Pauley Perrette has fans quickly fawning over a rare public appearance – and she's with one of her former co-stars!
The actress, 57, has largely stepped away from the spotlight since retiring from acting in 2020. She played the fan favorite character of Abby Sciuto on NCIS from 2003 to 2018, and acted as the lead in the short-lived sitcom Broke in 2020 before stepping away.
© Getty ImagesDespite exiting the long-running procedural show on less than glowing terms, due to a reported dispute with lead Mark Harmon, she has remained close with several of her co-stars.
On Sunday, June 7, Brian Dietzen, who plays Dr. Jimmy Palmer on NCIS, shared a snap of himself after some concerts from the past week, posing with Pauley, a mini-reunion of sorts.
The pair wore baseball caps and casual tees, with Brian topping off with a sweatshirt, and Pauley showing off her tattoos. "Got to see @ellavos, @tinangelband and @cloverlin07 at @thehotelcafe and hang with @thepauleyp. That's two shows we saw together in a week! Music is the best. So are good friends."
Fans immediately fixated on Pauley's reappearance, with many leaving comments like: "Great to see Pauley!!! We miss her!!! Maybe she can be on the podcast at some point!!" and: "Omg love this so much!! So good to see Pauley," as well as: "ABBY!!!! God how I miss her face!!! I loved everything about her and all she brought to the show! We need a guest appearance!!!"
Even more included comments such as: "Look at her shining omg love Pauley so much," plus: "I can't believe that is Abby! Wish they were both still on. Loved them both."
© InstagramPauley has undergone a full style makeover since her NCIS days, ditching her blunt brunette bangs for rainbow-colored hair going past her shoulders. Although, since her last post on her feed, her hair has seemingly settled more into a fuchsia shade.
Speaking exclusively with HELLO! in 2024, Pauley confirmed that as far as acting goes, her mind is made up: "Never again."
© Getty Images"I'm not ungrateful for the benefits that it gave to me," she told HELLO!. "But I'm a different person now and I want to be here for it – the good and the bad and the painful. I want to be me all the time, and it takes a good amount of courage for me to say that to myself but it's authentically how I feel."
Over the past few years, Pauley has developed more time to championing and supporting projects that focus on human rights and LGBTQ+ activism from behind the scenes. "At this point in my life I have this deep need to find authenticity in everything, and being an actor, especially at certain points in my life, was a great escape; it's like a drug because I didn't have to be me, I could be somebody else," she said.
© Getty Images"My character didn't have all of the problems that I was having," Pauley continued. "It's why I only watch documentaries, I want the truth. For me, going back to being an actor would be taking away from this life of true authenticity that I'm living 100% of the time."
