Executive producer Pauley Perrette attends the 2023 Outfest Los Angeles' - "Studio One Forever" Premiere at Harmony Gold on July 18, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.© Getty Images

Pauley Perrette puts her tiny tattoos on display in photos sharing new update from private life

The NCIS star has stepped away from acting in recent years

Ahad Sanwari - New York
Senior WriterNew York
July 3, 2024

Pauley Perrette has embraced life away from the small screen, devoting much of her time now to charitable work and tending to her home in California.

The 55-year-old became a TV favorite thanks to her 15-year long turn as Abby Sciuto on the long-running CBS crime procedural NCIS, joining in 2003 and ending her run in 2018.

After playing the lead in the short-lived sitcom Broke, which was canceled after one season, Pauley announced that she had retired from acting in 2020, and now will share updates from her private home life.

The former TV star did just that with her most recent social media post, displaying her impressive green thumb with snaps from her garden as the first green tomatoes started to bloom.

"My first three tomatoes of the season," she captioned some snaps from her backyard, extending her hand out to show them off, and fans were impressed by not only her crop, but the many small tattoos on the back of her hand and fingers, including a rainbow, a cross, and an upward arrow.

One fan commented: "I know that hand like the back of my hand," and another wrote: "I saw your hand and knew it was yours," with a third also saying: "We miss you on NCIS!"

© Instagram

Pauley showed off the green tomatoes growing in her garden in photos shared on Instagram

While Pauley's goodbye to the NCIS franchise happened nearly six years ago after an on-set incident involving Mark Harmon's dog, CBS execs David Stapf and Amy Reiseinbach addressed the idea of bringing her back for a cameo on the upcoming Tony & Ziva spin-off, starring Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo.

MORE: Pauley Perrette left 'in shock' as she mourns loss of Sam Rubin and relives NCIS days

"Not a bad idea," David told Deadline. "We haven't talked about it or thought about it. We love Pauley, and she's always welcome in any of the NCIS franchise, but it hasn't come to us from the writers and/or from her." 

© Instagram

The actress caught the attention of her fans with her several tiny tattoos as well

"I kind of was kidding when I said, it's not a bad idea but it's genuinely not a bad idea, she was a beloved character." There is no word out yet on whether Pauley will return to the show in any capacity, although she remains close with several of her former co-stars.

MORE: NCIS' Pauley Perrette wows fans with rare peek of life away from acting

They also spoke about the show's longevity despite the departure of fan favorites like Pauley and Mark, deaths of beloved cast members and showrunners, such as David McCallum.

© Instagram

The former NCIS star has several tattoos all over her body

"For me, I attribute it to the fact that there's always been a core feeling that the people who write the show, the people who produce it, the crew and the actors, no matter whether they were there from the beginning or not, they understand the DNA of the show, and they've always stayed true to that," Amy opined.

MORE: Pauley Perrette inundated with support over emotional TV comeback following NCIS exit and acting retirement

© CBS via Getty Images

Pauley was a regular on the series from 2003 to 2018

David added: "It's sort of wish fulfillment TV. You want to know that there are people like this in the world that have your back from a law enforcement agency angle, but it's also a fun workplace show, and the bond that they have and the [expletive] that they give each other and the way that they interact, is comforting."

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