Biography
Who is Daniela Ruah?
Early life and education
Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah was born in Boston, United States. Her parents are both medical professionals; her mother is an otologist and her father is an ENT surgeon. When she was five years old, her family relocated to Portugal. There, she attended Saint Julian's School. She grew up in a household with both Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, with family roots extending to Russia, Ukraine, and Portugal.
At sixteen, she began her professional acting career by appearing in Portuguese soap operas, including a role as Sara in the series Jardins Proibidos. Following her early success in local television, she moved to the United Kingdom at eighteen. She enrolled at London Metropolitan University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in performing arts. After completing her studies, she returned to Portugal to continue her work in acting, theater, and short films, even winning a local celebrity dance competition.
Career in acting and directing
In 2007, Daniela Ruah moved to New York City to further her craft at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Two years later, she landed the role of Special Agent Kensi Blye on the CBS series NCIS: Los Angeles. The show premiered in September 2009. She continued to play this character for many years, even appearing as a guest on the series Hawaii Five-0 in 2011. While working on the show in 2014, she received an award for her performance in prime-time television.
Beyond television, she has explored live theater and hosting duties. In 2013, she performed in David Auburn's play Proof at the Hayworth Theatre in Los Angeles. Later, in 2018, she served as a co-host for the Eurovision Song Contest held in Lisbon, Portugal, working alongside Catarina Furtado, SÃlvia Alberto, and Filomena Cautela. Looking toward future projects, it was announced in 2026 that she would produce and act in a film adaptation of the novel The Moonlight Child, titled And Then She Was Gone.
Personal life and family
Daniela Ruah holds citizenship in both Portugal and the United States. She married David Paul Olsen on June 19, 2014, in an interfaith ceremony. David is the brother and stunt double of her former NCIS: Los Angeles co-star, Eric Christian Olsen. The couple has two children together: a son named River Isaac Ruah Olsen, born in late 2013, and a daughter named Sierra Esther Ruah Olsen, born in 2016.
Birthday and age
Daniela Ruah was born on December 2, 1983, which makes Daniela 42 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Daniela shares the date with 50 other famous people.
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