Cote de Pablo’s portrayal of Ziva David on NCIS is legendary, but many don’t know how close she came to not landing the role. Born in Chile and raised in Miami, Cote initially struggled to perfect Ziva’s Israeli accent. Determined to do the character justice, she worked tirelessly with voice coaches and studied Israeli culture to bring authenticity to the role.
Her dedication paid off, with Ziva quickly becoming a fan favorite. Cote has often said, “Ziva gave me strength I didn’t know I had. She taught me about resilience and finding your voice.” The character remains one of the most beloved in the show’s history, with fans still asking for her to return even years after her departure.