Cote de Pablo Says Exploring Motherhood in NCIS: Tony & Ziva ‘Was a Treat’ After Becoming a Mother in Real-Life (Exclusive)

Cote de Pablo is enjoying motherhood — both on and off screen.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE at the NCIS: Tony & Ziva New York City red carpet at Spyscape on Wednesday, Sept. 3, the actress, 45, shared how she embraced motherhood with the season’s storyline.

“That was a really funny one for me because I am a mother,” de Pablo tells PEOPLE.

At one point during NCIS‘ run, de Pablo’s character was thought to be dead. However, it was revealed in season 16 that she was alive and de Pablo returned for several episodes in season 17. During de Pablo’s final episode of NCIS, Ziva decided to go to Paris to reunite with Michael Weatherly’s Tony and their daughter Tali, played by Isla Gie.

The new series picks up with Tony and Zavi raising Tali together. When Tony’s security company is attacked, they must go on the run across Europe, try to figure out who is after them and maybe even learn to trust each other again so they can finally have their unconventional happily ever after.

De Pablo’s own experiences have helped her blend aspects of her life into the fan-favorite family.

“Since I became a mother, it came sort of organic. However, obviously, exploring this, with Michael was a treat,” she tells PEOPLE.

The Chilean-American actress and singer did not reveal the age of her child or the identity of the father. She has kept her personal life private and was last romantically linked to actor Diego Serrano.

De Pablo praised her “fascinating” NCIS daughter, who is “very talented” for her work on the series. Gie is a newcomer to the NCIS franchise.

“It was really interesting to watch her take a lot of Tiva and a lot of Tony, and she didn’t come from the original mothership,” de Pablo tells PEOPLE. “It was really interesting to see what research she had done, and then just spending time with us for six months. She just took things. So that was fun too.”

De Pablo also explains her theory on why fans continue to root for Tony and Ziva.

“I think it was all of the unresolved stuff that they saw throughout, you know, almost a decade in the mothership. I think it was their banter,” she tells PEOPLE.

The longtime NCIS star adds, “I think it was their sort of really in your face, like sexual tension and at times this sort of ish, slightly flirt thing that would happen between them. And then the fact that he would be able to see right through her, you know, know and sort of see that vulnerability. I’m gonna say, like, love.”

The first three episodes of NCIS: Tony & Ziva are now streaming on Paramount+, with new episodes each Thursday until the Oct. 23 season finale.