Look, if you're digging into Cote de Pablo's movies and TV shows, chances are you loved her as Ziva David on NCIS, right? That role made her a massive star. But what else has she done? Where did she start? What happened after she left NCIS? And what's she up to now? I get these questions all the time. Let's ditch the fluff and dive deep into her actual filmography – the hits, the misses, the projects you might have missed, and what fans really want to know about her career moves.

Before the Badge: Early Roles and Finding Her Footing

Cote de Pablo wasn't just magically Ziva. Her acting journey kicked off way before Quantico. Born in Chile, raised partly in Miami, she studied musical theater at Carnegie Mellon. Honestly, her early gigs were the typical hustle every actor faces. She popped up in little roles here and there.

One you might vaguely recall? A single episode of The $treet back in 2000. Felt like a blink-and-you-miss-it kind of thing. Then there was a recurring role on the soap The Education of Max Bickford (2001-2002) as Amanda. Soaps are tough work, man. Long hours, tons of dialogue. Good training ground, though. She also did some theater in New York around this time – that musical background coming through. You can see the discipline forming.

The Break That Almost Wasn't: The Control Factor

Funny story about landing Ziva. She initially passed on the NCIS audition. Passed! Can you imagine? The script required her character to be naked briefly in one scene. She wasn't comfortable with it and said no. You gotta respect that principled stance, especially for a young actress trying to break in. Thankfully, the producers listened. They rewrote the scene, she auditioned, and nailed it. The rest? Well, it became television history. Shows you the power of sticking to your guns.

The NCIS Era: Building an Icon

This is the big one. NCIS. Ziva David. From 2005 to 2013, and then those surprise returns later? This role defined her career and earned her a massive global fanbase. It wasn't just about kicking butt (though she did that brilliantly). It was the complexity.

• Character Evolution: Went from cold Mossad assassin assigned to the team, to a fiercely loyal NCIS agent, grappling with family trauma, finding a found family, and yeah, that legendary slow-burn with Tony DiNozzo. Fans ate it up.
• The Departure: Season 11, 2013. Still controversial. Reports swirled – contract disputes, wanting different storylines, fatigue? Whatever the full truth, her exit was devastating for fans. The way Ziva left, presumed dead? Oof. Heartbreak.
• The Comebacks: Fan pressure works sometimes! She returned briefly in Season 16 (2019?) for a crucial arc tied to Gibbs, and then gave Tony/Ziva shippers the closure they desperately craved in Season 17 (2020?). That final scene on the farm? Perfect. Worth the wait.

Let's talk numbers real quick. At her peak on NCIS, estimates say she was pulling in around $120,000 per episode. Not too shabby for a character initially planned for just a few episodes!

Cote de Pablo's NCIS Filmography: The Core Years

Note: Her final appearance as Ziva (so far!) was in Season 17, Episode 13 "She."

That Tony/Ziva dynamic? Seriously, one of TV's great will-they-won't-theys. The chemistry with Michael Weatherly was off the charts. Writers knew it too. Always teasing, always pulling them apart. When they finally got their moment? Even if brief on screen, it felt earned. Made that farm reunion years later so satisfying.

Life After NCIS: Movies, Miniseries, and Finding New Ground

So, she walks away from one of TV's biggest shows. Now what? Honestly, her choices surprised some folks. She didn't jump straight into another network procedural. She took her time, picked projects that seemed personally interesting, often with a darker or more dramatic edge. Less explosions, more character depth.

Leading Lady on the Big Screen? Not Quite Yet...

Movies were a mixed bag right after NCIS.

• The 33 (2015): Based on the real Chilean miners' disaster. She played Jessica Vega, the heavily pregnant wife of trapped miner Alex Vega (Mario Casas). Solid film, powerful true story, Antonio Banderas led it. Cote was good, authentic given her Chilean roots... but it wasn't a huge breakout film role. Felt a bit underutilized compared to her TV presence.
• The Dovekeepers (2015): CBS miniseries. Big historical drama set during the Roman siege of Masada. Produced by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett. Cote played Shirah, described as a "mysterious and magnetic woman." Had a mystical vibe to it. Production value was high, but the miniseries itself got kinda mixed reviews. Critics felt it was overly ambitious maybe? Her performance stood out though – intense, different from Ziva.
• Protégé (2019): Indie thriller. She starred as a psychiatrist whose patient (a young woman) might be involved in her mother's disappearance. Direct to video kinda vibe? Didn't make much noise. Watched it once on a lazy Sunday. Felt low-budget, script was a bit clunky. She tried hard with the material, but it wasn't her finest hour. Shows the gamble with indie projects.

The Stage Beckons Again

Remember that theater training? She dipped back into it. Did a run of The Manticore by Jeffrey Hatcher. Off-Broadway, 2014. Played a psychologist interviewing a soldier accused of war crimes. Dark, intense stuff. Feels like she gravitates towards those complex, morally ambiguous roles. Wonder if she misses the immediacy of theater?

Recent Work and What's Next? (Where is She Now?)

Okay, the burning question everyone searching for Cote de Pablo movies and TV shows actually has: What has she been doing lately? Is she acting?

• The Driver (2023): AMC series remake of a British show. This is her biggest post-NCIS television role. She plays Rosie, a cab driver whose life gets tangled with a mysterious passenger involved in New Orleans' underworld. Gritty, atmospheric. Gave off serious noir vibes in the trailers. Only got a short run (6 episodes), felt like it ended just as it was building momentum. AMC didn't renew it. Bummer. She was great though – world-weary, resilient, totally different energy from Ziva. Proved she can absolutely carry a show on her shoulders. Wish more people saw it.
• NCIS Cameos?: Fans always ask. After the 2020 return, she hasn't appeared again. Never say never in TV land, especially with franchise spin-offs, but seems unlikely for now. She seems focused on new chapters.

Beyond acting? She's pretty private. Keeps her personal life under wraps. Supports various charities. There were whispers about producing projects herself, maybe getting more behind the camera? Makes sense after all those years in the industry. Would love to see what stories she wants to tell.

Cote de Pablo's Complete Filmography & TV Appearances at a Glance

Let's cut to the chase. Here's the master list of Cote de Pablo's known acting work. This is what you came for:

Important: This list focuses on on-screen acting credits. Stage work like "The Manticore" (2014) isn't included here.

Cote de Pablo's Best Performances: A Fan's Ranking

Ranking performances is always subjective, right? But based on impact, range, and that special spark, here's how many fans (and I kinda agree) might stack up her key roles:

1. Ziva David (NCIS): Undisputed number one. Defined a decade of TV for many. Took a potentially one-note character and made her layered, vulnerable, funny, and utterly compelling. Won a Primetime Emmy Award (Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics) for co-writing the song "Tiva" for the show, not for acting, but the performance itself was award-worthy.
2. Rosie (The Driver): Recent, but showed incredible depth. World-weary, complex, haunted. Proved she can absolutely lead a series and deliver a totally different vibe. Wish we got more seasons.
3. Shirah (The Dovekeepers): Mysterious, powerful, intense. A great departure into historical/mystical drama. Showed off serious dramatic chops.
4. Jessica Vega (The 33): Heartfelt and authentic portrayal of real-life anguish and hope. Connected deeply to her Chilean heritage here.
5. Amanda (The Education of Max Bickford): Early proof she could handle recurring TV drama work beyond single episodes.

That role in Protégé? Yeah, doesn't crack the top 5. The material just wasn't there for her to shine, despite her efforts. Happens to the best.

Burning Questions About Cote de Pablo Films and TV Shows (FAQs)

Let's tackle those common questions people type into Google about Cote de Pablo's career:

The Last Word on Cote de Pablo's Screen Career

So, there you have it. The whole picture of Cote de Pablo movies and TV shows, far beyond just Ziva David. Her career path is fascinating – from early soap roles and theater, to iconic television stardom, followed by deliberately choosing smaller, often dramatic projects, and leading her own series. It feels like a career built on passion rather than just chasing the next blockbuster.

Was every project a winner? Nah. Protégé was forgettable. The Driver got canceled too soon – a real shame. But she consistently brings intensity and commitment, even when the material isn't perfect. That authenticity resonates. She took a huge risk leaving the NCIS juggernaut, and while she hasn't replicated that *level* of mainstream fame since, she's carved out a space doing interesting work on her terms.

What's next? Who knows. Maybe another lead TV role, maybe a streaming movie with more bite, maybe stepping into producing. Whatever she chooses, fans of her talent – forged in those early Miami days, polished at Carnegie Mellon, and blasted into homes worldwide as Ziva – will be watching. Because when Cote de Pablo is on screen, you pay attention. That hasn't changed one bit.