Pauley Perrette Opens Up About Abby Sciuto’s Shocking Moment on NCIS and Her Character Evolution
Abby Sciuto, NCIS’s beloved goth forensic genius, won fans over with her quirky charm, black lipstick, and signature Caf-Pow. But even the fan-favorite character wasn’t immune to awkward moments on set. Pauley Perrette revealed that early on, she was asked to deliver a cringe-worthy, inappropriate joke as Abby—one so dirty she had no idea what it meant. When it aired, Perrette was horrified.
“I didn’t understand the dirty joke or double entendre,” Perrette confessed in an interview with HELLO!, recalling how the moment left her questioning, “Did that really just happen?” Despite Abby’s initial direction toward a saucier, more sexual persona, Perrette made sure to steer the character toward a more empowering, intellectual path.
Perrette pushed for Abby to be more than just a quirky, flirty character. “I knew she had the potential to be a wonderful role model for young girls,” she explained, and Abby soon became a beacon for women interested in math, science, and forensics. This “Abby Effect” inspired thousands of young women to follow in her footsteps.
Even after leaving NCIS in 2018, Perrette continues to reflect with pride on Abby’s legacy. “I feel so blessed by that,” she said, acknowledging the lasting influence of the character.
Pauley Perrette on Cote de Pablo’s Shocking NCIS Exit
Perrette also opened up about the sudden departure of co-star Cote de Pablo (Ziva David) in 2013, just 20 minutes before the news hit the press. “It was huge news to us,” she said, revealing that there was no drama surrounding Ziva’s exit, though the team was saddened by her departure. De Pablo later explained that personal reasons, political tensions, and weak scripts led to her decision to leave.
Catch all the NCIS drama and Abby’s unforgettable legacy on Hulu and Apple TV!
