Daniela Ruah is expanding her creative footprint in Hollywood.
After more than a decade as NCIS: Los Angeles’ iconic Kensi Blye, Ruah is stepping fully into the director’s chair with her feature film debut, Nowhere Boy. The film adapts Katherine Marsh’s young adult novel and signals a major turning point in Ruah’s post-NCIS career.
While the move may feel sudden to fans, Ruah has been building toward this moment for years. She directed six episodes of NCIS: LA, followed by stints behind the camera on NCIS, NCIS: Hawai‘i, and The Equalizer. Nowhere Boy marks her first time directing a full-length movie.
The story follows Ahmed, a teenage refugee whose journey to Europe ends in tragedy. Stranded in Brussels and running out of hope, he hides in a house occupied by an American family. There, he forms an unexpected bond with Max, a 13-year-old boy whose kindness offers Ahmed a new sense of purpose.
Ruah is also returning on screen in And Then She Was Gone, based on Karen McQuestion’s The Moonlight Child. The film reunites her with former NCIS: LA co-star Natalia del Riego and explores a chilling mystery rooted in a seemingly quiet neighborhood.
With directing and acting projects lined up, Ruah’s next chapter is shaping up to be her most ambitious yet.