Cote de Pablo
A magnetic actress who brought fierce intelligence and emotional depth to the role of Mossad officer Ziva David on NCIS.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Chilean-American actress·Birthday: November 12·Generation X
Biography
Born María José de Pablo Fernández in Santiago, Chile, Coté de Pablo's life took a dramatic turn when her family relocated to Miami when she was ten. Her artistic path was forged early, studying theater at Carnegie Mellon University after a stint as a host for the Latin American youth network Telemundo. While her early career included roles in films and on stage, it was her 2005 audition for NCIS that changed everything. She stepped into the shoes of Ziva David, a complex and formidable Israeli Mossad officer turned NCIS agent, a role she inhabited for eight seasons. De Pablo's portrayal, marked by a steely exterior and vulnerable interior, resonated deeply with audiences, making Ziva a cultural touchstone and a benchmark for strong female characters on television. Her departure from the show in 2013 was met with fan outcry, a testament to her impact, and her eventual return in later seasons was a major event. Beyond NCIS, she has pursued theater and independent film, but her legacy remains inextricably linked to bringing a unique, international gravitas to one of TV's most popular procedurals.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Cote was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cote Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Cote's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Ziva David for eight seasons on the globally successful series NCIS, becoming a defining character of the franchise.
- Won an ALMA Award in 2011 for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Television Series for her role on NCIS.
- Her character's storyline and departure sparked significant media attention and fan campaigns, highlighting her character's profound audience connection.
- Successfully transitioned from a Spanish-language television host to a leading actress on mainstream American television.
Did You Know?
She is fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian.
Her stage name 'Coté' is a childhood nickname derived from the last syllable of her first name, 'María José'.
She is a trained singer and dancer, skills she occasionally showcased in her role on NCIS.
She performed her own stunts on NCIS, including complex fight sequences.
“I think the beauty of Ziva is that she's a warrior, but she's also incredibly vulnerable.”
