The Real Story Behind the Beautiful Birthmark on ‘NCIS: LA’ Star Daniela Ruah’s Eye
Daniela Ruah has a birthmark on her eye called nevus of Ota.
The NCIS: LA star has opened up about her “trademark” in the past, and if it has affected her career.
Daniela Ruah is one of our favorite leading ladies for many reasons: Her character, Kensi’s, adorable marriage with Deeks on NCIS: LA; her real-life relationship with Eric Christian Olsen, who plays her on-screen husband; and her ability to kick major you-know-what on the popular CBS show, are just a few.
But the Portuguese-American actress is also a major style and beauty icon because — well — she’s gorgeous! And one of the most unique characteristics we love about Daniela are her eyes. If you look closely enough, you may notice that one appears darker than the other.
“It’s a birthmark called nevus of Ota,” she explained to Esquire in 2011. “It covers the whole white of my eye and darkens it. The square of the eye, the white part, is completely dark on my right eye, not just the iris. It’s very common in Asian people but quite rare in Caucasians. It doesn’t affect my vision or anything like that.”
She added that sometimes her appearance gets Photoshopped. “It drives me crazy. This is my eye, my little trademark,” she said.
Fortunately, it seems most people throughout her career have found her distinctive difference as beautiful as we do. “It starts the conversation, if anything. But I don’t think it’s ever gotten me a job or lost me a job,” Daniela said.
Still, she sometimes has to make a few tweaks on set. “When we’re shooting, sometimes they need to light my eye in a slightly different way," she explained. "Otherwise, it looks like there’s a big shadow over it.”
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