Daniela Ruah has revealed that Kensi Blye underwent a complete transformation once Eric Christian Olsen joined NCIS: Los Angeles — and it wasn’t accidental.
Speaking on Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch, Ruah explained that she initially played Kensi as stiff and hyper-controlled, believing intelligence and strength left no room for humor. “It affected every part of my body language,” she admitted.
When Olsen arrived as Deeks, his improvisational style clashed with that rigidity. Showrunner Shane Brennan intervened, explaining that Kensi needed to show warmth — even subtly — for the audience to embrace Deeks.
That creative pivot reshaped the show’s emotional core. Kensi retained her strength but gained vulnerability, humor, and heart. The result was Densi — a relationship that would define NCIS: LA for over a decade.