'NCIS' Agent Eleanor Bishop Became a Mom & Tried Out Another Hair Color Since Leaving the Show

• "NCIS" actress Emily Wickersham experienced a lot of changes in her life since leaving the show.
• The star found happiness when she welcomed a child with her partner and once experimented with a new hair color.
• Before her current relationship, Wickersham was married to another man, who went on to become a dad with his new partner.

Hollywood actress Emily Wickersham, 39, born in Kansas on April 26, 1984, is well known for her role as Special Agent Eleanor Bishop on the popular series "NCIS." She joined the long-running show after fan favorite Cote de Pablo left.

De Pablo's exit caused quite the shake-up with the show, especially concerning production, which had already been well underway when her contract negotiations broke off after spending eight years on the series. Being careful not to replace Ziva David (de Pablo's character) immediately, the series' showrunner, Gary Glasberg, adopted a strategic transition.

Glasberg aimed to develop the new agent as distinctively different from David as possible. A plethora of actresses coming from London, New York, and Los Angeles were taken into consideration for the role.

From that talent pool of a hundred or so, four were flown in to do on-screen auditions with the series' lead, Mark Harmon, and other actors. Wickersham was one of the actresses who had made it to the final four, and according to Glasberg:

"...she does this fantastic scene with Mark Harmon that left us all looking saying, 'I think that's it.' "

The college dropout who took acting classes and did public speaking to face her fears was also tested off-camera by her fellow castmates. Sean Murray, who plays Special Agent Timothy McGee, described how even when Wickersham was vetted in between scenes and during lunch breaks, she was more than able to tackle whatever was placed in front of her.

As an actress who scored her big break on one of the most-watched television shows, Wickersham loved getting to play her role. A couple of years ago, while being interviewed about her time on "NCIS," Wickersham gushed:

"I really love it, you know, it's been really fun. I've been on the...show for five seasons, and it is a really awesome job to get to do every day."

Cut, Print, Moving On: Leaving ‘NCIS’ and Divorcing Her Ex-husband Three Years Before

After nearly eight years on the show and 172 episodes, Wickersham retired from her role and made her exit. In May 2021, the "Gone" talent took to social media to announce that she left "NCIS."

She posted a series of three black and white pictures, all showing her in different moments on set. The pictures showed some behind-the-scenes shots of Wickersham in character.

The first two showed Wickersham beaming broadly, and the last image depicted her in a serious chat with what is assumed to be the show's director. Her heartfelt caption revealed how grateful she was to be a part of the series and how much she enjoyed getting the opportunity to work with amazing people.

Given all the exciting new developments that have taken shape in her life since her time on "NCIS," it's safe to say that Wickersham has undergone a lot of changes.

Wickersham also made mention of how rare it was for an actor to experience consistency in a business that is often finicky. Another part of her message read:

"...I've been lucky enough to be a part of a show where I got to show up and act and laugh and learn with wonderful people. A moment in time I surely won't forget. Thank you CBS and NCIS for including me in a part of television history..."

During her time on "NCIS," Wickersham was also married to musician Blake Hanley. However, the pair ended up divorcing in December 2018.

A year after the former couple divorced, Hanley went on to perform at a music festival after coming back home from living in Los Angeles with his ex-wife. In an interview, he candidly addressed how the divorce affected him. Of his split from Wickersham, the artist shared:

"Coming home after such a long time, it felt odd. I had gone through a lot of heartbreak. With everything I've gone through, it has been a year...it has been a journey."

However, sometime after their breakup, Hanley was able to move on with another woman. He also became a father when he and his partner welcomed a daughter together.

Emily Wickersham's Life after 'NCIS': Finding Love Again, Becoming a Mom and a New Hair Color

Like her ex, Wickersham was able to move on and find love again. These days, the former "NCIS" star is in a relationship with fellow actor James Badge Dale.

The lovebirds also welcomed a son, Cassius, in December 2021. Of his arrival, doting mama bear Wickersham swooned:

"...You are more than @jamesbadgedale and I could ever have imagined ❤️ We are so in love with you."

Given all the exciting new developments that have taken shape in her life since her time on "NCIS," it's safe to say that Wickersham has undergone a lot of changes. Another element that played to the changes she has since experienced was when she decided to experiment with a new hair color.

Throughout her time on the show, her fans knew her for her distinctive blonde hair. However, last year, the "I Am Number Four" star surprised the public with a brunette look.

She posted pictures of herself on her social media, which showed her usual blonde do fashioned into a dark brown color. One of her captions read, "[D]o brunettes have more fun?"

Although Wickersham kept her hair a dark brown color for a while, she ultimately returned to her blonde tresses in July of this year.

Speaking of this year, the now-blonde-again mom and her beau will soon be celebrating their little boy's second birthday at the end of December.