Emily Wickersham

Learning on the New York sets

Emily Wickersham wasn't chasing instant fame when she started working in the entertainment industry. Her first real break came in 2006 with a brief appearance on David Letterman. Shortly after, she landed the role of Rhiannon Flammer in the final season of The Sopranos.

That job on the HBO series was a crash course in acting. She didn't have many lines, but being around James Gandolfini helped her understand the discipline a first-class production demands. During those formative years in New York, she also appeared in projects such as The Bronx Is Burning.

That shoot opened the doors to Los Angeles for her.

Between 2011 and 2012, she took a string of supporting roles in mainstream films. She appeared in the science fiction movie I Am Number Four and in the thriller Gone alongside Amanda Seyfried. These were small parts, but they helped casting directors start noting her name for future lead roles.

The challenge of replacing a fan favorite

The real pressure came in 2013. CBS was looking for an actress to fill the gap left by Cote de Pablo on NCIS. The challenge was huge, because the show's fans were very protective of the original cast and didn't easily accept newcomers.

Wickersham was cast to play Special Agent Eleanor Bishop. Her initial contract covered only three episodes, but the chemistry she showed with Mark Harmon immediately won over the producers. They decided to make Bishop a permanent member of the main cast.

The bet paid off.

Over the course of eight seasons on the show, her character went from a NSA analyst with quirky habits to a seasoned field agent. Wickersham brought a fresh energy to Gibbs's team and helped audiences accept the transition without any drop in ratings.

Leaving the media radar

In May 2021, the actress announced she was leaving the series after the end of the eighteenth season. It was a decision she made for personal reasons and to seek a professional change of scenery. After filming 172 episodes of the same show, creative burnout is a reality for any performer.

That same year, she began a relationship with actor James Badge Dale. The couple chose to keep a low profile, away from Hollywood events and constant red carpets. But the entertainment press followed them when they decided to start a family on the East Coast.

In December 2021, her son Cassius was born.

Although she stepped back from major television productions, she kept a low-profile presence in independent projects. Her last appearance in the CBS police franchise was the episode Rule 91, originally aired on May 25, 2021.