Ziva David is a fictional character from the CBS television series NCIS, portrayed by actress Cote de Pablo. Ziva, an Israeli citizen and Mossad agent, joined NCIS as a liaison officer for four years before returning to Mossad. After being presumed dead and saved by Gibbs, Tony, and McGee, she resigned from Mossad, became a U.S. citizen, and applied to become an NCIS agent. Ziva's storyline unfolded over several seasons and her character's cultural impact was widely discussed. Ziva's depiction as the only full-time Israeli character on an American mainstream network television show received praise for its portrayal of Israeli society and culture. Cote de Pablo's portrayal of Ziva contributed to her popularity, making her one of the most appealing celebrities in America according to a 2013 study.Before joining NCIS, Cote de Pablo had primarily performed in theatre and initially auditioned for a generic eastern European woman role. However, after a screen test with Michael Weatherly, her chemistry with the character Tony DiNozzo led to her casting as Ziva, with the character's nationality changed to Israeli. Ziva's character brought a unique perspective to the show and left a lasting impact on its viewers.