Daniela had a quick chat with Malibu Magazine recently, nothing related on the show but more about her opinions on life and art.

More than just a successful actress, Daniela Ruah, who currently stars as Special Agent Kensi Blye on NCIS: Los Angeles, is an outstanding member of the Portuguese Jewish community. Born in Boston and raised in Portugal, she speaks three languages fluently and has studied performing arts in Lisbon, London and New York. She landed her first acting role on a soap opera at age 16 and worked on several television shows, short films and theatrical productions. Adding to her already impressive acting career, Ruah won the Portuguese edition of Dancing with the Stars and was nominated for Best TV Action Female Actress in the 2010 Teen Choice Awards.

Name one person you most admire, past or present, and why?
I admire a few people, but the first that comes to mind is Paul Newman. He led a healthy family life, had a successful lasting career and gave back to the world by investing time and money into diverse charities.

How would you define happiness?
Happiness is an ever-evolving feeling that changes as my perspective on life evolves and changes. At this time, I am most happy having something to strive toward, an objective in life whether it’s professional or not. So, I guess, in a way, I enjoy a sense of incompletion. When we have everything we want, we become stagnant. Later in life, it’ll probably be the opposite. Having no regrets and feeling I’ve reached all my goals will make me very happy.

How would you define the role of art in modern society?
Visual art has developed massively over time. It is a substitution for words, a depiction of a moment in time, history. Once a craft meant only for the most elite, in modern society, it is a subject available to the masses. There is far too much to be discussed to fit in this interview!

What is the best career advice you’ve ever received, and who gave it to you?
My parents, by a long shot. They have always given me good, healthy advice, but above all, they made sure I was psychologically prepared for the business I work in and the pressures it can put on a young actress.

What artist (musician, poet, painter, etc.) has had the greatest impact on your life and how?
Eric Clapton, Dire Straits and Bon Jovi have definitely marked different stages of my life. They, per se, have not influenced me, but they trigger memories of specific times.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Food!

How would you like to be remembered?
How morbid! I think I’m a little young to be concerned about that.

Favorite all-time …
Song: “Nothing Else Matters” (Metallica), “Ó Gente da Minha Terra” (Mariza)
Movie: Kramer vs. Kramer, Tootsie, Social Network, True RomancePainting: A recent find on my friends wall, The Business Man’ by Oleg Zatler
Book: Most fiction and nonfiction crime books
TV Show: Friends, House, The Cosby Show

How would you define love?
Love is such a dichotomy of an emotion. It can make you feel like you’re on top of the world or like you’ve hit rock bottom depending on the situation. For me, the words that always accompany love are trust, companionship and, above all, honesty — this goes for family, friends and lovers.

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be and why?
I would change intolerance, the fact that we so often try to impose our ideals and principles onto other people/cultures (and vice versa) rather than allow people to live and let live. This in itself is contradictory as I am now imposing my own view of how things should be. However, knowing it is never that simple and so many variables come into play, I do believe tolerance would make this world a little bit of a better place.

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judy     March 13, 2011     News     Reply

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