Cote de Pablo is a Chilean-American actress and singer who was born Mara José de Pablo Fernández on November 12, 1979, in Santiago, Chile. She is the daughter of Francisco de Pablo and Mara Olga Fernández, and she has two siblings, Andrea and Francisco.
Cote de Pablo moved to the United States at age 10 when her mother got a job at a Spanish-language TV network in Miami.
She attended Arvida Middle School and explored her passion 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 nickname for “María José.”
At 15, Cote de Pablo began her entertainment career co-hosting episodes of “Control” on Univision with Carlos Ponce.
After finishing her education, she moved to New York City to pursue acting, working as a waitress to support herself.
In the year 2000, Cote de Pablo appeared in productions such as “The $treet” and “The Education of Max Bickford,” acquiring expertise in commercials and stage plays.
Her big break came in 2005, when she was cast as Ziva David in the CBS series “NCIS,” where she received critical praise and established herself as a great performer.
Cote de Pablo received an Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress in Television in 2006 for her role in “NCIS” and earned ALMA Award nominations. In 2011, she won the ALMA Award for Favorite Television Actress-Leading Role in Drama.
After eight seasons, she left “NCIS” in 2013, concluding Ziva David’s storyline in season 11. Initially undisclosed, her departure reasons later included concerns about her character’s direction and script quality.
Despite her character’s apparent d3ath 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, explored singing, and performed on Roberto Pitre’s Vivo En Vida CD.
In her personal life, she was in a long-term relationship with actor Diego Serrano, but they reportedly separated in June 2015. Cote de Pablo’s career reflects exceptional talent and versatility, establishing her as a respected figure in the entertainment industry.
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