Roma Maffia is ready to return to NCIS — again. After reprising her role as the sharp, street-smart Vera Strickland in this season’s two-part crossover with Origins, the actress says she’s more than willing to make the comeback permanent.
“They write her so beautifully,” Maffia tells TV Insider, noting how easy it is to slip back into Vera’s no-nonsense charm even after 12 years away. Though Vera insists she’s not coming out of retirement, the crossover reminded her how much she misses the action — or at least the problem-solving.
Maffia believes Vera still has plenty to offer the team. She might not be chasing suspects anymore, but her instincts, humor, and practical experience make her “perfect” consultant material. “She could definitely be waiting for that phone call,” she teases.
While her present-day future on NCIS remains uncertain, Maffia is excited to see Vera’s younger counterpart on the ’90s prequel Origins. She hopes to explore what shaped Vera — her innocence, her struggles, and the choices that eventually left her on her own.
Whether Vera returns again is still up in the air, but one thing is clear: Roma Maffia is ready for it, and fans just might be, too.
