Showrunners revealed the reason for her absence as Covid concerns and it was too risky to put the 76-year-old actress in undue harm – so they filmed in her driveway instead.
Hopefully, season 13 will provide viewers with insight into her secret mission and how to see how the crew will take it.
Hetty only returned in the season finale to bid farewell to Nell before she left for Tokyo and, although Nell didn’t explain the reason for her departure, she told Hetty it was a story for another time – which could potentially hint at her return.
NCIS: Los Angeles season 13 premieres on CBS in the USA on Sunday, October 10. A UK release date is yet to be announced
source: express.co.uk