Daniela Ruah Reveals the Surprising Truth About Jumping From NCIS to The Equalizer

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It’s been close to two years since NCIS: Los Angeles concluded on CBS after 14 seasons, but cast member Daniela Ruah has continued her work with the network. Not only did she reappear on NCIS for its 1,000th episode in 2024, but she also directed an episode for both the original series and the Hawaii spinoff. Now, she’s using her directing abilities on The Equalizer as part of the 2025 TV lineup, sharing her experiences transitioning to the Queen Latifah-led show.

Last Sunday saw the airing of an episode titled “Deception” from The Equalizer, where Ruah took on the director’s role for the first time in this series. Given her previous experience directing eight episodes across different NCIS shows, it might appear that there could have been a learning curve when she moved to another show. Nevertheless, everything seemed to run smoothly according to Ruah herself, as she shared with Parade magazine.

The change was surprisingly smooth. We invested time, made contacts, and expressed our interest by saying something like, “I’m ready, I’d be thrilled to direct your series.” For ‘The Equalizer’, the genre aligns with what I’m familiar with, as it combines elements of storytelling that I feel comfortable working within.

Managing the direction of TV shows or movies can be quite challenging, especially for high-profile projects. It’s clear that Daniela Ruah, who portrayed Kensi Blye on NCIS: LA, has to take many factors into account when directing. It’s heartening to hear that her latest directorial role went smoothly, and it makes sense since she was still involved in a series format like NCIS.

It appears that Ruah takes a particular liking to occupying the large chair during filming, as indicated in her conversation with Parade. She also shared her future aspirations, suggesting that procedural shows are not her sole focus moving forward.

I’m eager to expand my work beyond what I’m currently doing, while still holding onto my passion for the procedural realm. You see, I have a deep affinity for this area, and it’s where I excel most naturally. Therefore, moving in this direction seemed like a logical progression.

It’s clear Ruah is eager to explore different television genres now. For over fourteen years, she was a mainstay on NCIS: Los Angeles, contributing significantly to the series as part of its broader franchise. Adding her 2024 guest role disguised from Hawaii, that totals fifteen years. Besides this, she’s showcased her talent in various projects outside the procedural genre, including Portuguese productions where she directed and acted. Wishing her all the best, I hope she secures more diverse roles in the future.

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In 2024, when Daniela Ruah revealed she’d be directing episodes for both NCIS and its spin-off NCIS: Hawai’i, she shared insights on rejoining the franchise post her role in NCIS: LA. She described it as a “return home” due to recognizable faces among the cast and crew. It remains unclear if she’ll direct more episodes, but I hope the directors will extend an invitation for future collaborations.

Indeed, let’s cross our fingers that The Equalizer gets the go-ahead for Season 6, allowing Ruah to return to the show and secure additional projects as well. Don’t forget to catch up on Ruah’s episodes of The Equalizer now with a Paramount+ subscription!

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2025-04-15 16:07