From Boston-born daughter of Portuguese doctors to becoming the face of NCIS: Los Angeles for 14 seasons, Daniela Ruah has built a remarkable career spanning American and Portuguese entertainment industries. Born on December 2, 1983, this 42-year-old Portuguese-American actress achieved international recognition portraying Special Agent Kensi Blye, earning approximately $100,000 per episode and amassing an estimated net worth of $7-8 million. Married to stunt performer David Paul Olsen since 2014 and mother to two children, Ruah has successfully transitioned from acting to directing episodes across the NCIS franchise while maintaining an active Instagram presence with over 1 million followers.
Daniela Ruah Biography / Wiki
Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah Olsen is an American-Portuguese actress, film director, and television host born on December 2, 1983, in Boston, Massachusetts. She holds dual Portuguese and American citizenship and is of Jewish heritage, with Sephardic roots from Portugal and Ashkenazi roots from Russia and Ukraine. She is best known for portraying NCIS Special Agent Kensi Blye in the CBS police procedural series “NCIS: Los Angeles,” which aired for 14 seasons from 2009 to 2023, spanning 277 episodes.
Who is Daniela Ruah?
Daniela Ruah is a Portuguese-American actress who gained international fame through her role as Special Agent Kensi Blye in the CBS series “NCIS: Los Angeles”. She began her career as a teenage actress in Portuguese soap operas before transitioning to American television. Her performance as Kensi Blye over 14 seasons established her as one of the most recognizable faces in crime drama television. Beyond acting, she has expanded into directing, helming episodes of multiple NCIS franchise shows, and hosting major events including Eurovision Song Contest 2018.
Daniela Ruah Age – How Old Is She?
Daniela Ruah was born on December 2, 1983, making her 42 years old as of February 2026. She celebrates her birthday on December 2nd each year.
Early Life
Daniela Ruah was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 2, 1983, to Portuguese-born Jewish parents. Her mother, Catarina Korn, is an otologist (ear specialist), and her father, Carlos Ruah, is an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) surgeon. Both parents are from Portugal and of Jewish heritage.
When Ruah was five years old, her family moved back to Portugal, where she grew up. She attended St. Julian’s School in Portugal during her childhood and adolescence. She grew up in an environment that was both Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish, with her father being of Portuguese-Jewish ancestry and her mother’s Jewish roots tracing to Russia, Ukraine, and Portugal.
At age 16, Ruah began acting in Portuguese telenovelas while still completing her high school education. At 18, she moved to London, England, to pursue higher education, enrolling at London Metropolitan University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Performing Arts. After graduation, she returned to Portugal to continue her acting career before moving to New York City in 2007 to study at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.
Daniela Ruah Career Journey
Daniela Ruah made her acting debut at age 16, playing Sara in the Portuguese soap opera “Jardins Proibidos” (Forbidden Gardens), which aired on TVI from 2000 to 2001. This was followed by her role as Constança Valadas in another Portuguese soap opera “Filha do Mar” (2001). During her teenage years in Portugal, she built a steady acting resume in television series and short films.
In 2006, Ruah achieved a milestone by winning “Dança Comigo,” the Portuguese version of “Dancing with the Stars,” becoming the winner of the show’s first season. From 2006 to 2007, she starred as Daniela Pinto in the Portuguese soap opera “Tu e Eu”. She continued working in Portuguese television until 2008, appearing in various series and television films.
In 2007, Ruah moved to New York to study at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, a decision that would prove pivotal for her American career. Shortly after her studies, she auditioned for the role of Special Agent Kensi Blye in what would become “NCIS: Los Angeles”. Despite admitting she “botched” her first audition and “screwed up towards the end,” the casting director and showrunner Shane Brennan saw her potential and cast her in the role.
She first appeared as Kensi Blye in two pilot episodes of the original “NCIS” series titled “Legend” in 2009, alongside Chris O’Donnell, LL Cool J, Barrett Foa, Peter Cambor, and Louise Lombard. “NCIS: Los Angeles” premiered on September 22, 2009, and became a massive success. Ruah remained a series regular for all 14 seasons, appearing in 277 episodes until the show concluded on May 21, 2023.
Her portrayal of Kensi Blye earned her numerous accolades including the Golden Globe Award (Portugal) for Newcomer of the Year, the TV Action Icon Award 2011 from Celebrity & Stuntwomen’s Awards, and a nomination for the Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Action Actress. In 2011, she reprised her role in a crossover episode of “Hawaii Five-0”.
During her tenure on NCIS: Los Angeles, Ruah expanded into directing, making her directorial debut during season 12 of the series. Between 2021 and 2023, she directed six episodes of “NCIS: Los Angeles”. Her directing career continued after the show ended, helming episodes across the NCIS universe including an episode of the original “NCIS” (“Left Unsaid,” 2024), “NCIS: Hawaiʻi” (“The Next Thousand,” 2024), and “The Equalizer” (“Deception,” 2025).
In film, Ruah appeared in “Red Tails” (2012) as Sofia and provided the European Portuguese voice for Merida in the animated film “Brave” (2012). She has also appeared in numerous short films throughout her career.
In 2018, Ruah co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal, alongside Catarina Furtado, Sílvia Alberto, and Filomena Cautela. In 2020, she returned to Portuguese television as Maria João Mascarenhas in the RTP miniseries “A Espia”. She hosted “The Traitors” in 2023 and appeared in the Portuguese Netflix thriller series “Turn of the Tide” (2023) as Fátima.
Daniela Ruah Profession
Daniela Ruah is a professional actress specializing in television drama, particularly crime procedurals and soap operas. She works across both American and Portuguese entertainment industries, demonstrating fluency in English and Portuguese. Her primary occupation for 14 years was portraying NCIS Special Agent Kensi Blye, a role that required action sequences, dramatic performances, and ensemble cast dynamics.
Beyond acting, Ruah is a film and television director who has helmed multiple episodes across the NCIS franchise and other series. She reportedly earned approximately $100,000 per episode during her tenure on “NCIS: Los Angeles”. She also works as a television host, having co-hosted Eurovision Song Contest 2018 and hosted “The Traitors” in 2023.
Daniela Ruah Movies and Series
Films:
Short Films:
- Canaviais (2006) – Margarida
- Blind Confession (2008) – Woman
- Safe Haven (2009) – Angela Bowery
- Midnight Passion (2009) – Sophie
- Tu & Eu (2011) – Sophie
- Excuse (2016) – Brenda
Television Series:
- Jardins Proibidos (2000–2001) – Sara
- Filha do Mar (2001) – Constança Valadas
- Querida Mãe (2001) – Zezinha
- Inspector Max (2004) – Verónica Botelho
- Dei-te Quase Tudo (2005–2006) – Rita Cruz
- Tu e Eu (2006–2007) – Daniela Pinto
- Guiding Light (2009) – Gigi
- NCIS (2009) – Kensi Blye (2 pilot episodes)
- NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023) – Kensi Blye (277 episodes, main cast)
- Hawaii Five-0 (2011) – Kensi Blye (crossover episode)
- A Espia (2020) – Maria João Mascarenhas
- Turn of the Tide (2023) – Fátima
Reality/Competition Shows:
Hosting:
Directing Credits:
- NCIS: Los Angeles (2021–2023) – 6 episodes
- Contado por Mulheres (2022) – Portuguese miniseries
- NCIS (2024) – Episode “Left Unsaid”
- NCIS: Hawaiʻi (2024) – Episode “The Next Thousand”
- The Equalizer (2025) – Episode “Deception”
Daniela Ruah Controversies
In 2020, Daniela Ruah used her Instagram platform to warn her 1.1 million followers about a scam circulating through direct messages. She shared a screenshot of a fraudulent message supposedly from Instagram’s Copyright Help Centre that encouraged users to click an unknown link to avoid being “locked out” of their accounts within 24 hours. Ruah posted a danger warning sign gif with the caption “BEWARE OF THIS SCAM IN YOUR DMs” to alert her followers to the phishing attempt. Her co-star Eric Christian Olsen had issued a similar warning earlier that year after receiving a comparable scam message.
No other publicly reported controversies involving Daniela Ruah have been documented. She has maintained a professional reputation throughout her career spanning Portuguese and American entertainment industries.
Daniela Ruah Personal Life
Daniela Ruah has a distinguishable birthmark in her right eye called nevus of Ota, which has become one of her recognizable physical features. She is bilingual, speaking both Portuguese and English fluently due to her upbringing in both the United States and Portugal.
Ruah is married to David Paul Olsen, a stunt performer who is the older brother and stunt double of her “NCIS: Los Angeles” co-star Eric Christian Olsen. The couple went on their first date in February 2011, thanks to Eric Christian Olsen’s matchmaking efforts after he observed that both Daniela and his brother David were dating “awful” people. Eric deliberately spoke positively about each of them to the other when David came on set to perform stunts.
Daniela and David married on June 19, 2014, in an interfaith ceremony in Portugal. Ruah is Jewish while Olsen is Lutheran. The couple welcomed their first child, son River Isaac Ruah Olsen, on December 30, 2013, before their wedding. Their daughter, Sierra Esther Ruah Olsen, was born on September 4, 2016.
In August 2015, Daniela and David purchased a large property in Woodland Hills, California, for $2.13 million. The 5,000-square-foot home sits on nearly an acre and features a pool, spa, and full-sized basketball/tennis court. As of 2026, the property is estimated to be worth approximately $4 million.
Ruah maintains an active Instagram presence (@danielaruah) with over 1 million followers, regularly sharing glimpses of her family life, work projects, and travels. In February 2025, she posted a romantic photo with her husband while supporting her brother-in-law Eric Christian Olsen following the loss of his home.
Daniela Ruah Husband
Daniela Ruah is married to David Paul Olsen, a stunt performer and actor. David is the older brother of Eric Christian Olsen, Daniela’s co-star on “NCIS: Los Angeles,” and also served as Eric’s stunt double on the show. The couple’s relationship began in February 2011 when Eric Christian Olsen set them up on a blind date.
According to Eric, he orchestrated their meeting because both Daniela and David were in unsatisfying relationships at the time and “weren’t able to be themselves”. He hatched a plan where he would say positive things about each of them to the other when David visited the set to perform stunts.
Daniela and David married on June 19, 2014, in Portugal in an interfaith ceremony, with Ruah being Jewish and Olsen being Lutheran. On their fourth wedding anniversary in 2018, Daniela posted a tribute to David on Instagram stating: “Together for over 7 and married 4 years today! Everything is better with you: parenting, traveling, working, building life…. you motivate me to reach farther everyday. I’ll marry you all the time. Oh and you make really cute kids….”.
Daniela Ruah Family
Daniela Ruah Net Worth
Daniela Ruah’s estimated net worth is between $7 million and $8 million as of 2025-2026. Her wealth has been primarily accumulated through her 14-season tenure on “NCIS: Los Angeles,” where she reportedly earned approximately $100,000 per episode. Over 277 episodes, her acting fees from the series alone would total approximately $27.7 million before taxes and expenses.
Beyond her NCIS salary, Ruah has earned income from:
- Film appearances including “Red Tails” (2012)
- Portuguese television work including “A Espia” (2020) and “Turn of the Tide” (2023)
- Hosting duties for Eurovision Song Contest 2018 and “The Traitors” (2023)
- Directing episodes across the NCIS franchise and “The Equalizer”
- Various endorsements and promotional campaigns
Her real estate portfolio includes a Woodland Hills, California property purchased in August 2015 for $2.13 million, now valued at approximately $4 million, representing significant asset appreciation. The 5,000-square-foot home features luxury amenities including a pool, spa, and full-sized basketball/tennis court.