Pauley Perrette’s Dramatic Departure from NCIS Unveiled
On a personal note, Perrette became engaged to former British Royal Marine turned aspiring actor Thomas Arklie on Christmas Day in 2011. However, she made it clear on multiple occasions, like many other celebrities at the time, that they would not tie the knot until same-sex marriage was legally recognized.
When the U.S. Supreme Court declared the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional on June 26, 2015, opening the door for gay couples to marry in every state, Perrette and other engaged stars saw a clear path to their long-awaited weddings.
“We have been engaged for four years because we campaigned for a federal marriage equality law, and that Friday was a surreal day,” explained Perrette, a vocal LGBTQ+ rights advocate, in an interview with FOX411 a month later. “My life as a civil rights activist and ally involved marching, speaking, donating, and rallying for years, and then suddenly, it was all over. It was a strange feeling.”
Although many of her gay friends were getting married, Perrette admitted she hadn’t really thought about her own wedding until then.
“There are certainly advantages to marriage,” Perrette acknowledged. “We have different insurance and other benefits. I considered how many same-gender couples who have been together for 25 years could also benefit. So, for me, it’s now an exciting prospect.”