There were also personal and professional considerations. After years of intense filming schedules and global attention, de Pablo wanted space to choose roles that challenged her in new ways. Walking away from a hit series was a risk, but one she felt was necessary for her long-term career and personal well-being.
Her eventual return years later proved one thing clearly: the door was never fully closed. When the timing and story felt right, she stepped back into Ziva’s world on her own terms, giving fans the closure they had waited so long for.
Sometimes leaving isn’t about failure or conflict. Sometimes it’s about knowing when to step back and protect what you’ve built.