Cote de Pablo was born in Santiago, Chile, but was raised in Miami. Cote attended Arvida Middle School in Miami, Florida, and later in life attended Carnegie Mellon University. She graduated in 2000 after studying music theater. Whilst at Carnegie Mellon, Cote appeared in several theater productions, including "Indiscretions", "The Fantasticks", "The House of Bernarda Alba", "And The World Goes 'Round", "A Little Night Music" and "Cloud Techtonics".

In 2005 she made her Broadway debut as Dolores Fuentes in The Mambo Kings, and is currently starring in the hit CBS navy crime series, NCIS, as Mossad Officer Ziva David alongside Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Sean Murray and Lauren Holly.

Cote is currently living in Los Angeles, and spends her free time writing and performing original music.