Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah (born December 2, 1983 in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.) is a Portuguese-American actress.
Born in Boston Ruah and her family moved back to Portugal when she was 5. She started acting in Portuguese soap operas when she was 16, when she played Sara on the Telenovela Jardins Proibidos ("Forbidden Gardens").
She continued to act in many Portuguese soap operas until 2009 whe she landed the role she's best known for the NCIS Special Agent Kensi Blye in the CBS Police Procedural NCIS: Los Angeles.
She's has two children with her husband, stunt performer David Paul Olsen.
Selected Filmography
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Live-Action Films
- Querida Mãe (2001) as Zezinha
- Canaviais (2006) as Margarida
- Safe Haven (2009) as
- Midnight Passion (2009) as Sophie
- Tu & Eu (2011) as Sofia
- Red Tails (2012) as Sofia
- Brave (2012) as Merida in the Portuguese Version
- Excuse (2016) as Brenda
Live-Action Series
- Jardins Proibidos (2000 — 2001) as Sara
- Filha do Mar (2001) as Constança Valadas
- Elsa, Uma Mulher Assim (2001) as Mónica
- Inspector Max (2004) as Verónica Botelho
- Dei-te Quase Tudo (2005 — 2006) as Rita Cruz
- Dança Comigo (2006) as Herself / Contestant
- Tu e Eu (2006 — 2007) as Daniela Pinto
- Casos da Vida (2008) as Rita
- Guiding Light (2009) as Gigi
- NCIS (2009) as Kensi Blye
- NCIS: Los Angeles (2009 — Present) as Kensi Blye
- Hawaii Five-0 (2011) as Kensi Blye
- Eurovision Song Contest (2018) as Herself / Hostess
This actress provides examples of:
- Action Girl: Plays an experienced OSP agent in NCIS: Los Angeles.
- Actor Allusion: In a Season 6 episode of NCIS: Los Angeles, Deeks while sparring with Kensi claims that she's a terrible dancer. Ruah won the first season of Portugal's version of Strictly Come Dancing.
- Fair Cop: As Kensi Blye.
- Fake Nationality: She plays Lightning's Italian girlfriend Sofia in Red Tails
- Hide Your Pregnancy / Written-In Infirmity: She became pregnant during the fifth season of NCIS: Los Angeles. Kensi ended up wearing baggier clothing and eventually being packed off to Afghanistan for a mission; Ruah's filming was front-loaded before she became too pregnant and Kensi ultimately appeared in nearly every episode.
- Ms. Fanservice: Kensi's sex appeal is often played up in NCIS: Los Angeles.
- Presenters: Was one of the hosts of 2018's Eurovision Song Contest.
- Older Than They Look: She is currently in her mid-thirties but looks so much more younger than that.
- Romance on the Set / Incestuous Casting: Married David Paul Olsen who's the stunt double and brother of her co-star (and her character's Love Interest) Eric Christian Olsen (Deeks) in NCIS: Los Angeles.
- Spicy Latina: Part of her appeal.
- Statuesque Stunner: She is gorgeous and 5' 8" (1.74 m).
- What Beautiful Eyes! / Eye Scream: Has a distinguishable birthmark in her right eye called the "nevus of Ota", with her other eye being hazel. It doesn't impact her vision in any way.
- Wolverine Publicity: In Portugal promotional material of NCIS: Los Angeles tends to give her a lot of focus.
