Finding the right images of Emily Wickersham feels like a trip through TV history. One minute you're looking at a grainy shot from The Sopranos in 2006, and the next, you’ve scrolled into a high-definition 2026 update about her shock return to NCIS. She’s one of those rare actors who basically grew up on camera, yet managed to keep a massive chunk of her life totally private. Honestly, it’s kind of impressive.
Most people just know her as Eleanor Bishop. They see the blonde hair, the tactical vest, and that desk at NCIS headquarters. But if you look closer at the photos from her actual life—the ones she posts herself or the professional shoots she’s done for brands like Doen—you see someone way more nuanced than just a TV agent. She’s gone from a long-haired "girl next door" to a fashion-forward mom with a sharp blonde bob and a very clear sense of self.
Why images of Emily Wickersham are trending again in 2026
If you’ve noticed a sudden spike in searches for images of Emily Wickersham, it’s not a coincidence. After four years away from the spotlight to focus on her family, she literally broke the internet (or at least the procedural TV corner of it) in late 2025. Her character, Ellie Bishop, made a surprise appearance in the NCIS Season 23 fall finale.
The images from that episode were... intense.
Forget the quirky analyst who ate snacks at her desk. The 2026 version of Bishop looks like she’s seen some things. Executive producer Steven D. Binder recently mentioned that she’s "not the same person." The promo shots show a hardened operative who’s been doing "deadly work" in foreign lands. It’s a huge shift from the 172 episodes of footage we previously had of her.
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The visual evolution: From Rhiannon to Bishop
It’s easy to forget that Emily’s first big break was on The Sopranos. If you dig up those old stills, you’ll see her as Rhiannon Flammer. She was just a kid then, really.
Then came the movies:
- I Am Number Four (2011)
- Gone (2012)
- Definitely, Maybe (2008)
By the time she landed NCIS in 2013, her look was established. But even during those eight years, she changed. You can track her time on the show just by looking at her hair and the way she carried herself. She started as a nervous NSA analyst and ended as a literal action star.
Motherhood and the "Identity Crisis" chop
In an interview with The Bare Magazine, Emily actually talked about how her look changed after leaving the show. She’d always been a "long-haired girl." But after having her sons—Cassius in 2021 and Zephyr in late 2024—she went through what she called a "good identity crisis."
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She chopped her hair into a blonde bob.
She mentioned that she felt taller and more like herself with the shorter hair. You can see this shift in her brand ambassador work for Doen. The photos there are feminine but mixed with masculine pieces. It’s a far cry from the utilitarian suits she wore as Special Agent Bishop.
Where to find the most authentic photos
If you're looking for high-quality, legitimate images of Emily Wickersham, you have to be careful about where you click. The web is full of low-res screenshots and fan edits that don't really do her justice.
- Instagram: This is her most direct connection to fans. It’s where she shared the news of her departure in 2021 and where she posts glimpses of her life with her husband, actor James Badge Dale.
- Editorial Shoots: Search for her work with The Bare Magazine or her recent features as a Doen ambassador. These are usually the most "artistic" photos of her.
- Stock Agencies: For red carpet stuff, sites like Getty Images or Alamy have the most comprehensive archives. You can see her transition from the 2014 Monte-Carlo Television Festival to her more recent 2025/2026 press tours.
- Network Promos: CBS still has the best high-res "Bishop" photos.
The truth about her 2026 return
There’s been some confusion lately about whether she’s back for good. The images of her on set with Wilmer Valderrama (Torres) definitely sparked rumors of a full-time return. But for now, it seems like a limited arc.
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Binder has been pretty open about the fact that this storyline is about "closure." Whether that’s the kind of closure fans want is another story. The latest news suggests her character might be in some serious legal trouble, which explains why the recent images of her look so much darker and more somber than her early years on the show.
Managing your own Emily Wickersham collection
If you’re a fan or a content creator looking to use her images, remember a few things about copyright and quality.
First, don’t just grab stuff from Google Images. Most of those are owned by photographers or networks. If you’re just looking for a wallpaper, that’s fine, but for anything else, you want to stick to official sources.
Second, pay attention to the dates. Emily is 41 now. A lot of "recent" search results actually show photos from 2015. If you want to see what she looks like today, you have to look for the Season 23 NCIS promos or her 2025 social media posts.
She’s also very vocal about her skincare routine these days. She’s mentioned using "super clean" products and getting microneedling done at places like Carasoin in LA. You can really see the results in her recent close-up portraits—her skin looks incredible, even as she talks about the "inevitability" of aging.
Actionable insights for fans
- Check the source: If you see a "new" photo of Emily, check her official Instagram first. If it's not there or in a major trade publication like TV Insider, it might be an old photo or an AI-generated fake.
- Follow her brand partners: Since she isn't doing as many movies right now, her fashion collaborations are the best place to see her current style.
- Watch the Season 23 re-runs: If you missed her return, the official CBS site has the best stills from her comeback episode.
Emily Wickersham has always been a bit of an enigma. She’s a major TV star who prefers a quiet life in New York with her kids and her husband. That’s probably why her images are so popular—there’s a genuine quality to them that you don’t always get with "manufactured" celebrities. Whether she stays on NCIS or moves on to a new project, her visual journey remains one of the most interesting evolutions in Hollywood today.