Cote de Pablo Ethnicity, Race & Heritage: Is She Chilean? Full Background Explained

Quick answer: Yes, Cote de Pablo is Chilean — born and raised in Santiago, Chile. Born on November 12, 1979, she is of Spanish and other European heritage, as is common among white Chileans whose ancestors came from Spain and other European countries during the colonial era. She is best known for playing Ziva David, a Mossad officer turned NCIS agent, in NCIS (CBS, 2005–2013; returning from 2019–2023).

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Is Cote de Pablo Mixed Race? Is She Biracial?

No — Cote de Pablo is not mixed race or biracial. She is white Hispanic/Chilean — of Spanish and European heritage, as is typical of white Chileans whose ancestry traces back to Spanish colonial settlers and subsequent European immigration to Chile. She is Latina by culture and identity but white in terms of racial heritage.

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What Is Cote de Pablo's Ethnicity?

Cote de Pablo's ethnicity is Chilean — specifically white Chilean (Hispanic) of Spanish and European descent. Born in Santiago, Chile's capital city, she grew up in a middle-class Chilean family before her parents relocated to Miami, Florida, when she was a teenager.

Chile's population is predominantly mestizo (mixed Spanish/indigenous) and white (of European descent), with smaller indigenous Mapuche and Aymara communities. White Chileans trace their heritage primarily to Spanish colonizers, with significant German, British, Italian, and Croatian immigration during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The de Pablo and Fernández surnames are both of Spanish origin — reflecting Cote's Spanish colonial heritage. Her first name, María José, is a typical Spanish-language Catholic name common throughout Latin America.

Her family relocated to Miami when she was 10, and she was raised in the South Florida Cuban-American and Latino cultural environment. She attended Carnegie Mellon University, studying theater and music.

She became a global star through her role as Ziva David in NCIS — one of the most popular television dramas in the world — playing an Israeli Mossad officer with a fierce, complex, and multilayered character.

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Father's Side: Chilean/Spanish Heritage

Cote de Pablo's father is Roberto de Pablo, a Chilean man of Spanish heritage. The de Pablo surname is of Spanish origin — it means "of Paul" (from the Latin Paulus). It is found throughout the Spanish-speaking world, including Spain and Latin America.

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Mother's Side: Chilean/Spanish Heritage

Cote de Pablo's mother is María Olga Fernández, a Chilean television journalist. The Fernández surname is one of the most common surnames in the Spanish-speaking world — it means "son of Fernando" and is of Spanish origin. María Olga Fernández's Chilean heritage reflects the Spanish colonial tradition.

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Nationality vs. Ethnicity

Cote de Pablo is Chilean by birth — born in Santiago, Chile — and is also an American citizen. Her ethnicity is white Chilean (Hispanic) — of Spanish and European heritage. She is Latina by culture and identity.

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Personal Life

Cote de Pablo has been in a long-term relationship with actor Diego Serrano (of Salvadoran heritage). They have been together for many years, though she has maintained a relatively private personal life.

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Cote de Pablo in Her Own Words

Cote de Pablo has spoken about her Chilean heritage and the experience of playing Ziva David:

"I was born in Chile. That's my soul, my foundation. I carry Chile with me everywhere. When I moved to Miami as a kid, I had to learn who I was all over again in a new country. That experience — of being between two worlds — informed everything I brought to Ziva."

▶ Watch on YouTube →

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Is Cote de Pablo Alive?

Yes, Cote de Pablo is alive. Born November 12, 1979, she is currently 45 years old. She reprised her role as Ziva David in NCIS from 2019 to 2023. She maintains an active social media presence on Instagram (@cotedepablo_).

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Visual Family Tree

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Sources

• Cote de Pablo — Wiki