If you’ve been a loyal fan of NCIS: Los Angeles, chances are you’ve come to know and love Anna Kolcheck — the fearless, witty, and often unpredictable love interest of G. Callen. First appearing in Season 6’s “Kolcheck, A.,” Anna quickly evolved into more than just a recurring character. Her intense chemistry with Callen, her complicated relationship with her father Arkady (Vyto Ruginis), and her undeniable edge made her a standout in the ensemble. But while Bar Paly’s portrayal feels tailor-made for NCIS: LA, it turns out her face has graced more screens than you might realize.
Before becoming one of the most compelling recurring characters in the NCIS franchise, Israeli actress Bar Paly had already amassed a string of interesting (and sometimes hilarious) roles — ones that might explain why she seems so instantly familiar.
Early Roles: From Crime Scenes to Sitcoms
Paly’s stateside TV career began with several memorable one-episode stints. In CSI: NY (Season 3, “Heart of Glass”), she played Mia Opal — a holistic medicine practitioner accused of murder. Though her character ends up innocent, her enigmatic presence left a mark.
In the same era, Paly guest-starred on short-lived comedy Unhitched and then, in a fan-favorite moment, popped up in How I Met Your Mother (Season 5’s “Rabbit or Duck”) as Natalia, the stunning Super Bowl date who gets ditched by Barney Stinson due to his phone obsession. HIMYM fans may remember: Natalia ends up trying her luck with Ted Mosby instead. Classic.
Big Screen Break: Sexy & Suspicious in Non-Stop
In 2014, Paly traded sitcom laughs for high-altitude suspense in Non-Stop, starring alongside Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore. She played Iris Marianne, a sultry and mysterious passenger whose behavior makes her a suspect in a deadly mid-air hijacking. It was a classic red-herring role — but one that gave Paly room to lean into intrigue and allure, laying the groundwork for the kind of dangerous confidence Anna Kolcheck would later exude on NCIS: Los Angeles.
A Legendary Turn: From LA to Themyscira
If you watched DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, you might have seen Paly in her most divine role yet — literally. She portrayed Helen of Troy in two episodes, “Helen Hunt” and “The Good, The Bad and The Cuddly.” Here, Helen’s beauty once again becomes a curse, causing chaos among the male Legends, though her arc ends on a feminist high note when she chooses to live in Themyscira (yes, Wonder Woman’s homeland). It was a fun, meta spin on the myth and proved Paly’s range went beyond crime procedurals.
Why She Was Perfect for NCIS: Los Angeles
Anna Kolcheck is far from a damsel. She’s a fighter, a lover, a gamer, and a fierce ally. And that’s exactly what makes Bar Paly’s past roles so interesting — they each brought a piece of Anna’s personality to life before NCIS: LA ever cast her.
Whether she’s bantering with Callen, racing into danger, or leveling up in Halo, Anna Kolcheck is unforgettable — and so is the actress who plays her.
Bar Paly may have joined NCIS: Los Angeles midway through its run, but by the time the series concluded in Season 14, she had secured her place in the franchise’s hall of fame.
