For more than a decade, Daniela Ruah was a staple of primetime television as Special Agent Kensi Blye on NCIS: Los Angeles. Fans watched her character grow from a tough, guarded agent to a fiercely loyal partner, wife, and eventually mother on-screen. But when the beloved series wrapped in May 2023 after 14 seasons, Ruah—like many of her co-stars—faced a new chapter.
Now, just as she marks her 41st birthday and reflects on the year gone by, Ruah is embracing life beyond NCIS: LA with joy, gratitude, and a renewed sense of purpose.
A Beachside Celebration and a Message of Growth
On her birthday, Ruah shared a set of uplifting Instagram photos that captured her current outlook: one walking peacefully along the shore, another mid-air in a celebratory jump. Her caption was both poetic and deeply personal:
“This is happy. This is fulfilled. This is still growing. This is learning. This is making mistakes. This is still jumping for joy. This is loving. This is guiding. This is being guided. This is still figuring out parts of myself. This is evolving. This is mothering. This is wifing. This is 41.”
The post quickly drew heartfelt responses from fans and colleagues alike. One follower called her a “great actor & director, and an even greater person,” while another simply celebrated: “Happy bday Dani Ruah!! Kensi Blye forever!”
For many, her words echoed the same resilience and optimism that made her on-screen persona so beloved.
Life Beyond Kensi Blye
Leaving behind such an iconic role is never easy, but Ruah has transitioned with grace. While 2024 was quieter on the acting front, she has stayed connected to the NCIS universe in a different capacity: directing.
She stepped behind the camera to direct episodes of both NCIS and NCIS: Hawai’i, showcasing her versatility and creative vision. It’s a natural progression for an actress who spent 14 years learning the ins and outs of production alongside a tight-knit cast and crew.
Her work in Portugal also continues to resonate, particularly with A Espia (The Spy), a historical miniseries that premiered in 2020 and demonstrated her ability to carry complex, layered roles outside the American TV spotlight.
A Decade of Love with David Paul Olsen
Away from Hollywood, Ruah’s personal life is equally rich. She recently celebrated 10 years of marriage to stuntman David Paul Olsen, brother of her NCIS: LA co-star Eric Christian Olsen. Their story is something out of a rom-com: Eric played matchmaker on set, singing Ruah’s praises to his brother while gently nudging the actress toward him in conversation. The rest, as fans know, became history.
Together, Daniela and David are raising two children: son River, who turns 11 this month, and daughter Sierra, now eight. Both have occasionally appeared in snapshots from family trips, offering fans a glimpse of Ruah’s life as a devoted mother.
Her role as wife and mother is something she clearly cherishes. In her birthday reflection, she included “mothering” and “wifing” alongside personal growth and joy—proof that family remains her anchor amid professional reinvention.
A Lasting Bond with the NCIS Family
Even though NCIS: LA has ended, Ruah’s connection to the franchise remains unshakable. She still reunites with castmates for personal getaways and family vacations, sharing glimpses of their continued closeness on social media.
Her bond with Eric Christian Olsen—her brother-in-law both on-screen and off—has also become part of TV lore. For 14 years, fans watched Kensi and Marty Deeks’ fictional love story unfold while knowing that in real life, Ruah was building her own family alongside Eric’s actual brother.
It’s this blurring of on-screen and off-screen bonds that makes the NCIS: LA family feel timeless, even after the cameras stopped rolling.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Daniela Ruah?
As she embraces her 40s, Ruah seems less focused on chasing roles and more intent on balance—between creativity, family, and personal growth. While she hasn’t announced her next acting project, her directorial pursuits suggest a long-term pivot into storytelling from behind the camera.
Still, fans haven’t ruled out a future reunion. With the NCIS universe thriving (NCIS, NCIS: Sydney, and NCIS: Origins are all active), there’s always the possibility that Ruah could return for a guest appearance—or even direct more episodes.
Whatever comes next, Ruah’s message is clear: life after NCIS: LA is not an ending, but an evolution.
Conclusion
At 41, Daniela Ruah is showing fans what it means to live fully in the moment—whether it’s celebrating milestones on a beach, cherishing her role as a mother and wife, or exploring new creative paths.
Her journey reflects the same resilience, adaptability, and heart that defined Kensi Blye, proving once again why fans around the world continue to cheer for her. NCIS: LA may be over, but Daniela Ruah’s story is far from finished.
