NCIS star Pauley Perrette’s Tattoos: Are They Real or Just For NCIS?

Reader Sally M. from Atlanta asks: “Pauley Perrette is one of my favorite NCIS characters. Are her tattoos real or part of her costume?”

They’re a mix of both! “The spiderweb on my character’s neck and the cross on her back are applied by the CBS makeup department,” explains Perrette, the star of the hit Tuesday night drama. “The producers wanted some tattoos that would always be visible, no matter what I was wearing.”

So, how much actual body art does Perrette have? “Honestly, I’ve lost count!” jokes the 44-year-old actress.

“But there’s one I cherish the most,” Perrette reveals. “It’s on the inside of my left ring finger. It’s the inscription ’12:21,’ which references my favorite Bible verse, Romans 12:21: ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’ It’s my personal mantra, a constant reminder I see every day.”