Now that her days as Special Agent Kensi Blye have wrapped, NCIS: Los Angeles star Daniela Ruah is fully embracing life off set — and soaking up precious moments with her family.
In a rare glimpse into her private life, the actress shared an intimate Mother’s Day tribute featuring her two young children, River Isaac (10) and Sierra Esther (6), cuddled up with her on a cozy couch. The heart-melting moment, posted to Instagram a day after the U.S. holiday, shows both kids fast asleep in their mom’s arms. Her simple but powerful caption? “Mothering.” She echoed the sentiment in her native Portuguese: “Ser mãe…”
Fans were quick to flood the comments with love. Messages like “Such beautiful pictures. Happy Mother’s Day, dear Dani!” and “You’re the best mom to your kids!” captured the overwhelming warmth the post sparked among followers.
Daniela, 40, typically keeps her family life low-key, so the post felt especially meaningful. She also included a sunny photo poolside with her children and her mom, Catarina, as well as a snap of the family dog — a German Shepherd mix — receiving a kiss from the actress.
Ruah’s real-life love story is almost as compelling as her on-screen one. She’s married to David Paul Olsen, a stuntman — and the real-life brother of her NCIS: LA co-star Eric Christian Olsen, who played her fictional husband, Marty Deeks. Their off-screen romance began in 2011 thanks to some subtle matchmaking by Eric himself.
Speaking on The Queen Latifah Show back in 2014, Eric shared: “I would say something nice about her to him, and something to her about him… that was enough to get them talking.” It clearly worked — the couple tied the knot in a picturesque Portuguese wedding in June 2014, shortly after welcoming their son River.
Now, after NCIS: Los Angeles ended its incredible 14-season run on May 21, Daniela is not only reflecting on the show’s legacy but also cherishing the simple, sweet moments of motherhood. Her final performance as Kensi aired the same night as the show’s farewell special, A Salute to NCIS: Los Angeles, hosted by Entertainment Tonight‘s Kevin Frazier.
With one chapter closing, Daniela Ruah is clearly writing a new one — full of family, quiet joys, and a lot of love.
