Daniela Ruah is officially stepping into a bold new chapter of her career.
Best known for her breakout role as Special Agent Kensi Blye on NCIS: Los Angeles, Ruah is set to make her feature film directing debut with Nowhere Boy, an adaptation of Katherine Marsh’s acclaimed young adult novel. The project marks a significant leap for the actress-director, who has steadily built her résumé behind the camera over the past decade.
Ruah first explored directing on NCIS: Los Angeles, helming six episodes of the long-running CBS series, before going on to direct episodes of NCIS, NCIS: Hawai‘i, and The Equalizer. Nowhere Boy will be her first time directing a full-length motion picture.
The story follows Ahmed, a teenage refugee who flees conflict with his father, only to find himself alone in Brussels after tragedy strikes. As his hope of reaching England fades, Ahmed hides in a house shared by an American family. There, he forms an unexpected friendship with Max, a 13-year-old boy whose compassion gives Ahmed a new sense of direction.
“I was immediately drawn to both Katherine Marsh’s book and Justin’s screenplay,” Ruah said. “There’s a beautiful tension in the way the story unfolds.”
Ruah isn’t limiting herself to directing. She will also star in the upcoming film And Then She Was Gone, reuniting with Natalia del Riego, who previously played her daughter on NCIS: LA. Based on Karen McQuestion’s novel The Moonlight Child and written by Justin Kohlas, the film centers on a former foster child and her guardian as they uncover a chilling mystery involving a girl next door.
Having collaborated for years, Ruah says she’s excited to continue telling meaningful stories—this time from an even wider creative lens.