Before she became a household name as NCIS: Los Angeles’s fierce and fearless Kensi Blye, Daniela Ruah led a life filled with international twists, artistic ambition, and cultural duality. Her past is every bit as compelling as the characters she plays — blending European roots with Hollywood dreams. Let’s rewind the clock and step into the story of the woman behind the badge.
Born in Boston, Raised in Lisbon
Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah was born on December 2, 1983, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Portuguese-Jewish parents. Her father was an ear, nose, and throat surgeon, and her mother was an otologist. When she was just five years old, the family moved back to Portugal, where Daniela spent most of her childhood and teenage years.
Though American by birth, Ruah identifies deeply with her Portuguese heritage, becoming fluent in both English and Portuguese — a skill that would later shape her global appeal.
A Teen Star in Portugal
While many actors struggle for years to land their first role, Ruah started young. At 16, she landed a part on the hit Portuguese soap opera “Jardins Proibidos” (Forbidden Gardens) and quickly became a teen star. Over the next several years, she continued to appear in popular series and became a familiar face on Portuguese television.
But Daniela wasn’t content with local fame — she had bigger plans.
A Global Education in the Arts
With her eyes set on an international career, Ruah moved to London, where she earned a degree in Performing Arts from London Metropolitan University. Wanting to refine her skills even further, she relocated to New York City, training at the legendary Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, known for producing powerhouse talents like Al Pacino and Angelina Jolie.
Her time in New York proved pivotal. It was there that she made her U.S. stage debut and began planting roots in American entertainment.
A Breakthrough Role in Los Angeles
In 2009, Daniela Ruah scored the role that would define her career: Special Agent Kensi Blye on NCIS: Los Angeles. As a former military brat with combat skills and emotional depth, Kensi became a standout character. Ruah’s natural charisma, combined with her fierce physicality and nuanced vulnerability, quickly made her a fan favorite.
She starred in the series for 14 seasons, directed multiple episodes, and earned critical praise for her work both in front of and behind the camera.
A Love Story Close to Home
Off screen, Ruah’s personal life took a turn straight out of a TV script. She fell in love with David Paul Olsen, the brother and stunt double of her NCIS: LA co-star Eric Christian Olsen. The couple married in 2014 and now have two children. It’s a Hollywood-meets-real-life twist that fans adore.
From Lisbon to the World
Daniela Ruah’s past is a story of bold choices, global movement, and creative determination. Whether lighting up the screen as an elite agent or stepping behind the camera as a director, she’s never lost the fearless spark that carried her from Portuguese soap operas to primetime American television.
And if her past is any indicator, Ruah’s best chapters may still be ahead.
