{{Short description|American-Portuguese actress and director}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Portuguese name|Korn|Ruah}} {{Infobox person | name = Daniela Ruah | image = Daniela Ruah - Monte-Carlo Television Festival.jpg | caption = Ruah at the 2012 Monte-Carlo Television Festival | birth_name = Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|12|2}} | birth_place = Boston, Massachusetts, US | citizenship = United States • Portugal | occupation = {{flatlist| * Actress * director }} | relatives = {{nowrap|Eric Christian Olsen (brother-in-law)<br>Sarah Wright (sister-in-law)<br>Artur Carlos de Barros Basto (great-granduncle)}} | years_active = 2000–present | spouse = {{marriage|David Paul Olsen|2014}} | children = 2 }} '''Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah Olsen''' (born December 2, 1983)<ref name=tvg>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/daniela-ruah/297628|title=Daniela Ruah profile|publisher=TVGuide.com|access-date=July 29, 2016|archive-date=April 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403032020/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/daniela-ruah/297628|url-status=live}}</ref><!--cited source, TV Guide, also gives full name Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah--> is an American-Portuguese actress and film director best known for playing NCIS Special Agent Kensi Blye in the CBS police procedural series ''NCIS: Los Angeles''.
==Early life== Ruah was born in Boston, U.S., to Jewish parents from Portugal, where her mother is an otologist and her father is an ENT surgeon.<ref name="Jewishjournal"/> When Ruah was 5, the family moved back to Portugal,<ref name="Jewishjournal"/> where she attended St Julian's School and, at 16, began acting in telenovelas.<ref name=esquire>{{cite web |url=http://www.esquire.com/women/women-we-love/daniela-ruah-pictures-0911|title=Daniela Ruah Officially Checks In|date=August 8, 2011|work=Esquire|first=Julian|last=Sancton|access-date=April 11, 2012|archive-date=June 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617195517/http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/interviews/a10683/daniela-ruah-pictures-0911|url-status=live}}</ref> She won a Portuguese-television dance competition.<ref name="Jewishjournal"/>
Ruah moved to the UK at the age of 18 and earned a Bachelor of Arts in performing arts from London Metropolitan University.<ref name=londonmetu>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/news/latest-news/october-2009/hollywood-movie-and-major-la-pilot-for-london-met-graduate.cfm|title=Hollywood movie and major LA pilot for London Met graduate|publisher=London Metropolitan University|date=October 19, 2009|access-date=February 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024213228/http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/news/latest-news/october-2009/hollywood-movie-and-major-la-pilot-for-london-met-graduate.cfm |archive-date=October 24, 2009 }}</ref> She returned to Portugal where she continued acting, and in 2007 moved to New York City to study at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.<ref name=londonmetu/>
Ruah stated that she grew up in an environment that was both Sephardic and Ashkenazi;<ref name="Jewishjournal">{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts/article/film_fest_celebrates_sephardim|title=Film Fest celebrates Sephardim|work=Jewish Journal|first=Evan|last=Henerson|date=November 8, 2012|access-date=March 1, 2015| archive-date=August 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829024959/http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts/article/film_fest_celebrates_sephardim|url-status=dead}}</ref> her father is of Portuguese-Jewish ancestry, and her mother's Jewish roots are in Russia, Ukraine and Portugal.<ref name=interfaith/> She holds Portuguese and American citizenship.
==Career== Ruah started acting in Portuguese soap operas when she was a teen. She made her acting debut at 16, when she played Sara on the soap opera ''Jardins Proibidos'' ("Forbidden Gardens").<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2079733/ |title=IMDB Daniela Ruah|website=IMDb | access-date=April 22, 2016}}</ref>
At 18, Ruah moved to London to attend college. After graduation, she returned to Portugal to pursue her acting career. She was the winner of the celebrity dance competition ''Dança Comigo'' (the Portuguese version of ''Dancing with the Stars'')<ref name="Jewishjournal"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/29/showbiz/tv/daniela-ruah-ncis-gostin|title=Meet the 'NCIS:LA' star who won 'Dancing' in another country|work=CNN|first=Nicki|last=Gostin|date=February 29, 2012|access-date=March 9, 2015}}</ref> and got main roles in television series, short films, and theatre.<ref name="UPM">{{cite magazine|url=http://upmagazine-tap.com/en/pt_artigos/daniela-ruah-shoot-for-the-stars|title=Daniela Ruah – Shoot for the stars|magazine=UP Magazine|first=Maria Ana|last=Ventura|date=November 1, 2011|access-date=September 17, 2013|archive-date=February 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211145559/http://upmagazine-tap.com/en/pt_artigos/daniela-ruah-shoot-for-the-stars/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2007, she moved to New York to study at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.<ref name="UPM"/>
Ruah starred as Special Agent Kensi Blye in ''NCIS: Los Angeles'', which first aired on September 22, 2009. In 2011, she portrayed the character in a crossover guest appearance on the series ''Hawaii Five-0''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2011/09/07/ncis-la-hawaii-5-0-crossover-kensi-blye|title='NCIS: LA' exec producer spills on Kensi's trip to 'Hawaii Five-0', possibility of another crossover|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Sandra|last=Gonzalez|date=September 7, 2011|access-date=September 17, 2013}}</ref> While on NCIS in 2014 Ruah won an award for best on Best Prime-Time Television.
In 2013, Ruah appeared in David Auburn's play ''Proof'' at Los Angeles' Hayworth Theatre.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-whitmore-family-proof20130508-story.html|title=The Whitmore family will never grow out of this stage|date=May 7, 2013|first=Susan|last=King|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=July 29, 2016|archive-date=December 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207230126/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/may/07/entertainment/la-et-cm-whitmore-family-proof20130508|url-status=live}}</ref>
On January 8, 2018, it was confirmed that Ruah would co-host the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal alongside Catarina Furtado, Sílvia Alberto and Filomena Cautela.<ref>{{cite web|title=Quatro mulheres apresentam Festival Eurovisão da Canção em Lisboa|url=https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/cultura/quatro-mulheres-apresentam-festival-eurovisao-da-cancao-em-lisboa_n1050725|website=RTP Notícias|date=January 8, 2018 |publisher=Rádio e Televisão de Portugal|access-date=January 8, 2018|language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/hosts-for-eurovision-2018-revealed|title=Here come the girls! Presenters of Eurovision 2018 revealed!|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|website=eurovision.tv|access-date=January 8, 2018}}</ref>
In January 2026, Deadline Hollywood <ref>https://deadline.com/2026/01/daniela-ruah-ncis-los-angeles-natalia-del-riego-movie-1236700927/</ref> announced that Ruah would be producing and acting in a screen adaptation of Karen McQuestion's novel, ''The Moonlight Child.'' The project is slated for film with the title ''And Then She Was Gone'', and will also feature her co-star from NCIS: Los Angeles, Natalia del Riego. The screenplay was written by Justin Kohlas <ref>https://es.hollywoodreporter.com/daniela-ruah-y-natalia-del-riego-protagonizaran-and-then-she-was-gone/</ref> who will executive produce under his KimberMark banner, alongside Ruah and Riccardo Maddalosso (Armageddon Time).
==Personal life== Ruah married David Olsen, the older brother and stunt double of Ruah's ''NCIS: Los Angeles'' co-star Eric Christian Olsen, in an interfaith ceremony on June 19, 2014. Olsen is Lutheran.<ref name="interfaith">{{cite web|url=http://www.interfaithfamily.com/arts_and_entertainment/popular_culture/NCIS_Daniela_Ruah_Interfaith_Marriage_Motherhood.shtml|title=NCIS: Los Angeles' Daniela Ruah on Interfaith Marriage and Motherhood|website=InterfaithFamily.com|first=Gerri|last=Miller|date=August 28, 2014|access-date=March 3, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050244/http://www.interfaithfamily.com/arts_and_entertainment/popular_culture/NCIS_Daniela_Ruah_Interfaith_Marriage_Motherhood.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enstarz.com/articles/39893/20140619/ncis-la-daniela-ruah-david-olsen-marry-new-photo-from-portugal-wedding-video.htm|title='NCIS: LA' Daniela Ruah & David Olsen Marry|publisher=Enstarz.com|first=Vanessa|last=Frith|date=June 19, 2014|access-date=March 3, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001057/http://www.enstarz.com/articles/39893/20140619/ncis-la-daniela-ruah-david-olsen-marry-new-photo-from-portugal-wedding-video.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|user=DanielaRuah|number=480502729685860352|title=Just lived the best week of my life; I married my best friend. [...] |first=Daniela |last=Ruah |date=June 21, 2014 |access-date=July 29, 2016 |archive-date=August 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810000221/https://twitter.com/danielaruah/status/480502729685860352 |url-status=live }}</ref> They have a son, River Isaac Ruah Olsen (born December 30, 2013),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/parents/ncis-los-angeles-daniela-ruah-pregnant-expecting-first-child/|title=Baby Boy on the Way for Daniela Ruah|work=People|publisher=Meredith Corporation|location=New York City|first=Monica|last=Rizzo|date=September 16, 2013|access-date=February 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/parents/daniela-ruah-welcomes-son-river-isaac/|title=Daniela Ruah Welcomes Son River Isaac|first1=Sarah|last1=Michaud|first2=Patrick|last2=Gomez|work=People|publisher=Meredith Corporation|location=New York City|date=January 5, 2014|access-date=July 29, 2016}}</ref> and a daughter, Sierra Esther Ruah Olsen (born September 4, 2016).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BKEghGGhctT/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BKEghGGhctT |archive-date=2021-12-24 |url-access=limited|title= Apparently she thought Labor Day weekend [...] |first=Daniela|last=Ruah|date=September 7, 2016|website=Instagram| quote= On September 4th we welcomed little Miss Sierra Esther Ruah Olsen!}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://people.com/parents/daniela-ruah-welcomes-daughter-sierra-esther/| title = Daniela Ruah Welcomes Daughter Sierra Esther|work=People|publisher=Meredith Corporation|location=New York City| first1=Lindsay |last1=Kimble |first2= Sarah |last2=Michaud| date=September 7, 2016|access-date= February 23, 2020}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Acting=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- |+ Films ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | rowspan=2|2012 | ''Red Tails'' | Sofia | |- | ''Brave'' | Merida | European Portuguese Version<br/>Animated Film |}
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- |+ Short Films ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2006 | ''Canaviais'' | Margarida | Portuguese short film |- | 2008 | ''Blind Confession'' | Woman | |- | rowspan=2|2009 | ''Safe Haven'' | Angela Bowery | |- | ''Midnight Passion'' | Sophie | |- | 2011 | ''Tu & Eu'' | Sophie | Asians on Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble Cast – Short Film |- | 2016 | ''Excuse'' | Brenda | |}
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- |+ Television ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2000–2001 | ''Jardins Proibidos'' | Sara | rowspan=2|Main Cast<br/>Portuguese soap opera broadcast by TVI |- | rowspan=3|2001 | ''Filha do Mar'' | Constança Valadas |- | ''Querida Mãe'' | Zezinha | Portuguese television film broadcast by SIC |- | ''Elsa, Uma Mulher Assim'' | Mónica | Portuguese miniseries broadcast by RTP<br /> Season 1, Episode 11 |- | 2004 | ''Inspector Max'' | Verónica Botelho | Portuguese TV series broadcast by TVI<br /> 1 episode, "Marcas do Passado" |- | 2005–2006 | ''Dei-te Quase Tudo'' | Rita Cruz | Main Cast<br />Portuguese soap opera broadcast by TVI |- | 2006 | ''Dança Comigo'' | Herself | Portuguese version of ''Dancing with the Stars'' broadcast by RTP<br/> Winner of the first season |- | 2006–2007 | ''Tu e Eu'' | Daniela Pinto | Main Cast<br/> Portuguese soap opera broadcast by TVI |- | 2008 | ''Casos da Vida'' | Rita | Portuguese TV series broadcast by TVI<br /> 1 episode, "Passo em Falso" |- | rowspan=2|2009 | ''Guiding Light'' | Gigi | Season 1, Episode 15628 |- | ''NCIS'' | rowspan=3|Kensi Blye | 2 pilot episodes: "Legend"<br/>She was part of a guest cast including Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J, Barrett Foa, Peter Cambor and Louise Lombard |- | 2009–2023 | ''NCIS: Los Angeles'' | Series regular, 277 episodes<br/>Golden Globe Award (Portugal) for ''Newcomer of the Year''<br/> TV Action Icon Award 2011 of Celebrity & Stuntwomen's Awards<br/> Nominated-''Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Action Actress''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2553497/teen-choice-awards-2010-nominees/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108020424/http://www.mtv.com/news/2553497/teen-choice-awards-2010-nominees/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 8, 2016|title=Teen Choice Awards 2010: First Round Of Nominees Announced|website=MTV|first=Lindsay|last=Soll|date=June 14, 2010|access-date=March 8, 2015}}</ref> |- | 2011 | ''Hawaii Five-0'' | Crossover with ''NCIS: Los Angeles''<br/>Episode: "Ka Hakaka Maika'i" |- | 2018 | ''Eurovision Song Contest 2018'' | Herself | Hostess |- |2020 |''A Espia'' |Maria João Mascarenhas |Main Cast Portuguese miniseries broadcast by RTP |- |2023 |''The Traitors'' |Herself |Host |- |2023 |''Turn of the Tide''<ref>{{cite web |title=Rabo de Peize |language=de |work=moviepilot.de |url=https://www.moviepilot.de/serie/turn-of-the-tide |access-date=June 24, 2023}}</ref> |Fátima |Supporting cast<br />Portuguese thriller series from Netflix |}
===Directing=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2021–2023 | ''NCIS: Los Angeles'' | 6 episodes |- | 2022 | ''Contado por Mulheres'' | Portuguese Miniseries |- | rowspan=2|2024 | ''NCIS'' | Episode: "Left Unsaid" |- | ''NCIS: Hawaiʻi'' | Episode: "The Next Thousand" |- | 2025 | ''The Equalizer'' | Episode: "Deception" |}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{commons category inline|Daniela Ruah}} * {{IMDb name|2079733}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruah, Daniela}} Category:1983 births Category:20th-century American Sephardic Jews Category:21st-century American Sephardic Jews Category:20th-century American actresses Category:21st-century American actresses Category:Actresses from Boston Category:Portuguese actresses Category:Jewish Portuguese actresses Category:Portuguese people of Ukrainian descent Category:Portuguese people of Russian descent Category:American people of Portuguese-Jewish descent Category:American people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent Category:American television actresses Category:Golden Globes (Portugal) winners Category:Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute alumni Category:Living people Category:21st-century Portuguese Jews Category:20th-century Portuguese Jews