible Ziva actor, who had auditioned for the job 15 or 16 times, already belonged to the other woman. De Pablo thought there was no chance she would be selected as she remembers hearing laughter among the other performers and those in the room before it was her turn to audition.
According to Cote de Pablo, she was in national advertisements at the time, but a wake-up call drove her to try out many TV parts. Her manager didn't expect it would go through when she answered a call on the Friday post saying there would be a test screening. Later that weekend, de Pablo was flying to Los Angeles to try for the part of Ziva, which surprised her. She figured it wouldn't be her and they had brought her to California to confirm their choice.
After one test run with Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo Got NCIS.
De Pablo recalled a crucial moment during an NCIS Rewatch when producer Donald P. Bellisario laughed at Weatherly in the audition to defuse his pranks. It was a recommendation that would set Tony and Ziva's relationship for their NCIS romance. Ziva's ability to scare Tony where other women could not helped to create a balanced connection with him. De Pablo remembered when she headed home that evening, she was waiting to grab a cab when Bellisario met up with her outside, finally disclosing she got the part after one screening.
When Don Bellisario said she experienced the "the quintessential Hollywood moment," Cote de Pablo said De Pablo's reading for the Ziva David part set NCIS history. Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo remembered a moment from the Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch podcast when Weatherly went off script, touched de Pablo's face, and said her she looked like Salma Hayek. De Pablo recalled that something in the room changed when she transformed her character's approach to something ferocious and composed and that she became enraged. The intensity of the room changed at that instant, and they knew they had won over their audience. Cote de Pablo gathered up her life in New York and relocated to California to start filming NCIS season 3 straight after learning she had the position.
Impact of Cote de Pablo on NCIS: A Lasting Legacy
A major turning point for NCIS history, the chemistry created in the room that day between Weatherly and de Pablo shaped the tone of an NCIS partnership that viewers could support. Though things will be different for off-duty agents in their new spinoff series, the dynamic wherein de Pablo holds Weatherly under control will surely be present, regardless of all the circumstances and will define her Ziva NCIS role.
The way Cote de Pablo portrayed Ziva David had a significant effect on NCIS since it gave the show depth, complexity, and mystery. Not only was her performance of Ziva fascinating, but it also really connected with viewers. One of the most cherished features of the show became the dynamic between Ziva and Tony; their connection gave the sitcom a certain emotional depth and vitality. Though De Pablo departed NCIS, the show suffered, but her legacy as Ziva David endures.
The Story Behind Tony & Ziva Spinoff NCIS
Years of conjecture and popular demand turned NCIS: Tony & Ziva becoming a reality. The spinoff looked upon Ziva and Tony's continuing romance as well as their trip back to NCIS. Though opinions on the spinoff were divided, it gave fans a much-needed reunion and an opportunity to catch up with the dear characters. The popularity of the spinoff confirmed even more the ongoing appeal of Ziva David and Anthony DiNozzo since it showed how viewers still find resonance in their chemistry and narrative.
Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or NCIS, emphasizes the sometimes complicated and always entertaining dynamics of a team compelled to cooperate under great pressure. The NCIS team consists of NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee, an MIT graduate with a knack for computers who has lately graduated to senior field agent; the charismatic, unpredictable and resilient NCIS Special Agent Nicholas “Nick” Torres, who has spent most of his career on solo undercover assignments; and sharp, athletic and tough NCIS Special Agent Jessica Knight, a formidable REACT agent specialized in hostage negotiations and high-risk operations. Running the morgue and having progressed from assistant to fully licensed medical examiner, the naive Jimmy Palmer is helping the team; and forensic scientist Kasie Hines, Ducky's former graduate assistant. NCIS Director Leon Vance, a brilliant, highly skilled agent constantly dependable to upend the established quo, is in charge of supervising activities. From murder and espionage to terrorism and pilfered submarines, these special agents look at any crimes with Navy or Marine Corps connections.
