Exiting ‘NCIS’ Star Pauley Perrette Is the Most-Liked Female Star on Primetime TV (Exclusive)

Tony Maglio

Pauley Perrette may be leaving “NCIS” next Tuesday, May 8, after 15 years on the show, but the woman who has played goth forensic scientist Abby Sciuto since 2003 won’t be leaving America’s hearts anytime soon.

The actress’ departure deals a particularly tough blow to CBS when one considers that Perrette is the most-liked female primetime star on TV, according to the Q Scores Company.

The 49-year-old star also happens to be at the height of her popularity, with a whopping 44 percent of people surveyed identifying Perrette as among their favorite celebrities, TheWrap has learned.

Also Read: 'NCIS' Fans Beg Pauley Perrette to Stay With Show After She Teases Huge Twist

The average Q Score for a female star on primetime TV is 21. So not only is Perrette beloved by more than twice the percentage of Americans who identify her average contemporary as being among their faves, she blows away the closest female competitor.

Number 2 is Taraji P. Henson of Fox’s “Empire,” who has a killer 36 score — but that’s 8 points behind Perrette’s high-water mark.

Also Read: America's Most-Liked TV Media Personality Is ...

Here are the eight women who line up behind Perrette and Henson, all of whom rate well above average in Positive Q Scores:

3. Emilia Clarke, “Game of Thrones”: 35
4. Mariska Hargitay, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”: 34
5. Viola Davis, “How to Get Away With Murder”: 32
6. (tie) A.J. Cook, “Criminal Minds”: 31
6. (tie) Millie Bobby Brown, “Stranger Things”: 31
8. (tie) Paget Brewster, “Criminal Minds”: 29
8. (tie) Linda Hunt, “NCIS: Los Angeles”: 29
10. Kaley Cuoco, “The Bang Theory”: 27

Perrette’s Positive Q Score, a measure of how well liked she is among a cross-section of U.S. demographics, has grown from 42 percent in winter 2014 to 44 percent in winter 2018.

Also Read: America's Least-Liked TV Media Personality Is ...

Q Scores are data are based on quarterly surveys of consumers and used by various industries — including entertainment — to aid in decision-making, like choosing a personality for product endorsement.

Want to see a female primetime TV star who isn’t quite adored? Click here.

Perrette’s final “NCIS” episodes air tonight and next Tuesday, May 8, at 8/7c on CBS.

Related stories from TheWrap:

'NCIS' Fans Beg Pauley Perrette to Stay With Show After She Teases Huge Twist

'NCIS' Star Pauley Perrette Rejoices Over End to 'Lies' About Why She's Leaving Show

'NCIS' Star Pauley Perrette Fires Back Over 'Lies' About Why She's Exiting Show

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