‘NCIS: Los Angeles’: Daniela Ruah Reveals Kensi Almost Suffered a Tragic Fate
Daniela Ruah’s character, Kensi Blye, is a favorite among many NCIS: Los Angeles fans. If you’re a big fan of Kensi, you might be surprised to learn her story was supposed to be very different. According Ruah, Kensi almost suffered a major tragedy. Here’s what Ruah once said about Kensi’s original fate.
Kensi Blye’s accident during ‘NCIS LA’ Season 8
During NCIS LA Season 8, Kensi is injured. Fortunately, she recovers. However, she still has demons to deal with that are not of a physical nature. She is so troubled by her experience that she consults with the staff psychologist so she can regain a sound state of mind and be well enough to go back to work.
“This is one of the most intense and rewarding arcs I’ve played on this show,” Ruah told Glamour. “She is me; I am her. I really like [being able to show] emotions that I don’t normally feel.”
Daniela Ruah reveals the tragedy Kensi almost faced
During a 2017 panel discussion, the host asks Ruah what surprised her most about her character in season 8. Ruah says she was surprised by the original storyline written for Kensi. Originally, Kensi was supposed to experience a major trauma that would change her life forever:
So, Kensi becomes debilitated for a short while, and then eventually recovers. Originally, the storyline is that she was going to actually lose a limb. And I remember when our showrunner was like, what do you think of this? I was almost so devastated for Kensi because it’s kind of difficult to emotionally distance myself from her when it comes to her happiness or her sadness, whatever it is.
Daniela Ruah says she was all for Kensi’s tragic storyline
Although Ruah feels deeply connected to her character, she also says she was not afraid to dive into a difficult and emotional storyline. She welcomed the challenge to take on tough material and bring a new layer to her role:
And then I thought if I were offered a movie that had this plotline, I wouldn’t even hesitate at that challenge of playing this crazy roller coaster of an emotional journey to recovery. But unfortunately, I think there was another show that was being written about a female lead who had lost a limb. And they didn’t want two CBS shows with the same kind of thing going on, so they ended up scrapping that idea and she had an injury that she eventually recovered from.
Daniela Ruah explains her connection to Kensi
Ruah tells Glamour she feels almost as if she and Kensi are one. After playing the character for so many years, she has melded with Kensi in a way. “Even though I am not Kensi, I am Kensi,” said Ruah. “She’s an extension of me. What was planned originally was such an aggressive thing to deal with that many people deal with, but it would have been a different journey. The outcome would have been very different for Kensi’s future.”
Read more: ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’: Does Daniela Ruah Do Her Own Stunts?
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