NCISAlum Pauley Perrette Says Returning to Acting Would Take Away from 'Life of True Authenticity'

Mar. 15, 2025

Pauley Perrette in Los Angeles, California in March 2023.Photo:Steven Simione/FilmMagic

Steven Simione/FilmMagic

Pauley Perretteis done with acting for good.

The former actress, 55, shared during an interview withHello!on Tuesday, Oct. 1 why she will “never again” act.

“I’m not ungrateful for the benefits that it [acting] gave to me,” she told the outlet. “But I’m a different person now, and I want to be here for it – the good and the bad and the painful. I want to be me all the time, and it takes a good amount of courage for me to say that to myself but it’s authentically how I feel.”

Pauley Perrette on ‘NCIS.'.Cliff Lipson/CBS via Getty

In May 2018, CBSreleased a statement to PEOPLEconfirming the actress came forward with a “workplace concern” more than a year prior.

“Pauley Perrette had a terrific run onNCISand we are all going to miss her,” CBS Television Studios said in the statement. “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 a safe work environment on all our shows.”

Pauley Perrette in Los Angeles, California in July 2022.Phillip Faraone/Getty

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After recovering from amassive strokein 2021, Perrette is now focused on her work behind-the-camera as a producer on projects including the 2023 documentaryStudio One Forever,which explored the LGBTQ+ history behind the now-shuttered disco club Studio One.

“At this point in my life, I have this deep need to find authenticity in everything, and being an actor, especially at certain points in my life, was a great escape,” she toldHello!“It’s like a drug because I didn’t have to be me, I could be somebody else. My character didn’t have all of the problems that I was having.”

“It’s why I only watch documentaries, I want the truth,” Perrette added. “For me, going back to being an actor would be taking away from this life of true authenticity that I’m living 100% of the time.”

source: people.com