NCIS LA teased a major exit this season on CBS. But, why is Nell leaving NCIS Los Angeles?
NCIS Los Angeles fans were left devastated when in the season 11 episode Fortune Favours The Brave, it was teased Nell Jones (played by Renée Felice Smith) would be leaving. Here’s everything you need to know about why she is going and whether it is for good.
Why is Nell leaving NCIS Los Angeles?
In Fortune Favours the Brave, Nell faced a big decision over her future on the NCIS Los Angeles team.
The new episode saw the beloved character struggling with her decision to stay or leave and confided in her co-workers about why she was considering it.
This began with a conversation with Kensi Blye (Daniela Ruah) where she revealed she doesn’t even want to get out of bed and come to work any more.
She’s told it might be a good idea to take a vacation but instead she comes to the decision to resign from the team.
Nell has been a huge part of NCIS ever since she joined the show as a recurring character in season two.
The agent is known for having dealt with some particularly tricky missions over her time on the series as well as her relationship with Eric Beale (Barrett Foa).
The pair finally got together after plenty of hints of romance in season 10, much to fan’s delight.
However, there have been hints throughout season 11 that both characters could be leaving the NCIS series.
This was especially the case when Eric did not appear in the first few episodes of the latest season after taking a leave of absence from the show.
This was only to allow actor Barrett Foa to star in a play but some viewers thought it could hint Eric may have one foot out of the door.
Viewers will have to keep tuning in to see whether Nell’s exit could be permanent, and whether Eric might also leave as well.
Nell is played by actor Renée Felice Smith in the long-running procedural drama.
The 35-year-old actor has starred in NCIS since 2010 and for over 200 episodes.
As well as her role in NCIS LA, she is also known for appearing in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Nanny Cam and The Relationship.
She also has a short film scheduled to come out in 2021 called Someone to Carry You where she plays Laura Lee.
Smith has not revealed whether her absence on the show will be permanent or not yet.
However, she did take to Instagram to reveal Nell currently has a lot going through her mind.
Posting before it aired, she wrote: “Tonight a wistful Nell comes to your small screen.
“Tune in for an episode to remember directed by the inimitable #EricPot my fave.”
Since the decision, Nell has not appeared in any episodes of the show, fuelling theories she could be gone for good.