Daniela Ruah

Actress

Birth Name: Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah

Birth Date: December 2, 1983

Age: 41 years old

Birth Place: Boston, Massachusetts

Already a renowned celebrity in her native Portugal by the time she began her Hollywood career, Daniela Ruah emerged as the breakout star of the critically acclaimed action drama "NCIS: Los Angeles" (CBS, 2009- ). Ruah held her own as a feisty and quick-thinking female agent working alongside a pair of undercover alpha males (Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J). Her character's tough exterior, mixed with a quirky dash of vulnerability, allowed the talented star to display wit, charm, and sex appeal while shooting guns and blowing up cars. Ruah turned in a less physically demanding performance as an Italian woman who falls in love with a World War II hero in the 2010 biopic, "Red Tails," a notable American film debut from a truly versatile and committed actress.

Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah was born on Dec. 2, 1983 in Boston, MA to Dr. Moisés Carlos Bentes Ruah and Catarina Lia (Katia) Azancot Korn. The future star was born with a birthmark in her right eye, giving the appearance that she has one black eye and one hazel eye. When Ruah was five years old, her family moved to Portugal, where she attended St. Julian's School. She began acting at 16 after landing a role on the television series "Jardins Prohibidos" (TVI, 2000).

She later moved to England at age 18 to study at the London Metropolitan University, where she received a B.A. in Performing Arts. After graduating, Ruah moved back to Portugal to continue her acting career with various film and television projects. She elevated her star status in her native country by winning the first season of "Danca Comigo" (RTP, 2006- ), the Portuguese version of "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC, 2005- ).

A move to New York City in 2007 gave Ruah the opportunity to make an impression with audiences stateside. She enrolled at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute before making her mainstream TV debut in 2009 on the long-running daytime series "Guiding Light" (CBS, 1952-2009). That same year, Ruah was cast as Kensi Blye, a skilled junior field agent on a special two-part episode of "NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service" (CBS, 2003- ), which set up the premise for its subsequent spin-off, "NCIS: Los Angeles." The stunning actress reprised her role as a regular cast member on the West Coast-based incarnation of the popular procedural opposite O'Donnell and Cool J.

Playing the smart, seductive, and tough-as-nails undercover agent was a perfect fit for the actress, who enjoyed her character's fight scenes as much as her emotional, mysterious back story. Ruah's talent and undeniable onscreen charm was rewarded with a nomination at the 2010 Teen Choice Awards for Choice TV Actress: Action. That same year, Ruah landed a supporting role opposite Bryan Cranston, Terrence Howard, and Cuba Gooding, Jr. in "Red Tails," a historical drama about the first African-American pilots to fly in a combat squadron during World War II. Ruah, who spoke Portuguese and English, learned Italian for the George Lucas-produced film.