Pauley Perrette, 56, has been living a quiet life in Los Angeles since leaving NCIS in 2018, where she played beloved forensic scientist Abby Sciuto for 15 years.

The U.S. Sun obtained rare photos of the actress on September 9 during an outing near her LA home. She appeared makeup-free, her signature black pigtails replaced with blonde and faded-red hair in a messy bun. Dressed in a white T-shirt, sweatpants and boots, she was seen setting up a ramp to help back her Volvo over a high curb.

Later, she wore a Yungblud T-shirt, jeans, a baseball cap, and sneakers as she took her dog to the vet, showing off her multiple arm tattoos.

After leaving NCIS, Perrette starred in the CBS sitcom Broke in 2020, though it lasted only one season. She has made occasional red-carpet appearances since then, including events in July 2023, March 2024, and most recently October 2024 for a Studio One Forever screening.

Her NCIS departure was marked by tension with co-star Mark Harmon. Perrette said she felt “unsafe” around him and later stated she would “never” return to the show. Reports indicated a conflict involving a dog belonging to Harmon that had bitten a crew member. CBS said it took Perrette’s concerns seriously and worked to resolve the matter.

In June 2020, Perrette announced her retirement on X, saying she was “happily retired.” She later shared that stepping out of the spotlight has allowed her to live more authentically.

During her Hollywood career, she also appeared on The Drew Carey Show, Almost Famous, and several other projects.