Cote de Pablo, born María José de Pablo Fernández on November 12, 1979, in Santiago, Chile, is a versatile Chilean-American actress and singer. She is the daughter of Francisco de Pablo and Mara Olga Fernández and has two siblings, Andrea and Francisco.
At the age of 10, Cote de Pablo moved to the United States when her mother secured a position at a Spanish-language TV network in Miami. Her educational journey included attending Arvida Middle School and exploring her love for musical theater at the New World School of the Arts. To address pronunciation challenges with her given name, “María José,” she adopted the nickname “Coté,” a common Chilean moniker for the same.
Cote de Pablo initiated her entertainment career at 15 by co-hosting episodes of “Control” on Univision alongside Carlos Ponce. After completing her education, she relocated to New York City to pursue acting, supporting herself by working as a waitress.
In the year 2000, Cote de Pablo appeared in productions like “The $treet” and “The Education of Max Bickford,” gaining experience in commercials and stage plays. However, her breakthrough came in 2005 when she secured the role of Ziva David in the CBS series “NCIS,” earning critical acclaim and establishing herself as a formidable performer.
Her contributions to “NCIS” earned her an Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress in Television in 2006 and ALMA Award nominations. In 2011, she clinched the ALMA Award for Favorite Television Actress-Leading Role in Drama. Departing from “NCIS” after eight seasons in 2013, her reasons, initially undisclosed, later included concerns about her character’s direction and script quality.
Despite her character’s apparent demise in the season 13 finale, Cote de Pablo surprised fans with a return in “NCIS” season 16, revealing Ziva’s survival. Beyond “NCIS,” she showcased her talents in various projects, delving into singing and featuring on Roberto Pitre’s Vivo En Vida CD.
In her personal life, she was in a long-term relationship with actor Diego Serrano, reportedly separating in June 2015. Cote de Pablo’s career reflects exceptional talent and versatility, solidifying her status as a respected figure in the entertainment industry.