Daniela Ruah is known for her directing and acting work on NCIS, NCIS: LOS ANGELES and NCIS: HAWAII, but she’s recently taken a different spin by directing an episode of THE EQUALIZER. “It was actually a very seamless transition,” Ruah told Parade on Sunday. “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.” “I would love to start working outside of that, as well as maintaining the procedural world because I love it,” she continued. “It’s what I know best obviously. So it wasn’t that far-fetched of a step.”
You probably know them from intense interrogations, suspenseful shootouts, and gripping crime-solving scenes on NCIS. But this beloved actor just flipped the script—and fans can’t get enough. It’s not every day a TV star takes a giant leap into something totally new, but when they say “I love this business”, they mean every bit of it. Let’s dive into the inspiring, exciting transformation of this NCIS alum—and why their latest move might be their best yet.
The episode she directed is called “Deception,” which came out Sunday night. The opportunity to direct the episode didn’t quite fall in her lap. It helped that she knows EQUALIZER showrunner Joe Wilson and lead actress Queen Latifah. “People have to know they’re going to have another season. They have to put their list of directors together,” Ruah said. “When they’ve never met you, as much as they may like you or hear good things about you, that doesn’t necessarily translate into you’re good at doing the directing part of the job.”
She added that she had to show people that she knew what she was doing by putting in the work. In “Deception,” Latifah’s character, Robin, takes time off to spend with her daughter, Delilah. Meanwhile, her team believes that a con man is taking advantage of Aunt Vi’s friend, Evelyn. “It is an episode that is dedicated to personal stories,” Ruah said. “It is a very character-driven episode, which I absolutely love. When I first met the writer, before I read the script, he told me there’s not a whole lot of action going on in this one.”
Ruah felt disappointed to hear that, but her interest picked up when she read the script. “Then I read the episode, and I realized that I was touching upon the personal lives of multiple characters. There’s kind of a theme that goes throughout it of women being affected by different situations that leave them feeling ashamed of whatever that situation is,” she said. “And then coming out of it on the other side,” she added. “It’s quite a lovely episode.”
In January, Ruah let her fans know what she was up to. She shared a photo of herself holding up a clapboard with her name on it. “Peek a boo @theequalizercbs…I see you,” she captioned it. The announcement excited her fans. “Wait, what. Daniela is directing an episode of The Equalizer? AWESOME!” someone said. “Oh yay! One of my favourite actresses on one of my favourite shows. Can’t wait!” one fan commented. Though directing has taken the focus lately, Ruah still loves acting, too. “I love them both deeply,” she explained. “I love working with actors, whether it’s with them on camera or with them behind the camera. I’m just that silly person who loves this business.”
She doesn’t care what side of the camera she’s on, as long as she’s helping make “something magical.” On Sunday, Ruah shared photos from set and said, “Tonight is the night!! My directed episode of @theequalizercbs is on at 10pm on @cbstv So grateful to have spent a month with this wonderful cast and crew ❤️❤️ More please!”
The entertainment world is watching as this NCIS alum trades badges for storyboards, scripts, and something far more personal. Their journey is a masterclass in courage, reinvention, and loving what you do—even when it means leaving the familiar behind. It’s a reminder that chasing your next chapter might just be the most thrilling story you’ll ever write.
