After eight seasons of playing Ziva David on ‘NCIS’, actor Cote De Pablo knew about her character. She knew all the ins and outs of Ziva’s mind. She understood Ziva’s motivations, thoughts, and feelings. So, naturally, when ‘NCIS’ creators started thinking about bringing Ziva back to the show, they called De Pablo. During an interview in 2019, De Pablo talked about how she helped develop Ziva’s new storyline before returning to “NCIS”. She said that she first spoke with ‘NCIS’ writer Gina Lucita Monreal.
“The greatest thing happened,” said De Pablo. “One of the writers was my friend but also a terrific writer for ‘NCIS.’ A woman who had always really loved and respected this character. She called me up and said, ‘Where do you think Ziva’s been?'” said De Pablo.
Cote De Pablo Helped Develop Ziva’s New Storyline With Her Friend
From there, the two friends spiraled into several conversations about what Ziva’s been up to since she left “NCIS” in 2013.
“And then we got into this very fun sort of conversation about where the character’s been, what I think she’s gone through. Where the daughter is, and how she feels about Tony. And all these things,” said De Pablo.
She added that talking about Ziva again reminded her of how much she loved both the character and working on “NCIS”.
“And, before I knew it, I was once again back feeling all these things about the character. It was just very easy,” she said. “And then from there, she said ‘What do you think about this, this, and this.'”
De Pablo Said That Returning to ‘NCIS’ Was an ‘Easy Transition’
It wasn’t long after those conversations that ‘NCIS’ executive producers called De Pablo and asked her if she’d be open to returning to the show.
“And then, of course, the executive producers were like, ‘Well, would you consider?’ And I said, ‘Well, yes, depending on what you guys come up with,'” said de Pablo.
However, De Pablo said that she already felt confident about what ‘NCIS’ creators had in mind for Ziva, after talking with her friend who writes for the series.
“But Gina [the writer] and I had been sort of talking. And it was just a very easy transition from there because it seemed like we were all on the same page,” she said.
De Pablo added that knowing that the story was developed by a layered and powerful woman helped her feel at ease about reprising her role as Ziva David on “NCIS.”
“So, at a certain point, it just became a very organic thing to go back and do it, primarily for the fans. And obviously, because there was something that was written by a woman who I respect very much and someone who really respects the character and wants to do right by the character. And who’s a mother, who’s a very powerful woman herself. So I thought, ‘Well, this is in very good hands, yea.'”
