After years of silence, NCIS star Cote de Pablo has finally spoken out—and confirmed what fans have long suspected. At 54, the actress, best known for playing Ziva David, opened up in a recent interview about the real reason behind her emotional exit from the show. While rumors had swirled for years, de Pablo’s honesty brought both closure and surprise to millions of loyal viewers.

She admitted that walking away from NCIS was one of the hardest decisions of her life. “It wasn’t about drama or money,” she revealed. “It was about protecting Ziva’s story and stepping away before it lost meaning.” Her words struck a chord with fans who had sensed there was more behind her departure than met the eye. Many now feel validated for holding onto that feeling all these years.

Though her return in later seasons gave hope for a permanent comeback, Cote confirmed that her time as Ziva is likely over for good. “I’m proud of what we built,” she said, “and I’ll always carry a piece of her with me.” With that, fans now understand the heart behind her choices—and respect her more than ever for finally setting the record straight.