Pauley Perrette, the actress best known for playing Abby Sciuto in NCIS, recently discussed whether she plans to return to show business. Perrette, 55, has been retired for several years now, but fans hoped that she would someday return to play Abby again or move on to other projects. Unfortunately, those who wish to see her act again will be disappointed in what she had to say.
Perrette states she’s retired for good
Speaking with Hello! Magazine, Pauley Perrette stated that she will “never again” return to acting. While her issues with NCIS co-star Mark Harmon are well known, Perrette’s bad experiences on NCIS aren’t the reason behind her desire to stay retired.
She explained:
“[…] I’m a different person now, and I want to be here for it – the good and the bad and the painful. I want to be me all the time, and it takes a good amount of courage for me to say that to myself, but it’s authentically how I feel.”
Perrette went on to explain that acting was like a drug to her and that she used it as an escape. She feels like returning to the business “would be taking away from this life of true authenticity that I’m living 100% of the time.”
After Perrette left NCIS in 2018, she went on to star in the CBS sitcom Broke in 2020. However, the series only lasted one season, and she officially announced her retirement on July 7, 2020.
One notable omission during the interview was a mention of Perrette’s health. She suffered a stroke in September 2021 and is quoted as stating she’s “totally OK now.” However, fans remain concerned as the effects of a stroke can be extremely debilitating.
Of course, “never again” is hardly a definitive statement in Hollywood. Despite her assurances to the contrary, fans continue to hope she’ll return someday.
