Cote de Pablo on NCIS Exit: 'I Left Under My Terms, It Was Wonderful'

In her first interview since her shocking departure from NCIS, Cote de Pablo opens up about why she left her eight-year role as Ziva David. While she keeps the exact details a private matter, she reveals it was an "overwhelmingly hard" decision. Despite being offered more money to stay, de Pablo felt it was time to move on.

Yet the actress goes on to note, “The idea of leaving was not something I toyed around with for a long time. It was an overwhelmingly hard thing — at times terrifying.”

“Leaving NCIS was not planned,” she reiterates when later asked to preview her future plans.

Fans can expect a "beautiful chapter" between Ziva and Tony DiNozzo in her final scenes. She assures viewers that although her storyline wraps up quickly, she left the show on her own terms.pen_spark

But as for wrapping up her storyline in Season 11’s first two episodes (starting tonight at 8/7c), she states: “Did I want to leave under those circumstances? That’s another story. But I’m not of the belief that you just take off and leave fans hanging…. I left under my terms, and that was wonderful.”

RELATED: Tony & Ziva Back Together: Fan-Favorite NCIS Couple Gets Own Spin-Off after a Decade