Jennifer Beals is new to the NCIS universe, but she is certain there is one thing NCIS: New York excels at more than the shows that came before it.
The actress, who plays Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) Robyn Wells, pointed to costar LL Cool J — real name James Todd Smith who often goes by “Todd” while on set and around close friends — as their secret sauce.
“We have in Todd, not only a great leader, [but] a person who makes space for the cast and the crew and and everyone in between,” Beals, 62, exclusively told Us ahead of the Tuesday, November 10, episode of the CBS show. “But we have the greatest DJ I would argue of all the NCIS franchises.”
Beals gushed over LL Cool J, 58, and his onset persona after he reprised his NCIS: Los Angeles role as Sam Hanna on the 2026 spinoff series.
“He plays music all day long. We have dance parties. It’s phenomenal,” Beals shared. “The atmosphere on set is just so alive. And obviously, he’s not playing music when we have, you know, more sensitive scenes.”
The Flashdance star noted, “He’s a really good DJ and [knows] how to cultivate the vibe on set. It’s incredible. Everybody’s really excited to go to work.”
Beals explained that although being the newest NCIS iteration is a heavy weight to carry, the show’s cast doesn’t “think of it that way.”
Instead the New York squad takes it “one scene at a time,” according to the L Word alum.
Beals told Us that outside of LL Cool J’s DJ skills, his dynamic with Scott Caan — who plays his new partner at NCIS’ New York office, Nick Schaeffer — is authentic to the actors’ bond.
“We’re joking around all the time,” she said, confirming that LL Cool J and Caan’s “playful” relationship on screen is “100 percent” how they act when the cameras stop rolling.
When it comes to her character, Beals teased that there is much more lying under her calm, cool and collected demeanor as the team’s fearless leader.
“She comes from the SDNY,” she said of Robyn’s background in the Southern District of New York. “There are a lot of details that I don’t know yet, but we do know that she’s married.”
Beals revealed, “You’ll soon get to see what the relationship is like with her husband and what he’s like. You’ll also get to see someone from Robyn’s past that kind of challenges her ability to remain temperate.”
The actress added that Robyn being confronted with her past “poses some challenges for sure” as time wears on.
While Robyn is a “hard worker” who runs a tight ship, Beals hinted that her decision to work late at the office — with her dog — could be pegged to her home life.
“I wouldn’t doubt that she’s a Capricorn,” she joked. “But you’ll have to see [why she stays late]. I can’t let you know that.”
NCIS: New York airs on CBS Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET.
