IN CONVERSATION WITH COTE DE PABLO
interview by JANA LETONJA
photography CAITE LAFOON
Cote de Pablo stars as the titular lead and serves as executive producer on the highly anticipated Paramount+ series ‘NCIS: Tony & Ziva’, which premiered on 4th September. The new spinoff marks the return of her beloved character, Agent Ziva David, and picks up after her dramatic reappearance in the NCIS universe. Cote’s past credits include ‘The 33’ with Antonio Banderas, CBS’s ‘The Dovekeepers’, ‘The Mambo Kings’, and ‘Measure for Measure’ at Shakespeare in the Park.
What was your initial reaction when you were approached about reprising Ziva David and bringing her back for a standalone series?
It all felt like a dream. This character is so near and dear to me as it was really my breakout moment as an actor. ‘NCIS’ is so beloved by the fans, that it only felt right to jump back in 19 years later and revisit something that is so special. It was our chance for all the ways we could tell Tony and Ziva’s story, answer the unresolved questions fans had, and then to be able to do this with Michael again was totally a no-brainer for me.
This time, you’re not only starring but also executive producing. How has that changed your experience on set and your connection to the story?
I love being able to be more involved in telling the story as no one knows Ziva better than I do. And same with Michael, no knows Tony better than he does. With both of us being executive producers this time around, it just felt natural and organic. Once we got into the groove of things with being more hands-on with the creative, casting for the show and then the day-day of being on set and dealing with EP things along with our acting responsibilities, it just felt like the right progression for us.
The trailer shattered records with 93 million views in just one week. What do you think is driving this massive resurgence of interest in the ‘NCIS’ universe?
The fans of Tony and Ziva have been very ride or die since day one. Tony and Ziva had a slow burn relationship during their time on ‘NCIS’, so our fans are very invested in their relationship and where it ended up heading. Since we never really saw closure between Ziva and Tony in the original series, there is that added interest that is definitely driving this massive resurgence.
What can longtime fans of ‘NCIS’ expect from Tony & Ziva that feels familiar, and what will surprise them?
Longtime fans can expect that same chemistry and banter between Ziva and Tony that made them fall in love with the characters in the original series, giving audiences some familiarity in our show. I think what will surprise them is that now that we’re on streaming, we can explore the characters in a different way, and what I mean by that is that we’ve stepped away from being a procedural and this gives us the opportunity to really dive in deeper to character development and really focus on Ziva and Tony and their actual lives.
What themes or emotional arcs are you most excited for viewers to see unfold in this series?
Michael and I are both parents, so we were excited to really explore and depict how thrilling it is to be a parent – the protectiveness, the instincts you develop, all the layers in between. This new chapter of their lives is a big part of the story between them and the decision making they do.
As an executive producer, were there any key storylines or character beats you fought to include?
The international scope of the series was really important to me, which Paramount was very supportive of. ‘NCIS’ has been captured by so many around the world, so we really wanted to bring that international focus to this season.
How has playing Ziva over the years shaped you personally or professionally?
There are so many memories. I think most importantly it has reiterated that I need to trust my instincts. Like our characters, what we do comes from intuition we need to really listen to.
You’ve worked on everything from Shakespeare to feature films like ‘The 33’. Are there any genres or types of roles you haven’t explored yet but would love to?
I’m open to all genres and roles. It really comes from the quality of the storytelling that I am most interested in.
What’s next for you, either in front of the camera or behind it?
Can’t quite say yet, but hopefully soon.
Tell us more about yourself outside of acting. What are the things you are most passionate about?
Taking care of ourselves is very important to me. Wholistic living is something I am passionate about and really can focus on outside of being on camera.
