After Cote de Pablo left NCIS in Season 11, Emily Wickersham stepped in as Ziva David’s replacement, playing NSA analyst Ellie Bishop. Wickersham stayed on the show for eight seasons before exiting in the Season 18 finale, “Rule 91.” Three years later, she opened up about how challenging it was to adjust after leaving the series, describing that period of her life as “wonderful and weird.”
In a conversation on the “Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch” podcast with Cote de Pablo and Michael Weatherly, Wickersham reflected on her transition away from NCIS. De Pablo asked how long it took for the reality of not returning to the set to sink in, and Wickersham shared that it was a gradual process. She found out she was pregnant just a month after leaving the show, which added to the whirlwind of change. Adjusting to life outside of NCIS, where filming takes up much of your time, was a significant shift for her.
Wickersham also revealed that soon after, she moved to New York to be with her boyfriend, making the transition even more surreal. Despite the challenges, she expressed that it was the right time to move on from the show, even if it felt overwhelming at first.
While Wickersham hasn’t returned to acting since NCIS, fans are hopeful she might reprise her role as Ellie Bishop someday. After all, Cote de Pablo eventually returned as Ziva, so anything is possible. When we last saw Bishop, she left for an undercover mission, leaving the door open for a potential return to reunite with her NCIS team.
In the meantime, fans can rewatch Wickersham’s time on NCIS with a Paramount+ subscription, and catch the Season 22 premiere on Monday, October 14, followed by the new prequel series, NCIS: Origins.
