Mariel Molino Unleashes Secrets of Pre-Kiss Nerves with Austin Stowell on NCIS: Origins
Mariel Molino and Austin Stowell faced a pressure cooker of nerves before their on-screen kiss in NCIS: Origins, and Molino's remedy? A cigarette and a Diet Coke.
Molino, 33, described the lead-up to the kiss as a giddy experience, likening it to the excitement of a first day at camp. The anticipation built over two years culminated in a moment that had everyone on edge—herself, Stowell, and the entire crew.
In the May 5 episode, the stakes were high as the Camp Pendleton office teetered on the brink of closure. The team explored various options to save it, including Molino's character Lala contemplating a move closer to Manny, which caught Gibbs (Stowell) off guard.
The climactic scene unfolded at Lala’s house, where the long-awaited kiss finally took place.
Molino teased that the romance between her character and Gibbs could take unexpected turns, hinting at the writers' penchant for surprises.
At the 2026 Tony Awards, Molino recounted how she and Stowell tackled their pre-kiss jitters. “Oh, we both went out and had a cigarette and a Diet Coke,” she laughed. “We were like, ‘Ok, this is happening, we need to, like, cut the tension here real quick.’”
With her first on-screen kiss now behind her, Molino is eyeing new challenges in her acting career. She revealed her ambition to tackle a knife fight in an upcoming role, expressing excitement about pushing her limits with complex action scenes.
As for Lala's future, Molino hopes for a season filled with fun and romantic tension. She envisions a dynamic where Lala and Gibbs navigate their relationship while keeping it under wraps due to their coworker status.
“I’m hoping to see that maybe we’re getting to hide in little closets and just make it, like, a torrid affair,” she added.
“In the foreseeable future, we can enjoy the ride a little bit and see what happens,” Molino previously teased regarding her character’s budding romance.