Special Agent Kensi Blye on the long-running CBS procedural NCIS: Los Angeles is played by actress and director Daniela Ruah. Across 14 seasons and hundreds of episodes, Ruah brought a gritty realism, sharp combat skills, and emotional depth to the team, anchoring the show from its pilot in 2009 until its final season wrapped in 2023.
Early Life and Acting Beginnings
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, in December 1983, Ruah moved with her family to Portugal when she was five years old. Growing up in a multicultural household, she developed an early interest in the performing arts. She launched her professional acting career as a teenager on Portuguese television. At age 16, she landed a main role in the soap opera Jardins Proibidos ("Forbidden Gardens").
After building a solid resume in Portuguese television series—including starring roles in projects like Dei-te Quase Tudo and Tu e Eu—she made a pivotal decision to move to the United Kingdom. She attended London Metropolitan University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts. Following her studies, she relocated to New York City and later Los Angeles to break into American television, a transition that quickly paid off when she auditioned for the NCIS franchise.
Landing Kensi Blye and NCIS: Los Angeles
Ruah secured her breakout American role in 2009 when she was cast as Special Agent Kensi Blye. The character was first introduced to audiences during a two-part backdoor pilot within the sixth season of the flagship series NCIS before transferring over to the spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles.
As Kensi, Ruah played a forensic specialist and tactical operator known for her toughness, sharp intellect, and intense dedication to her colleagues. Over the course of the series, Kensi evolved from an independent lone-wolf operative into a grounded partner and eventually the wife of Marty Deeks, played by Eric Christian Olsen.
Transition to Directing and Behind-the-Lens Work
While Ruah spent over a decade defined by her physical action sequences and tactical gear on screen, she also expanded her career behind the camera. During the later seasons of NCIS: Los Angeles, she stepped into the director's chair, helming multiple episodes of the series. This transition allowed her to explore television production from a structural standpoint, paving the way for future directing and creative projects in both the United States and Portugal.
Personal Life and Industry Connections
Ruah's connection to the NCIS universe extends directly into her personal life. She is married to David Paul Olsen, a stuntman and actor who has worked extensively on NCIS: Los Angeles as a stunt double. Interestingly, David is the older brother of Eric Christian Olsen—Ruah's on-screen love interest and husband. The couple married in an interfaith ceremony in 2014 and share two children.
For fans interested in tracking her ongoing work, updates and announcements about her latest creative projects are often shared through her official Instagram profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Daniela Ruah do her own stunts on NCIS: Los Angeles?
While Ruah performed many of her own standard fight choreography and running scenes, high-risk stunts, heavy falls, and dangerous physical sequences were handled by professional stunt performers, including her husband, David Paul Olsen.
Does Daniela Ruah have dual citizenship?
Yes. She holds citizenship in both the United States and Portugal, having spent her childhood and early career in Portugal before moving back to the US.
What is Daniela Ruah's native language?
Ruah is multilingual. Because of her upbringing, she speaks fluent English, Portuguese, and French, frequently utilizing her language skills in international media appearances and hosting gigs, such as co-hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon in 2018.
Is Kensi Blye related to Marty Deeks in real life?
No. While Kensi and Deeks are married on the show, the actors who play them are not married to each other. However, they are family by marriage: Ruah is married to Eric Christian Olsen's real-life brother, David.
