Curious World Staff
Cote de Pablo, known for her role as Ziva David on NCIS, almost didn’t land the part. She portrayed Ziva from seasons 3 to 11, staying longer than her initial six-year contract. Ziva became one of the most beloved characters, inspiring a potential spinoff, NCIS: Tony & Ziva. The chemistry between Ziva and Anthony DiNozzo was a fan favorite, but de Pablo revealed on the podcast Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch that she thought her chances of getting the role were slim, which could have dramatically changed the show’s history.
Cote de Pablo Nearly Lost Ziva Role to an Actress Who Auditioned Over 15 Times
Cote de Pablo nearly lost the job of Ziva David to another actor who auditioned more than 15 times. On the Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch podcast, de Pablo discussed her test screening, where she was positive the part belonged to the other actor based on the laughter and confidence in the room. At the time, de Pablo was working on national commercials but opted to apply for television parts. Despite believing she wasn’t the main pick, she was abruptly summoned to Los Angeles for the final audition, supposing she was simply there as a backup.
Cote de Pablo Landed NCIS Role After Just One Test Read with Michael Weatherly
Cote de Pablo landed her NCIS role after a single test read with Michael Weatherly. During the audition, NCIS showrunner Donald P. Bellisario asked de Pablo to laugh at Weatherly to counter his antics, which set the tone for their on-screen chemistry as Tony and Ziva.
De Pablo recalled a pivotal moment when Weatherly went off script, comparing her to Salma Hayek, which infuriated her. She answered with a cool, aggressive posture, and the vibe in the room shifted, cementing her role. Bellisario later caught up with her outside to inform she had landed the role, which she described as a “quintessential Hollywood moment.”
Shortly after, she moved from New York to California to start filming for NCIS season 3. The chemistry established in that audition became a cornerstone of their on-screen relationship.
Related News – Be sure to get some more news when it comes to NCIS.
