Emily Wickersham Joins 'NCIS' Permanently
Emily Wickersham is joining "NCIS" as a regular cast member, according to reports this week.
CBS' hit television series has seen several changes this year, including the departure of Cote de Pablo's character Ziva David. However, Wickersham's addition will balance out the cast again.
The actress was cast as NSA analyst Eleanor "Ellie" Bishop on "NCIS" back in September, but has now been promoted as a series regular, according to CBS on Monday.
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"Emily Wickersham's Ellie Bishop is proving to perfectly compliment the NCIS team," said Gary Glasberg, executive producer of the show, in a statement to CNN. "Her energy and enthusiasm is contagious. Great things are planned for Bishop and we couldn't be more thrilled to have her on board."
The actress has also appeared on HBO's "The Sopranos" and in the film "I Am Number Four."
Meanwhile, Wickersham's debut on "NCIS" will air on Nov. 19 in the second episode of the show's current 11th season. The plot has been centered in the sudden departure of Cote de Pablo who left the series abruptly after eight seasons over "personal" matters.
"As far as my decision to leave, that's a personal thing, and I'd rather leave it at that," the 33-year-old star explained at the time, according to TV Guide.
The actress also gleaned insight on the complexity of her decision to leave "NCIS."
"The idea of leaving was not something I toyed around with for a long time," de Pablo added. "It was an overwhelmingly hard thing- at times terrifying."
Her character, David, was written off of the show. The Oct. 1 farewell episode included David refusing to continue a life knowing that killing is involved, therefore being forced to leave "NCIS."
"How can I not think that for every man I kill, there's someone out there crying for him," David said during the pivotal "NCIS" episode. "The center of all this pain is me… This is what I made myself, but it's not who I wanted to be."
Changes to "NCIS" this year also include that actress Daniela Ruah of "NCIS: Los Angeles" is expecting her first child.
"NCIS" airs on CBS Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST.
