AceShowbiz - In a recent interview with Hello! magazine, former "NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service" star Pauley Perrette has reiterated her steadfast decision to retire from acting. Perrette, who captivated audiences as the perky goth forensic scientist Abby Sciuto on CBS's "NCIS" from 2003 to 2018, has made it clear that her acting days are behind her.

Perrette's departure from the show wasn't without drama. Executive producer Charles Floyd Johnson revealed that there was an incident involving Mark Harmon's dog, which reportedly bit someone on set. Perrette, a staunch advocate for animal rights, felt increasingly unsafe bringing her concerns to light and ultimately decided that it was time to move on. "At the end of that year, she just felt like it wasn't working for her anymore, and it was time to move on," Johnson said.

Perrette then took on the lead role in the CBS sitcom "Broke", which was canceled after a single season in 2020. Shortly thereafter, she announced her official retirement from acting. Addressing her departure from the entertainment industry, Perrette said, "I'm not ungrateful for the benefits that it gave to me but I'm a different person now and I want to be here for it - the good and the bad and the painful."

Perrette has since dedicated her time to working on documentaries that resonate with her principles, notably serving as an executive producer on Studio One Forever, which chronicles the history of Los Angeles' iconic gay nightclub. In her Hello! interview, she emphasized her newfound quest for authenticity, explaining, "At this point in my life, I have this deep need to find authenticity in everything, and being an actor, especially at certain points in my life, was a great escape; it's like a drug because I didn't have to be me, I could be somebody else."

She further elaborated, "For me, going back to being an actor would be taking away from this life of true authenticity that I'm living 100 percent of the time." Her statements make it clear that Perrette is content with leaving acting behind to pursue more genuine endeavors.

Despite her absence, the impact of her work remains. For over a decade, Perrette was a fixture in American primetime television, garnering a massive fan base with her unique style and compelling performance. However, as she embraces a life centered on authenticity and real stories, she urges fans to respect her decision. "I want to be me all the time, and it takes a good amount of courage for me to say that to myself but it's authentically how I feel," she said.

So while "NCIS" continues to thrive, recently renewed for its 22nd season, fans shouldn't hold their breath for an Abby Sciuto comeback. Pauley Perrette has closed that chapter of her life for good, opting instead for a path that allows her to be fully herself, both on and off the screen.