Nearly two years after NCIS: Los Angeles signed off for good following a remarkable 14-season run, Ruah is proving that life after a long-running hit series can be just as fulfilling. The actress and director recently stepped behind the camera once again — this time for CBS’s hit drama The Equalizer, starring Queen Latifah — and she’s opening up about what it was like shifting from one iconic procedural to another.
From Kensi Blye to Director’s Chair
Ruah has been steadily carving out a new lane as a director since her NCIS days. In 2024, she helmed pivotal episodes of both NCIS and NCIS: Hawai’i, even making a surprise return on screen for the franchise’s monumental 1,000th episode.
Now, as part of the 2025 TV schedule, she made her Equalizer directorial debut with the episode titled “Deception.” And despite stepping into an entirely new world — one led by action star and executive producer Queen Latifah — Ruah described the experience as smooth sailing.
“It was actually a very seamless transition,” she told Parade.
“We put the work in and made calls and told people, ‘I’m available, I’d love to direct on your show.’ Then, for The Equalizer, we’re talking about a genre that is also procedural, so it’s definitely in my comfort zone.”
Comfort in the Procedural World
Having spent 15 years in the NCIS universe, it’s no surprise that Ruah found her footing quickly in the familiar framework of a procedural drama. But it wasn’t just muscle memory — it was a reflection of her growing skill and confidence behind the lens.
“It’s what I know best, obviously,” she admitted. “So it wasn’t that far-fetched of a step.”
Still, as Ruah made clear in her interview, she’s not content to remain in one lane.
“I would love to start working outside of that, as well as maintaining the procedural world, because I love it,” she said.
Beyond the Badge: Ruah’s Expanding Horizons
Though best known to American audiences for playing the no-nonsense NCIS agent Kensi Blye, Ruah has also worked extensively in Portuguese film and television, acting and directing in projects that allowed her to flex different creative muscles.
Her recent push into directing is not just a career pivot — it’s a natural evolution for an actress who has spent over a decade learning from some of the best in the business, both in front of and behind the camera.
In 2024, Ruah described her return to the NCIS set as feeling like “coming home,” filled with familiar faces and behind-the-scenes camaraderie. Whether she’ll continue directing within the franchise remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: her directorial journey is just beginning.
What’s Next for Daniela Ruah?
Fans of The Equalizer are hopeful that the show will be renewed for Season 6, and with any luck, Ruah will be invited back to direct again. Given her ability to handle high-stakes action, character-driven moments, and complex story arcs with ease, it’s not hard to imagine her becoming a go-to director in the network TV space — and beyond.
Whether she’s telling stories in the procedural genre or breaking into new territory, Daniela Ruah is writing an exciting new chapter in her Hollywood story — and fans are ready to follow wherever she goes next.
