Daniela Ruah

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Daniela Ruah

Ruah at the 2012 Monte-Carlo Television Festival
Born (1983-12-02) December 2, 1983
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Nationality Portuguese, American
Occupation Actress
Years active 2000–present
Known for Kensi Blye, NCIS: Los Angeles
Partner(s) David Paul Olsen (2010–present)
Children River Isaac (born December 30, 2013)

Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah (i/dəniːɛlə ruːə/; born December 2, 1983) is a Portuguese American actress best known for playing NCIS Special Agent Kensi Blye in the CBS series NCIS: Los Angeles.

Early life and family

Ruah was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Portuguese citizens Dr. Moisés Carlos Bentes Ruah, and his wife, Katharina Lia Azancot Korn. Her father was a resident in otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, and Throat) in the Boston University-Tufts University program. When Ruah was five years old, her father completed his residency and the family returned to Portugal, where her parents divorced and she attended an international, English-medium school.[1]

Ruah's father is from a prominent Portuguese-based Sephardic Jewish family.[2][3] Ruah's maternal grandfather was an Ashkenazi Jew who was born in 1922 in what is now Wrocław, Poland. Ruah's maternal grandmother, Vera, was born in Lisbon, Portugal; Vera's father (Ruah's great-grandfather) was of half Sephardic Jewish and half Spanish ancestry, and Vera's mother (Ruah's great-grandmother) was a Ukrainian Ashkenazi Jew from Odessa.[4] She is the great-grand niece of the captain Artur Carlos de Barros Basto.[5] She also has distant ancestors from São Tomé and Príncipe.

Ruah attended St Julian's School in Carcavelos, near Lisbon. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from London Metropolitan University.[6]

She was an active member of the Portuguese Jewish community in Lisbon, of which her father's second cousin, also a physician, was the head. In 2003, the Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA) ran a piece about an annual gathering of Jewish young people from 32 countries sponsored by European Union of Jewish Students. Ruah, then 19 and still living in Lisbon, was one of the students the JTA interviewed. She said, "I've never been around as many Jews in my entire life. Here, you don't feel the need to explain to people who you are. I am meeting people who eat kosher for the first time ever."[7][8]

Personal life

She has a distinguishable birthmark in her right eye, called the Nevus of Ota. Her left eye is hazel, giving her eyes a unique appearance as the other one is brown/blackish.

Ruah speaks three languages fluently—Portuguese, English, and Spanish.

She is left-handed although she was seen writing with her right hand in the NCIS: Los Angeles Season 1 episode, "Past Lives", and left-eye dominant.

Ruah announced in September 2013 that she was expecting her first child, a boy, with fiancé David Paul Olsen, the elder brother of and stunt double to Ruah's NCIS: Los Angeles co-star Eric Christian Olsen.[9] On Monday, December 30, 2013, Ruah gave birth to a son.[10]

Career

Ruah started acting in Portuguese soap operas when she was a teen. Her first acting role came at the age of 16, when she auditioned for the soap opera Jardins Proibidos ("Forbidden Gardens") and won the role of Sara.[11] Ruah kept working on diverse projects while she was finishing high school. At the age of 18, she moved to London to study at the London Metropolitan University, where she earned a First in Performing Arts. She got extremely good grades while in school, and became the best well known movie and sports star. Ruah returned to Portugal to pursue her acting career. She was the winner of the celebrity dancing competition Dança Comigo (the Portuguese version of Dancing with the Stars) and got main roles in television series, short films, and theatre.[12] In 2007, she moved to New York to study at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.[12]

Ruah stars as Special Agent Kensi Blye in NCIS: Los Angeles, which first aired on September 22, 2009. Season 2 aired on September 21, 2010, and airs Tuesdays at 9:00 pm on CBS,[13] following NCIS at 8:00 p.m. Season 3 aired on September 20, 2011.[14] She later portrayed the character in a guest appearance on the series Hawaii Five-0.[15]

In April 2013 Ruah made her debut at Hayworth Theatre in LA as Catherine in "Proof", a play by David Auburn.[16]

Filmography

 Films
Year Title Role Notes
2012 Red Tails Sofia
Short Films
Year Title Role Notes
2006 Canaviais Margarida Portuguese short film
2008 Blind Confession Woman
2009 Safe Haven Angela Bowery
2009 Midnight Passion Sophie
2011 Tu & Eu Sophia Asians on Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble Cast - Short Film
 Television
Year Title Role Notes
2000–2001 Jardins Proibidos Sara Main Cast
Portuguese soap opera broadcast by TVI
2001 Filha do Mar Constança Valadas Main Cast
Portuguese soap opera broadcast by TVI
2001 Querida Mãe Zezinha Portuguese television film broadcast by SIC
2001 Elsa, Uma Mulher Assim Mónica Portuguese miniseries broadcast by RTP
Season 1, Episode 11
2004 Inspector Max Verónica Botelho Portuguese TV series broadcast by TVI
1 episode, "Marcas do Passado"
2005–2006 Dei-te Quase Tudo Rita Cruz Main Cast
Portuguese soap opera broadcast by TVI
2006 Dança Comigo Herself Portuguese version of Dancing with the Stars broadcast by RTP
Winner of the first season
2006–2007 Tu e Eu Daniela Pinto Main Cast
Portuguese soap opera broadcast by TVI
2008 Casos da Vida Rita Portuguese TV series broadcast by TVI
1 episode, "Passo em Falso"
2009 Guiding Light Gigi Season 1, Episode 15628
2009 NCIS Kensi Blye 2 episodes, "Legend (Part I)" and "Legend (Part II)"
She was part of a guest cast including Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J and Louise Lombard
2009–present NCIS: Los Angeles Kensi Blye Series regular, 110 episodes
Portuguese Golden Globe award for Newcomer of the Year
TV Action Icon Award 2011 of Celebrity & Stuntwomen's Awards
Nominated-Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Action Actress.[17]
2011 Hawaii Five-0 Kensi Blye Crossover with NCIS: Los Angeles
1 episode, "Ka Hakaka Maika'i"

References

  1. ↑ Julian Sancton (August 8, 2011). "Daniela Checks In". Esquire. Retrieved April 11, 2012. 
  2. ↑ "Daniela Ruah [Actress]". Malibu Magazine. 2011-03-10. Retrieved 2012-11-09. 
  3. ↑ Author: By Nicki Gostin Special to CNN (2012-02-29). "Meet the 'NCIS:LA' star who won 'Dancing' in another country | Entertainment - Home". Local10.com. Retrieved 2012-11-09. 
  4. ↑ "Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah". GeneAll.net. Retrieved 2012-11-09. 
  5. ↑ "Daniela Ruah calls for mobilization by Barros Basto". Translate.google.com. Retrieved 2012-11-09. 
  6. ↑ "Hollywood movie and major LA pilot for London Met graduate". London Metropolitan University. 19 October 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2010. 
  7. ↑ Nate Bloom (February 24, 2010). Jewz in the Newz 156 (31). The American Israelite. p. 18. 
  8. ↑ Henerson, Evan. "Film Fest celebrates Sephardim | Arts". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 2012-11-09. 
  9. ↑ Monica Rizzo (September 16, 2013). "NCIS: Los Angeles's Daniela Ruah Is Pregnant". People.com. Retrieved September 16, 2013. 
  10. ↑ Ossad, Jordana (5 January 2014). "Daniela Ruah Is a Mom! NCIS: Los Angeles Star Gives Birth to Son River Isaac". E! Online. Retrieved 6 January 2014. 
  11. ↑ Ruah, Daniela. "Daniela Ruah IMDb filmography". IMDb. Retrieved July 17, 2009. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Maria Ana Ventura (November 1, 2011). "Daniela Ruah – Shoot for the stars". UP Magazine. Retrieved September 17, 2013. 
  13. ↑ Matt Mitovich (24 June 2009). "Fall TV: CBS Announces Premiere Dates". TV Guide Online. Retrieved August 11, 2009. 
  14. ↑ "Breaking News - CBS Announces 2009-2010 Primetime Schedule" (Press release). CBS via The Futon Critic. May 20, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2009. 
  15. ↑ Sandra Gonzalez (September 7, 2011). "'NCIS: LA' exec producer spills on Kensi's trip to 'Hawaii Five-0,' possibility of another crossover". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 17, 2013. 
  16. ↑ "Daniela Ruah at Hayworth Theatre in “PROOF”". NCIS: LA Magazine. April 19, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2013. 
  17. ↑ 14 June 2010. Teen Choice Awards 2010: First Round Of Nominees Announced

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