For 15 seasons, Pauley Perrette was one of the most recognizable faces on NCIS. As Abby Sciuto, her pigtails, gothic style and huge personality made her a fan favorite from the show’s earliest years.

After leaving NCIS in 2018, Perrette briefly returned to television with the sitcom Broke. Then she stepped away from acting — and eventually made something very clear to fans still hoping to see Abby again: she has no intention of returning to acting.

Perrette explained that she is grateful for what acting gave her, but her priorities have changed. She said she now has a deep desire for authenticity and wants to experience her own life rather than escape into another character.

Instead of chasing another television role, Perrette has put energy into documentary work and causes important to her. For longtime NCIS viewers, that makes the message bittersweet: Abby may always be part of the show’s history, but Pauley Perrette has chosen a very different chapter for herself.