Anna Kolcheck has been a compelling and mysterious presence on NCIS: Los Angeles since her debut in Season 6. As the daughter of Arkady Kolcheck and long-time love interest of G. Callen, Anna has woven in and out of the series, making just 24 appearances over seven years. Despite her limited screen time, she’s left a lasting impression — which is why her absence throughout much of Season 13 had fans scratching their heads.
Anna’s Complicated Journey So Far
Anna’s backstory is as complex as any agent in the NCIS universe. Born in Moscow but raised in Illinois, she began her career with the Chicago Police Department before moving into private security — often dealing with Russian clients. She’s no stranger to high-stakes danger, having served time in prison, gone undercover, escaped captivity, and had her criminal record erased — all while hunting her former cellmate and dangerous Russian spy, Katya (played by Eve Harlow).
Even though she doesn’t work for the Office of Special Projects full-time, Anna has collaborated frequently with Callen and the team thanks to her law enforcement background and espionage expertise.
Her Disappearance in Season 13
After several false starts, it seemed like Anna and Callen were finally headed toward a stable future in Season 12. At one point, Callen even planned to propose to her while she was away volunteering in a wildfire-ravaged California town. But when he arrived, he discovered the volunteer project didn’t exist — Anna had gone off the grid. She later resurfaced and revealed that Katya had returned, and in order to protect both herself and Callen, she had vanished again.
Anna hadn’t been seen since the team rescued her from Katya’s clutches — until now.
Showrunner Confirms Anna’s Future Isn’t Over
Fans began to wonder if Anna had quietly exited the series like other recurring characters. But NCIS: LA showrunner R. Scott Gemmill confirmed otherwise. In an interview with TVLine, he assured viewers that Anna and Callen’s relationship was still part of the show’s larger narrative. “Callen is still romantically involved with Anna and thinking about what their future might look like,” Gemmill said, though he noted that the writers were intentionally leaving the relationship open-ended. “We have a few irons in the fire… sometimes we let it play out and see what feels right.”
Could Anna Be Working with Hetty?
One popular fan theory speculated that Anna might be on a covert mission overseas with Hetty Lange, who had disappeared to deal with unfinished business in Syria. Given Anna’s history with Hetty and experience in clandestine operations, it wouldn’t be surprising if she was pulled into Hetty’s shadowy world once again.
Anna Returns—With High-Tech Trouble
The mystery finally began to unravel in the recent episode “Where Loyalties Lie,” where a deepfake of Callen’s voice was used to contact Anna — a move that strongly hinted at Katya’s involvement. This kind of digital mimicry (think The Mandalorian’s young Luke Skywalker) showed that Anna was being baited out of hiding.
Then in the follow-up episode, “All the Little Things,” Anna made her official return. In a dramatic scene, she comes face to face with Callen — while also appearing to be on the phone with him at the same time. This confirms that someone, likely Katya, is using advanced technology to manipulate both of them. With Anna back in the picture, the tension between her, Callen, and their shared past with Katya is sure to escalate.
What’s Next for Anna?
Anna’s reappearance signals that her storyline is far from over. With the threat of Katya still looming and the use of deepfake tech raising new dangers, Anna’s skills — and her relationship with Callen — are more crucial than ever. Whether she’s pulled back into OSP’s orbit or heads off on another undercover mission, one thing is clear: Anna Kolcheck is back, and the stakes are higher than ever.
