“I’m not ungrateful for the opportunities acting gave me,” Pauley Perrette shared in an interview. “But I’m a different person now. I want to be present for all of it – the good, the bad, and the painful. I want to be myself all the time. It takes courage for me to admit that, even to myself, but it’s genuinely how I feel.”
Perrette’s career spans decades, beginning in the 1990s with roles on shows like Early Edition, Murder One, and Frasier. However, she is best known for her iconic portrayal of forensic scientist Abby Sciuto on NCIS, a role she played for 15 seasons from 2003 to 2018. Her departure from the show came after allegations of “multiple physical assaults” during her time on set.
In May 2018, CBS acknowledged her claims in a statement to PEOPLE, confirming that Perrette had raised a “workplace concern” more than a year earlier. “Pauley Perrette had a terrific run on NCIS, and we are all going to miss her,” CBS Television Studios stated. “Over a year ago, Pauley came to us with a workplace concern. We took the matter seriously and worked with her to find a resolution. We are committed to maintaining a safe work environment on all our shows.”
Following a massive stroke in 2021, Perrette shifted her focus to working behind the camera as a producer. Among her recent projects is the 2023 documentary Studio One Forever, which delves into the LGBTQ+ history of the now-closed disco club Studio One.
“At this point in my life, I feel a deep need for authenticity in everything I do,” she told Hello!. “Being an actor, especially during certain times in my life, was like a drug. It gave me an escape—I didn’t have to be me; I could be someone else. My character didn’t carry the same burdens I was facing.”
Perrette continued, “That’s why I only watch documentaries now—I crave the truth. Returning to acting would mean stepping away from this life of complete authenticity I’ve built, and I’m committed to living fully as myself, 100% of the time.”
