Daniela Ruah, best known for her iconic role as Kensi Blye on NCIS: Los Angeles, is stepping into a new chapter of her directing career with tonight’s episode of The Equalizer, titled “Deception.”
Having honed her skills directing episodes of NCIS: LA, NCIS, and NCIS: Hawai’i, Ruah is now venturing beyond the franchise that launched her behind-the-camera journey. The transition, she says, felt surprisingly natural.
“It was actually a very seamless transition,” Ruah told Parade. “We put in the work, made the calls, and let people know I was available. The Equalizer is still a procedural, which is my comfort zone, but I’m excited to branch out while staying in the world I know best.”
Ruah’s move was supported by familiar industry connections. She had previously met Queen Latifah during her talk show days and knew showrunner Joe Wilson from his time on NCIS: LA. But she emphasizes that relationships alone aren’t enough: skill, timing, and trust matter.
“People have to know there’s another season, and they have to put together a list of directors,” Ruah explained. “Even if they like you, that doesn’t automatically mean you’re ready to direct. You have to put in the work to prove you’re capable of taking on the challenge.”
Tonight’s episode, “Deception,” follows Robin McCall (Queen Latifah) as she takes a break from her vigilante work to spend time with her daughter Delilah (Laya DeLeon Hayes). Meanwhile, the team investigates whether Aunt Vi’s (Lorraine Toussaint) friend Evelyn (Michael Michele) is the target of a con artist.
With this episode, Ruah demonstrates she’s more than ready to tackle projects outside the NCIS universe — and her career as a director is just getting started.
