Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly may now be fan favorites — and are even headlining the upcoming NCIS: Tony & Ziva spin-off — but their working relationship didn’t start smoothly.
De Pablo told TV Guide that during her original NCIS audition, Weatherly unexpectedly went off-script, flirted, and even grabbed her face, telling her she looked like Salma Hayek. She found it “disrespectful” and “unprofessional,” but it pushed her to stand her ground — a dynamic that ultimately shaped Ziva and Tony’s fiery chemistry.
Despite that rough first meeting, the two eventually built a deep trust. They were so comfortable with each other that they opted not to use an intimacy coordinator for Tony & Ziva. De Pablo has since described Weatherly as protective and respectful on set.
She recalled to Entertainment Weekly that during an intimate NCIS scene, Weatherly shielded her body from onlookers when her dress came off, making sure she felt safe during filming.
Their partnership has become one of the franchise’s most beloved elements, and Tony & Ziva now lets them take that energy to Europe. Whether the characters’ romance will fully solidify remains to be seen — but the actors have long moved past their rocky beginning.
