Pauley Perrette is as Busy as Her Character Abby Sciuto

She is a musician, a published poet and writer, a spoken-word artist and a civil rights activist in addition to being an actress portraying a forensic scientist on NCIS.

Pauley Perrette was born in 1969 in New Orleans and has lived all over the southeastern United States. Her father's work with the phone company kept the family on the move.

An undergraduate student in sociology, psychology and criminal science, Perrette now portrays what was once her career goal: a forensic scientist. Perrette holds a Master's degree in criminal science.

But Perrette wanted a career performing. So she moved to New York City where she worked as a bartender. Being a bartender in New York City is like being a waiter or waitress in Los Angeles: you never know who you will meet or what you might be offered.

The bartending gig landed Perrette in some music videos and short films. But when she joined the cast of Steven Bochco's "Murder One," Perrette's acting career became a reality.

She appeared on "Frasier" and "The Drew Carey Show" playing one of Carey's girlfriends. Another stint on the short-lived "The Time of Your Life" starring Jennifer Love Hewitt followed.

Film was quick to follow as Perrette landed roles in "The Ring" (2002) and "Almost Famous" (2000). Being an independent spirit herself, Perrette also appeared in independent films "The Price of Kissing" (1997) and "A Moment of Grace" (2004), achieving top billing in the latter.

But television kept calling. Perrette had appearances on "Dawson's Creek" and "24" before landing the role that would make her one of the most quirky and recognizable characters on television. She appeared in two episodes of "JAG" as forensic scientist Abby Sciuto. NCIS was a spin-off of JAG and Perrette continued her portrayal of the offbeat, humorous but lovable goth character.

Although she plays a goth character on the show, Perrette is actually a blond. Every few days before beginning filming of NCIS, Perrette must undergo the dying of her roots so as not to expose the blond underneath. The large tattoos on her back must also be applied each time they will be exposed on camera. And the tattoo on her neck must be applied on a daily basis as well as this one is almost always seen on camera. [1]

Perrette has also made a couple of guest appearances on the NCIS spin-off, NCIS: Los Angeles.

In addition to all of this, Perrette has also produced a documentary about U.S. Civil Rights Attorney and author, Mark Lane.

She was lead singer in an all-female band "Lo-Ball" going by the name Pauley P. A song by Lo-Ball "Can't Get Me Down" was used in the movie Legally Blond. Perrette also recorded a song she co-wrote with Tom Polce, "Fear." This song was featured in a Season 6 episode of NCIS and is on the NCIS soundtrack.

Perrette has also donated to America's Most Wanted to add to the reward offered for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons who killed Shannon Paulk. Paulk was from Prattville, Alabama, close to where Perrette herself lived as a child.

Such a supporter of noble and charitable causes is Perrette, that, in lieu of gifts for her wedding, she asked guests to donate to charities they support.

And Perrette and, now husband, Michael Bosman support many charitable causes, including Project Angel Food, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and the Human Rights Council.

"We just kind of wanted it to be ... about an ideology of everybody and of generosity and community," Perrette says of her Valentine's Day nuptials. [2]

Perrette and Bosman were married on February 14, 2009, Valentine's Day.

Sources:

[1] NCIS DVD collection, Special Features, "The Women of NCIS"
[2] Entertainment Tonight
Variety