After years away from the spotlight, Pauley Perrette has finally broken her silence — and what she’s revealed has stunned NCIS fans who followed her journey as the beloved forensic goth, Abby Sciuto. Now 60, Perrette is opening up about the personal and professional choices that led her to walk away from the series that made her a household name. For the first time, she’s candidly admitting what so many had long suspected about her exit — that it wasn’t just about creative differences, but about protecting her peace and rediscovering herself.

Perrette spoke with unfiltered honesty about the toll fame took on her, describing the intense pressures of maintaining Abby’s quirky brilliance for over a decade. She admitted that behind her infectious smile and colorful wardrobe was a woman exhausted by the grind of Hollywood and eager to reclaim her life. “I loved Abby with all my heart,” she confessed, “but I had to choose Pauley over the show.”

Her words struck a deep chord with fans who had sensed for years that her departure carried unspoken weight. While she didn’t name names, Perrette hinted that tensions behind the scenes made her decision final — and that walking away was the best thing she ever did for her health and happiness.

Now thriving outside the limelight, Perrette says she’s found joy in simplicity, advocacy, and self-acceptance. “For the first time in forever,” she said with a smile, “I’m not acting anymore — I’m just living.”