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| Cote de Pablo | |
|---|---|
| Name | María José de Pablo Fernández |
| Professional name | Cote de Pablo |
| Birth name | María José de Pablo Fernández |
| Birth date | November 12, 1979 |
| Birth place | Santiago, Chile |
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Notable works | NCIS as Ziva David |
| Awards | Screen Actors Guild Award, ALMA Award |
Cote de Pablo is a Chilean-American actress and singer known for her portrayal of Ziva David on the long-running procedural NCIS. She has worked across television, film, and theater, collaborating with a wide range of artists and institutions including CBS, Paramount Pictures, and the New York Philharmonic. De Pablo's career bridges Latin American origins and a prominent presence in American popular culture, intersecting with figures from Los Angeles to Broadway.
Born in Santiago, Chile, de Pablo emigrated to the United States during childhood, joining a Chilean family network with ties to Valparaíso and Concepción, Chile. Her upbringing occurred in a bilingual household influenced by Latin American music traditions such as folk music and popular performers like Violeta Parra and Victor Jara. Family relocations brought her into contact with communities in Miami, Washington, D.C., and Long Island, New York, exposing her to cultural institutions such as the Metropolitan Opera and the Smithsonian Institution. Her early environment connected her to diasporic Chilean organizations and Latin American cultural festivals in cities like Los Angeles and New York City.
De Pablo trained in the performing arts at institutions and programs associated with contemporary classical and popular performance practice, including conservatory-style vocal training influenced by methods used at the Juilliard School and technique workshops affiliated with the American Conservatory Theater. She studied acting in programs that intersect with curricula from institutions such as NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, and private studios connected to actors from The Actors Studio. Her bilingual education included exposure to curricula akin to programs at Columbia University and language immersion associated with centers like the Alliance Française and Instituto Cervantes.
De Pablo's early credits comprised roles in independent projects and guest appearances on television series produced by networks such as NBC, ABC, and FOX. She worked with casting directors who had previously placed actors in series like Law & Order and films from Miramax Films. Her breakthrough arrived with casting on NCIS, a production of CBS Television Studios and Paramount Global, where she joined a main ensemble that included performers connected to franchises like JAG and worked under showrunners with ties to Tony Scott and Donald Bellisario. The role of Ziva David brought her into collaborations with colleagues who had appeared in The West Wing, 24, and other high-profile series.
On NCIS, de Pablo portrayed a character with narrative ties to international agencies and storylines referencing places such as Israel, Ramallah, and European locales like London and Paris. Her television work spans guest roles and recurring parts on series from networks including CBS, NBC, and Showtime, intersecting with cast and crew who worked on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal Minds, and Homeland. Film appearances include independent features screened at festivals like Sundance Film Festival and collaborations with filmmakers who have ties to studios such as Lionsgate and Sony Pictures Classics. She has participated in projects alongside actors and directors who have credits in productions from Miramax Films, Universal Pictures, and The Weinstein Company.
De Pablo has performed musically in settings that range from intimate concert venues to orchestral collaborations, engaging with repertoires informed by artists such as Alejandro Sanz, Shakira, and classical repertory presented by ensembles like the New York Philharmonic and chamber groups affiliated with the Carnegie Hall programming. Onstage she has acted in theatrical productions staged in theaters associated with the Roundabout Theatre Company, Lincoln Center Theater, and regional houses that have launched work later produced on Broadway. Her stage collaborators include directors and choreographers who have worked with institutions like The Public Theater and educators connected to Yale School of Drama.
De Pablo maintains a private personal life while engaging in public appearances at institutions and events such as Comic-Con International, charity galas with organizations like UNICEF, and cultural festivals organized by consulates of Chile and other Latin American nations. Her public image has been discussed in media outlets including The New York Times, People, and Variety, with commentary situating her among Latinx performers featured in lists by Rolling Stone and Billboard. She has been linked in press coverage to causes and initiatives promoted by NGOs and arts organizations including Human Rights Watch and arts education programs affiliated with Americans for the Arts.
Her portrayal on NCIS contributed to ensemble accolades such as nominations and wins associated with the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, and recognition from Latinx-focused organizations including the ALMA Award and honors from cultural bodies like the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Critics and trade publications including The Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Weekly have cited her among notable television performers; industry databases maintained by IMDb and archives of the Paley Center for Media document her credits and industry impact.
Category:Chilean actresses Category:American television actresses Category:1979 births