Cote de Pablo’s sudden and unexpected decision to leave NCIS just before filming began for season 11 was, in the actress’ own words, due to the fact she felt “the character was not being treated with the respect she deserved”.
She explained that leaving the show was not something she wanted (or planned) to do. But, in the end, her decision caused Michael Weatherly (Tony DiNozzo) to leave the show two seasons later.
The outpouring of affection for Pablo from his fans did not go unnoticed. And she went on record as saying that she hadn’t wanted to let them down and “leave them hanging”.
However, aside from the network stating that money was not a factor in the decision and the actress herself describing it as a “personal thing” at the time, little explanation was provided when the sh0cking news was first revealed.
However, a few years later, de Pablo gave an interview at Babson College in which she stated unequivocally that she left because the character she loved – and had spent eight years crafting – was simply not being given good enough storylines.
De Pablo described her decision to leave as “overwhelmingly difficult” and “at times terrifying” during the interview. Not surprising given that she had just given up on a show and a character she cared deeply about.
And the consequences of the decision rumbled on. Michael Weatherly left the show at the end of Season 13 after revealing that he felt Tony DiNozzo had nothing going on after Ziva left the show.
Perhaps the initial secrecy was intended to facilitate de Pablo’s return to set to complete her story arc and provide fans with closure on Ziva’s relationship with Tony.
De Pablo described the opportunity as having the “privilege of going back to a set and being able to say goodbye to people” and leaving on her terms. That could explain her initial silence on the subject.
She also stated that she would not return “unless someone can truly write something fantastic for (Ziva)”. And it appears that someone wrote something she liked in the end, because she reappeared as Ziva in seasons 16 and 17.
