SWITCHEDON 15
MONDAY JANUARY 5 2015
on
Switched
YOUR WEEKLY TV GUIDE
Shy star
has shot
at NCIS
BY COLIN VICKERY
NCIS faced its biggest
challenge when Cote de
Pablo decided to quit.
The 34-year-old Chileanborn actor had reached her
limit after eight seasons as
Ziva David on the top-rating
US navy drama.
Scripts had to be rewritten
and a new character
introduced – Probationary
Agent Eleanor “Ellie” Bishop.
Showrunner Gary
Glasberg tested hundreds of
actors. A lucky few got to do
on-camera auditions with
star Mark Harmon.
“In walks Emily
Wickersham, and she does
this fantastic scene with
Mark that left us all saying ‘I
think that’s it’,” Glasberg says.
Wickersham (pictured) is
probably best known for
playing Rhiannon Flammer
in The Sopranos. She also had
guest roles in Law & Order:
Criminal Intent, Gossip Girl
and The Bridge.
The 30-year-old, married
to rocker Blake Hanley, lead
singer of Ghost Lion, was
thrown in at the deep end.
After appearing in three
episodes earlier this year,
Wickersham is now a regular,
trying to play catch-up with
long time stars Harmon,
V1 - NTNE01Z01MA
Michael Weatherly, Sean
Murray, Pauley Perrette and
David McCallum.
“It was a big thing for them
(cast) having some stranger
come in after all of the years
they had worked together,”
Wickersham says.
“They wanted to be sure
they didn’t pick someone that
was difficult to work with and
I was lucky enough.
“It was extremely
intimidating knowing they
had worked together so long.
I can be outgoing but I have
moments of shyness,
especially when I first meet
people.
“I didn’t know what to
expect but they couldn’t have
been better. They welcomed
me with open arms.
“When I first got there (on
set) Mark was so sweet. He is
such a grounded person and
he has set up a work
environment where
everyone is happy to be there.
I really believe that starts
with him and trickles down.”
Wickersham spent hours
with NCIS technical adviser
Leon Carroll learning how to
handle weapons.
“I’m still getting
comfortable with handling a
gun,” she says.
■ NCIS, Ten Digital, tonight,
10.30pm