Known for years as tough, fearless Kensi Blye on NCIS: Los Angeles, Daniela Ruah is now telling a very different kind of story. Her short film My Type, debuting at the 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, explores love, vulnerability, and life with Type 1 Diabetes.
Ruah says the biggest lesson she carried from NCIS: LA into directing was simple but essential: preparation. “When you’re prepared, you can pivot when things go wrong,” she explains.
That lesson came into play when My Type’s production unexpectedly ran out of film. Instead of panicking, the team adjusted—an experience Ruah says reinforced the value of trust and collaboration.
For Ruah, the film represents growth, both creatively and personally, as she steps into stories driven by internal conflict rather than external danger.