The Big Chill

As Newcomer Nick Torres, Wilmer Valderrama Steps Out From Undercover And Into The Spotlight

- Brooke Hauser

BEING THE LAST MAN TO THE PARTY is rarely a good thing, unless that party has been going on for 14 years and seen by millions of passionate fans worldwide. And Wilmer Valderrama’s addition to the NCIS cast this season has been a reason to cheer. Playing Special Agent Nick Torres, Valderrama gives new meaning to “NCIS: Most Wanted,” with his signature sexy smolder.

Offscreen, he is equally popular, bonding with fellow new cast member Jennifer Esposito, who plays Special Agent Alex Quinn, as well as costars Emily Wickersham and Mark Harmon, whom he describes as “a bud.”

We recently caught up with Valderrama to talk about fitting in with the cool kids, playing against type, and ordering his favorite dessert from co-star Esposito.

What’s it like being part of such a popular show with such a passionate fan base?

The reason to join was to disturb the peace a little bit and to go places where the show hasn’t gone before. The strength of the partnerships between me and Quinn [Esposito] and Gibbs [Harmon] has given existing fans and new fans something refreshing.

Nick has a dark side—did that appeal to you?

This is a type of agent that NCIS hasn’t really seen. There are very few of them at the NCIS world. And the undercover world really reached out at me: The character has to become the enemy in order to take the enemy down. Along the way, something carries over with each case and each character you become. And something in you gets forgotten, something in you chips away. That is who you really are.