Michael Weatherly rewatches an old NCIS episode
NCIS actress Cote de Pablo has spoken about how co-star Michael Weatherly “protected” her during an intimate moment on set.
Lifelong fans of the CBS police procedural series couldn't help but fall in love with Ziva David (played by Cote de Pablo) and Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) in their heyday on the show.
The pair went from flirtatious colleagues onscreen to finding romance offscreen with viewers excited to see them reunite for the spin-off NCIS: Tiva, expected to debut next year.
Ahead of their reunion for the Paramount+ drama, actors de Pablo and Weatherly have started working together on their podcast Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch.
During the shows, the stars open up on their time on NCIS, giving details of what went on when the cameras weren’t rolling with de Pablo talking about something that happened in season three.
In episode eight, Under Covers, Ziva and Tony pretend to be married and to trick the suspects watching them, they kiss and pretend to sleep together.
It was in the build-up to this fake love making scene that de Pablo discusses on the podcast as she remembers how caring her co-star was towards her.
“Well, I just remember this particular moment showing up the set, and then you were so worried about how you smelled”, de Pablo said speaking to Weatherly.
“I remember this because I remember it was very cute. I remember thinking: ‘Oh my God, he really cares’.
“And you're like: ‘Oh, is this OK? Is this deodorant OK?’
“And I was like: ‘Oh my God!’ I kind of loved you because we're going to be having these very intimate [scenes]… and I'm saying it like you were very considerate and you were like: ‘Did you like this deodorant?’.
“You were very sincere about this particular exploration of intimacy between these two characters… And I remember thinking: ‘Michael, you always smell great, that's not a problem.’”
De Pablo went on to add that her co-star also ensured that she looked good on camera as well during the intimate scene.
She continued: “You did something that was so kind, which is you grabbed my hair and you were holding onto my head, and you lifted me ever so slightly so I was in a good angle so that I looked good.
“I remember thinking: ‘What is he doing?’ Because I wasn't used to that.
“I was used to doing stuff on in the theatre or whatever where you're not really thinking about those things.
“Like weight, the angle and is going to be flattering and am I going to see a double chin or whatever?
“And you were just very much aware of that, and without me knowing, you were protecting me. You were making sure that I was looking good.”
NCIS season 22 premieres on Monday, October 14, on CBS.
