Pauley Perrette Reveals She’ll Never Act Again After NCIS And Broke

Pauley Perrette, the beloved star of NCIS, has shared some surprising news with her fans. If you're hoping to see her on the screen anytime soon, well, you might want to rethink that. In a heartfelt interview with Hello! Magazine, the 55-year-old actress opened up about her decision to step away from acting for good. Let’s dive deeper into what she had to say.

Pauley Perrette Says She’s Done with Acting

In the interview, Pauley made it crystal clear: she has no plans to return to acting. "I will never act in another project," she said firmly. Now, you might be wondering why someone who’s had such a successful career would choose to walk away. Pauley explained that while she’s incredibly grateful for what acting has given her, she’s become a different person. "I want to be here for everything—both the good and the bad," she shared. "I want to embrace my true self, and it takes a lot of courage to admit that to myself. But this is how I genuinely feel."

From NCIS to Broke: A Storied Career

Pauley’s career has been nothing short of impressive. She played Abby Sciuto on NCIS, a role that captured the hearts of millions from 2003 to 2018. But her journey didn’t start or end there. Her resume is packed with memorable performances in shows like Murder One, Frasier, Time of Your Life, and Dawson’s Creek. Even after NCIS, she acted in 13 episodes of Broke in 2020, proving she wasn’t ready to hang up her hat just yet.

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Fast forward to 2023, and Pauley decided to take on a new challenge. Instead of acting, she chose to executive produce Studio One Forever, marking a significant shift in her professional life.

Why Acting No Longer Fits

Pauley opened up about the personal reasons behind her decision. "At this stage in my life, I have this deep desire to live authentically," she revealed. "Being an actor was a great escape for me at certain points in my life. It was almost like a drug because it allowed me to be someone else. My character didn’t have the same problems I was facing."

Her perspective has shifted significantly. "Now, I only watch documentaries because I crave the truth," she added. "Going back to acting would mean stepping away from the genuine, authentic life I’m living right now, and that’s not something I’m willing to do."

Pauley’s Journey: From Aspiring Cop to Global Icon

Pauley’s path to stardom wasn’t always about acting. Back in the day, she had dreams of becoming a crime fighter. "I was planning to finish my master’s degree at John Jay School of Criminal Justice," she shared in a 2018 interview with The Bonfire. "But then, I accidentally became an actress. My original plan was to be a cop or work for the FBI."

Interestingly, Pauley announced her retirement from acting on social media back in July 2020. "I retired after NCIS, but Broke was an important and beautiful project," she wrote. "I did my last dance and I’m proud of it! Everyone who knows me knew I was retiring right after. I’m proud of my work. I love you guys! I AM FREE!!! (To be the tiny little simple human I am!) #Plants #RescuePets #Books."

Legacy Beyond the Screen

While Pauley may have stepped away from acting, her influence continues to inspire others. She’s created two scholarship programs for women interested in STEM careers, inspired by her NCIS character, Abby Sciuto.

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"Abby isn’t just a TV character to people," she told People in May 2018. "Young girls have modeled their entire lives after her. It’s like Abby has raised a couple of generations of young girls and inspired an international phenomenon of young women going into math and science and STEM programs because she made it accessible, cool, attainable, and fun."

Pauley added, "This scholarship will ensure that Abby lives on in the real lives of these young people who discover it. It’s a way for her legacy to continue."