Pauley Perrette's childhood pictures are worlds away from her look today

NCIS star Pauley Perrette is beloved by fans for her bold looks these days, in particular her multi-colored hair. 

But the actress wasn't always so bold, and her childhood pictures reveal an All-American girl with blonde hair in pigtails and a big smile. 

The pictures were shared by friend Kirsten Vangsness, who stars in Criminal Minds, in 2021 when Pauley appeared on her podcast Kirsten's Agenda.  

© Pauley Perrette

The pair were discussing negative self-talk, and Pauley, 55, spoke about how it "is the world's job out there to put me down and be mean to me, and her, my little self… and someone has to have my back, and I am the one who can reach it best". 

Kirsten then posted two side-by-side snaps, one that showed Pauley having a professional snap taken when she looked to be around four in the early 1970s, and another of her shorter brunette hair, sitting in a rocking chair with a white cat.

© Pauley Perrette

Pauley went on to share that she was thinking about her 20-year-old self, and added: "I love her now. I'm not sure how I felt about her then, I was too busy being nuts, and crazy and funny. She was cool." 

"But there are so many things I am so stinking proud of," she added. 

© Getty Images

Pauley starred as Abby Sciuto in the show between 2003 and 2018, and has remained vocal with fans, connecting with them regularly on social media. But she was recently forced to warn fans against scam artists, after one follower was scammed on Cameo, a website where users pay for personalized video messages from celebrities. 

"Last night I got a message on Cameo, which is the only place I talk to strangers," Pauley began in a video filmed from her LA home. 

"It was a terrible story about this person's family member who has been scammed by someone who said they were me. I took a picture and did everything I could but scammers are clever." 

© Adam Rose/CBS via Getty Images

She continued: "Then today, I get a message from my old pastor and he was like, 'Hey, I see you want me to friend you on Facebook', and I'm like, 'I'm not on Facebook'."

"So, I'll say it again, I'm not on Facebook. I am not asking anybody to be friends with me. The only place that I will respond to someone I don't know is on Cameo," Pauley reiterated. "I'm really sorry if somebody has messed with y'all."