Cote de Pablo’s portrayal of Ziva David on NCIS is iconic, but she almost didn’t get the role. Born in Chile and raised in Miami, she initially struggled with Ziva’s Israeli accent. Determined to do the character justice, she trained with voice coaches and immersed herself in Israeli culture to perfect the role.
Her hard work paid off—Ziva quickly became a fan favorite. Reflecting on the impact, Cote once said, “Ziva gave me strength I didn’t know I had. She taught me about resilience and finding my voice.” Years after her departure, fans still hope for her return.
