Cote de Pablo, whose full name is María José de Pablo Fernández, was born on November 12, 1979, in Santiago, Chile. She is a Chilean-American actress and singer, widely recognized for her portrayal of Ziva David in the CBS procedural series NCIS, which aired from 2005 to 2013, with guest appearances in 2019 and 2020. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Cote de Pablo Movies and TV Shows.
Early Life & Education
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At the age of 10, she relocated to Miami, Florida, following her mother’s acquisition of a position in Spanish-language television.
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She was a student at Arvida Middle School and later at the New World School of the Arts, ultimately obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University in 2000. Throughout her academic journey, she participated in various theatrical performances, including The Fantasticks and A Little Night Music.
Cote de Pablo – Personal Details Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | María José de Pablo Fernández |
| Professional Name | Cote de Pablo |
| Date of Birth | November 12, 1979 |
| Age | 45 years old (as of July 2025) |
| Place of Birth | Santiago, Chile |
| Nationality | Chilean-American |
| Ethnicity | Hispanic/Latina |
| Languages Spoken | English, Spanish |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) |
| Weight | Approximately 125 lbs (57 kg) |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Education | BFA in Musical Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University (Class of 2000) |
| High School | New World School of the Arts, Miami, Florida |
| College | Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Hobbies | Singing, playing guitar, yoga, reading, horseback riding |
| Relationship Status | Private (Previously linked with actor Diego Serrano) |
| Children | None publicly known |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| First TV Appearance | Control (1994–95) – Univision teen show |
| Breakout Role | Ziva David in NCIS (2005–2013, 2019–2020) |
| Awards | ALMA Award (2011), Imagen Award (2006) |
| Current Residence | Los Angeles, California (Reportedly) |
| Upcoming Project | NCIS: Tony & Ziva (Paramount+, 2025) |
| Social Media | No verified official accounts (as of 2025) |
Cote de Pablo Movies and TV Shows: Career Overview
María José de Pablo Fernández—professionally known as Coté de Pablo—is a Chilean‑American actress and singer best known for her iconic portrayal of Ziva David in NCIS. Born November 12, 1979, in Santiago, Chile, she moved to Miami at age ten and later graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in musical theatre. Early in her career, she hosted Control (1994–95) and appeared in series such as The $treet and The Education of Max Bickford.
From modest beginnings, she rose to prominence through late‑2000s television. Her breakout came in 2005 when she joined NCIS as Mossad officer turned Special Agent Ziva David. Over eight seasons, she appeared in nearly 200 episodes, earning accolades including the Imagen Award and ALMA Award. After departing in 2013, she made occasional returns and is set to reprise the role in an upcoming spin‑off, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, slated for September 4, 2025 on Paramount+.
Besides NCIS, Coté de Pablo has appeared in a handful of films and miniseries, including The Last Rites of Ransom Pride (2010), The 33 (2015), and The Dovekeepers (2015), plus an unaired Syfy pilot Prototype (2016) and a short film Seneca (2019).
Cote de Pablo Filmography Table
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–95 | Control | Co‑host | Talk Show | Univision teen talk show |
| 2000 | The $treet | Fiona | TV Drama | Single episode |
| 2001 | The Education of Max Bickford | Gina | TV Drama | Guest role |
| 2004 | The Jury | Marguerite Cisneros | TV Drama | 10 episodes (Fox), short‑lived |
| 2005–2013 (also 2019–20) | NCIS | Ziva David | TV Series | ~194 episodes |
| 2010 | The Last Rites of Ransom Pride | Bruja | Feature Film | Supporting role |
| 2015 | The 33 | Jessica Vega | Feature Film (biopic) | Based on Chile miner rescue |
| 2015 | The Dovekeepers | Shirah | Miniseries | CBS adaptation of Alice Hoffman novel |
| 2016 | Prototype | Laura Kale | TV Movie Pilot (Syfy) | Pilot not picked up |
| 2019 | Seneca | Celeste | Short Film | Low‑profile release |
| 2025 (upcoming) | NCIS: Tony & Ziva | Ziva David | Spin‑off TV Series | Reunion with Michael Weatherly, exec‑prod |
Cote de Pablo movies and TV shows & Career Highlights
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Coté de Pablo’s early hosting stint on Control helped showcase bilingual charisma and paved her path into mainstream US television.
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Her early guest roles in All My Children, The Education of Max Bickford, and The $treet provided solid acting foundations in the early 2000s.
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She landed the role of Marguerite Cisneros in The Jury (2004), which earned critical notice despite its short run.
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In 2005, her audition for NCIS came right after her Broadway hopes fizzled—producer Donald P. Bellisario saw her chemistry with Michael Weatherly and cast her as Ziva David, a breakout role that defined her career.
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On NCIS, she developed a character beloved by fans, consistently praised for combining strength, emotional nuance, and wit. She won the Imagen Award (2006) and ALMA Award in 2011 for her performance .
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After leaving NCIS in 2013 to explore new opportunities, she took roles in feature films and TV specials, though few matched the global recognition she gained on NCIS .
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The Last Rites of Ransom Pride (2010) saw Coté in a Western‑style action role; The 33 (2015) was a high‑profile biographical film based on the real 2010 Chilean miner rescue; The Dovekeepers brought her to a historical miniseries format.
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Attempts to break back into recurring TV roles included Prototype (2016)—a Syfy pilot not picked up—and producing a CBS series titled MIA with Michael Weatherly (never realized) .
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In 2024/2025, her return to the NCIS universe became official with NCIS: Tony & Ziva, a spin‑off series premiering September 4, 2025. The show reunites her with Weatherly as Ziva David and Tony DiNozzo, navigating action, espionage, and family drama in Europe. They both serve as executive producers.
(FAQs) About Cote de Pablo Movies and TV Shows
Q1. What movies and TV shows has Cote de Pablo starred in?
She hosted Control (1994–95), acted in guest roles including The $treet and The Education of Max Bickford, starred in The Jury (2004), became famous playing Ziva David in NCIS (2005–13; occasional return 2019–20), and featured in films The Last Rites of Ransom Pride (2010), The 33 (2015), and the miniseries The Dovekeepers (2015). She also filmed a Syfy pilot Prototype (2016, unaired) and the short film Seneca (2019). Her upcoming project is NCIS: Tony & Ziva (2025).
Q2. What role made her famous?
Her portrayal of Ziva David on NCIS became a breakout role. The character’s intelligence, emotional depth, and chemistry with Tony DiNozzo made her a fan favorite and earned her major awards like the Imagen Award (2006) and ALMA Award (2011).
Q3. Has she returned to NCIS recently?
Yes. Following her departure in 2013, her character was presumed dead but revealed alive in Season 16. She returned for a few episodes between 2019 and 2020. Her major return comes with the spin‑off NCIS: Tony & Ziva, debuting on September 4, 2025 on Paramount+ .
Q4. Why did some proposed projects not move forward?
The 2016 Prototype pilot did not get picked up by Syfy. Another planned series, MIA, was developed with Michael Weatherly around 2018, but never progressed to production .
Q5. Is Cote de Pablo involved in producing?
Yes, she serves as executive producer on NCIS: Tony & Ziva, alongside Michael Weatherly and showrunner John McNamara. She also had producer credits on the proposed MIA pilot, although it did not proceed to filming .
Q6. What is her last released film role?
Her most recent released acting credit is Seneca (2019, short film). Before that, The Dovekeepers (2015) and The 33 (2015) were her last major screen appearances until the upcoming NCIS: Tony & Ziva.
Conclusion
Cote de Pablo’s journey from Santiago, Chile to becoming one of the most beloved figures on American television is both inspiring and impressive. Best known for her role as Ziva David on NCIS, she brought depth, intelligence, and emotional power to a character that resonated worldwide. Beyond NCIS, her diverse appearances in films like The 33 and miniseries such as The Dovekeepers demonstrate her wide-ranging talent and commitment to meaningful roles. In this comprehensive guide, we’ve explored everything you need to know about the Cote de Pablo movie and TV show.
While Cote de Pablo movies and TV shows may not be vast, each project has showcased her range and passion for storytelling. Whether co-hosting a teen show in her early days or now serving as executive producer on the highly anticipated NCIS: Tony & Ziva spin-off, Cote de Pablo continues to evolve as both an actress and creative force in the industry.
As her return to the NCIS universe excites longtime fans, her career proves that quality, not quantity, defines lasting success. For anyone exploring Cote de Pablo movies and TV shows, her work offers a compelling mix of action, drama, and authenticity.