So, About That Steamy NCIS: Origins Swimming Pool Scene: 'We Were Freezing Our T-s Off!' Star Shares

NIS Special Agents Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Lala Dominguez may have (ahem) warmed up to each other in a whole new way in CBS' NCIS: Origins Season 1 finale, but for actors Austin Stowell and Mariel Molino, the temperature there on-set was anything but steamy.

When filming the swimming pool scene in which Gibbs and Lala nearly shared a first kiss, "We were freezing our t–s off!" Molino shared with TVLine.

The swimming pool scenes (including Lala's initial, solitary pool hop) were filmed on Feb. 27 at a home near the Paramount Studios lot in Hollywood, Calif., and very late at night — when even temperate Los Angeles can deliver a big chill.

"That was a night shoot at 1 am going into 2 am, so it was really cold," Molino, a TVLine Performer of the Week honorable mention for the season finale, recalled. To stay warm, the actress in between takes would quickly exit the pool, "where our special effects was blasting a massive heater. I would warm up and then go into the pool again."

The native of the San Diego area admitted with a laugh that "everyone would make fun of me, of course, because I'm just such a weakling for any type of cold temperature." Even so, she very much enjoyed her first dip into the pool, where Lala simply (and stealthily!) decompressed by quietly floating around on her back.

"Getting to swim around for fun was just a delight," Molino effused. As an actor, she noted, "I can't say I've done that before!"

TVLine readers gave the NCIS: Originals finale, as well as all of Season 1, an average grade of "A."

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