Cote de Pablo is getting candid about her on-screen chemistry with longtime co-star Michael Weatherly.
In a recent interview with TV Insider, the NCIS actress explained why she declined the use of an intimacy coordinator while filming Tony & Ziva, the upcoming Paramount+ spinoff. “Did not need one,” she said. “They asked me first, I think because I’m a female and blah, blah, blah, and I said, ‘I don’t need one. Thank you for offering.’”
Her decision came down to the deep-rooted trust she’s built with Michael over years of working together. “Michael and I have a lot of trust with each other and are great friends,” Cote said. “So, when it comes to shooting these things, we don’t want to be micromanaged. We like to explore it, and we trust each other enough that we allow that to happen.”
Michael echoed her sentiment. “I said, ‘Whatever Cote wants,’” he shared. “Love scenes are complicated because that level of nonverbal communication—you kiss someone the way you want to be kissed or you touch someone the way you want to be touched—that is a deep level of communication.”
He added, “Physical interaction starts with trust. Luckily, Cote and I do not have an issue in that area. We had to do that right out of the gate in [NCIS‘s ‘Under Covers’] episode.”
Fans won’t have to wait much longer to see the pair back on screen together. NCIS: Tony & Ziva is set to premiere on September 4 on Paramount+.
