Daniela Ruah’s highly anticipated return to the NCIS universe has officially arrived, and fans couldn’t be more excited. Months after the NCIS: Los Angeles series finale in May, the actress, who portrayed the beloved character Kensi Blye for over a decade, has made her mark in the world of directing. Ruah directed two episodes for the NCIS franchise—one for the original NCIS series and another for NCIS: Hawai’i. Her debut as a director in NCIS’s 21st season aired on March 4, 2024, and was met with an outpouring of support from fans and co-stars alike.
To celebrate the milestone, Ruah took to Instagram to share her excitement about directing the episode, writing: “I’m so excited for you guys to see tonight’s [episode] of NCIS, directed by meeeee! This cast and crew are nothing short of wonderful. Gotta love the @ncisverse.” Her post quickly garnered praise from fans and colleagues, including a supportive comment from former co-star Eric Christian Olsen, who played her on-screen husband, Deeks. “Yes fam!!!!” he wrote, showing his enthusiasm for her new role behind the camera.
Following the episode’s debut, Ruah continued to share behind-the-scenes moments, offering fans a glimpse into the production process. She posted photos with NCIS stars such as Wilmer Valderrama and Gary Cole, capturing lighthearted moments between takes and showing the camaraderie on set. Fans flooded the comment section with praise for her directing skills, with one commenter writing, “Good episode, excellent work,” while others expressed their joy at her return in this new capacity, saying, “You did a great job, Daniela!!! Loved the episode!!!” Some fans even joked about missing her on-screen presence, saying, “YES! But damn do I miss you in front of the camera…”
Ruah’s directorial debut has been met with widespread acclaim, with fans praising her ability to bring fresh energy to the series, making her episode a standout. One fan commented, “Absolutely fabulous!!!! Lots of twists and turns!!!!! Couldn’t leave my seat, great directing Daniela!!!!!! Thank you!!!!” Another added, “Amazing episode and thank you for always doing your best!!!! Hope they have you back for more.” Clearly, Ruah’s transition from acting to directing has been a hit, and it has sparked excitement about her future projects with the NCIS franchise.
Ruah’s next directorial venture will be her episode of NCIS: Hawai’i, which is set to premiere next month. In a recent interview with Deadline, Ruah reflected on the experience of returning to the set after 15 years of portraying Kensi. “Kensi was born as a character on NCIS, 15 years ago, so now to be able to step onto that set again, as a director, with that incredible cast and crew, is an absolute honor,” she said. “So many familiar faces and people I love and they’ve welcomed me with open arms. It’s like coming home.” Fans can undoubtedly look forward to even more behind-the-scenes glimpses and stellar directing from the talented Ruah in the coming weeks.
