NCIS: Origins' Mariel Molino Tells (Not Quite) All About 'Her' — Lala 'Will Impact Gibbs' Path In A Major Way'

"This is a story I don't tell. This is the story... of her."

With those few words from Mark Harmon's narrator Gibbs, CBS' NCIS: Origins (airing Mondays at 10/9c) raised millions of eyebrows and got people looking at the prequel spinoff in a whole new way.

"Her," the camera made clear, is Special Agent Cecilia "Lala" Dominguez, played by Mariel Molino (whose previous TV credits include Promised Land and The Watchful Eye).

"The story [Gibbs is telling] is largely about Lala," NCIS: Origins co-showrunner David J. North affirmed for TVLine. "It's about a lot more than just Lala, but she is certainly a centerpiece of this story that we've never known, about how Gibbs became Gibbs."

TVLine spoke with Molino ahead of the season about Lala's origins, her dynamic with each NIS team member and her 1990s Julia Roberts mood board. Plus, via a Friday email exchange, she teases the mysterious untold story she finds herself in the middle of....

TVLINE | Out of all the agents there at the NIS office, your character is the most... what?
Ohh, that's a good question.... My character is probably the most observant.

TVLINE | In one of the early character descriptions, it said Lala has a dark sense of humor.
When we meet Lala, there's a very macabre scene around her, and she actually tells Gibbs (played by Austin Stowell), "Reminds me of when I was little." [Laughs] She definitely has at times a dry sense of humor and a dark sense of humor, which I love. I myself will definitely seize any opportunity to use humor, but hers is a bit more sarcastic, for sure.

TVLINE | When I was on-set, the prop guy did say that the series-opening crime scene was one of the wildest he had seen in his years working on NCIS shows.
I have to say, we were blown away, getting to act in this house that was basically burnt and reconstructed on a different space on the lot, outside, and yeah, it was pretty grizzly. It does a really good job of introducing Gibbs as this perfect person who could shed some light onto this specific crime.

TVLINE | Where does Lala hail from?
San Diego. She's a local girl. I'm also from San Diego, and it's funny because when I auditioned, the producers thought I was from New York. They were like, "You know, we're going to have to work on the accent and make sure it's from San Diego...." I was like, "Wait, no! I'm from San Diego!"

TVLINE | Where does Lala rank in terms of seniority on the team?
She outranks everyone except for Franks (Kyle Schmid), obviously. She's kind of like his right-hand agent when we meet the team. She's a little bit above Randy (Caleb Foote), which is only because of time; she's just been there longer. And because Gibbs is basically the probie, she also outranks him.

TVLINE | With which characters or characters would you say she has the most specific dynamic?
She has a very clear dynamic with Franks; they can have a lot of tension. I see it akin to the daughter or son who wants to always impress Dad and at the same time questions their authority and their judgement. She sees Franks as someone she looks up to, but he also frustrates her in a lot of ways, with how he makes some of his decisions.

She also has a very familial dynamic with Caleb's character, Randy, one that is relaxed, more comfortable. And she really looks to Vera Strickland (played by Diany Rodriguez) as a role model — as a woman, as a female agent, and as a friend — so she goes to her for advice.

TVLINE | It was said early on, when you were first cast, that Lala and Gibbs' story would be "filled with sparks." Have you seen that evidenced yet?
We've seen a spark, but I wouldn't say it's romantic thus far. [Chuckles] I think these sparks that are happening as of right now stem from tension and essentially frustration.

TVLINE | He challenges her? She challenges him?
She challenges him. She believes that he's not ready for this job, and she really questions his judgement. I think there's a little bit of insecurity there because she sees that he is a really smart, really sharp guy who in a way is kind of coming to take her spot. There's a bit of potentially mixed feelings, in terms of what his position or rank will end up being. Again, I expressed this familial relation with Franks, but [with Gibbs] it's like when there's a new sibling who all of a sudden gets all this attention. It's difficult for Lala, and we have to remember that this is 1990s, in a male-dominated field.

TVLINE | I was saying to the showrunners that two interesting things at play here will be the technology — other NCIS shows have conditioned us to expect a fingerprint to be ID'd within seconds — but also, as you said, male-female dynamics of the 1990s, which were wildly different.
Wildly different. And I can tell you, even as an actor, it's kind of a struggle trying to be tough, and direct, while also being compassionate and understanding yet fearing that that might come up as a weakness.

TVLINE | Because back then, a "tough" woman was labeled a b-i-t-c-h.
Exactly. And if you show more "female characteristics," then you could be labeled as not tough enough for the job.

TVLINE | When did you learn that the story Gibbs is telling us is an untold one, about "her" aka Lala? And do you know why it's gone untold, or only have theories?  
I learned that the story that Gibbs is telling was about "her" when I read the pilot. It was a surprise to me, too, and definitely something that piqued my interest in the character. Since then, [showrunners] Gina [Lucita Monreal] and David [J. North] have given me a little insight into where things are going and I can say that she is someone who will impact Gibbs' path in a major way. They are going to learn from one another and have to learn to trust each other despite their differences.

TVLINE | Before we go, what's the most 1990s thing you've gotten to wear so far?
Apart from my beeper, which sits right on my hip [Laughs]... I've tried to incorporate a lot of texture. I'm a big fan of Julia Roberts and her style in the 1990s, and she used a lots of vests with blouses or shirts underneath, so that's something that has been on my mood board since I started creating this character. And fortunately, it's one of the costumes that was well-received by our creative team. It's on the posters, so I'm excited about being able to implement something about her style that's also professional and wearable in this setting.

Want scoop on NCIS: Origins, or for any other TV show? Shoot an email to InsideLine@tvline.com, and your question may be answered via Matt's Inside Line!