Why Maxine Lautner From NCIS Season 20 Episode 4 Looks So Familiar

"NCIS" Season 20, Episode 4 is here and features quite an interesting scenario for the Major Case Response Team. Titled "Leave No Trace," the episode involves a body found inside an outhouse within a local National Park. While investigating the scene, the team receives assistance from Gabe Winchester (Caleb Alexander Smith), a federal agent from the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB), and the ex-boyfriend of Jessica Knight (Katrina Law). Naturally, this causes some issues throughout the whole episode for both Jessica and Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen), as they have unofficially been together since the end of Season 19. Despite Gabe's intent on winning Jessica back and a tense conversation with Jimmy, Gabe ultimately backs down and proves crucial in solving the case.

However, Jimmy and Jessica aren't the only ones having personal issues throughout the episode either. We find out early on that Alden Parker (Gary Cole) is actually an experienced bird watcher, and is actually on the ISB's watchlist after climbing over a fence at a National Park to snap a picture of a rare bird. Even Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) has his own distractions, as he auctioned himself at the school Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) goes to. He prepares to go on a tour around NCIS headquarters with someone who is presumably a dad named Max Lautner. Max turns out to be Maxine Lautner, a single mom at the school played by actress Nicola Posener.

Not quite sure where you've seen Posener before? Here are her biggest roles to date that you may know her from.

Although Nicola Posener has been acting since 2005, with her first role being a guest spot on "The Mysti Show," it's arguable that her first notable part wasn't really until she was cast for a few episodes of "House of Anubis." Anyone who grew up in the early-to-mid 2000s might remember the show airing on Nickelodeon from 2011 to 2013, following a group of teens at an English boarding school that is trying to solve the mystery of their missing friend. Posener plays the role of Chelsea on the show, a girl who attends the same boarding school and catches the eye of Jerome Clark (Eugene Simon). Posener appeared as Chelsea during a three-episode stint during Season 1 before moving on to other projects.

Although it was canceled after Season 3, the show can still be watched if you have a Paramount+ subscription. It was a shame that it was scrapped at the time, as many fans have voiced their love for the series, noting it was one of the more "adult" shows Nickelodeon had at the time.

Although they weren't necessarily blockbusters that hit the big screen back in 2014 through 2016, "Mythica: A Quest for Heroes," "Mythica: The Darkspore" and "Mythica: The Necromancer," "Mythica: The Iron Crown," and "Mythica: The God Slayer" were direct-to-video fantasy films that drew a decent fanbase. The story follows a slave and aspiring magician named Marek (Melanie Stone) who partners with a priestess named Teela, played by Nicola Posener, as they gather a group of warriors and thieves to find Teela's sister and defeat The Necromancer. Posener plays the role of Teela in all five films and is the "healer" of the group.

Although there isn't really a critical consensus for the films, audiences seemed to enjoy the first film quite a bit, as it has a 69% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The movies are also free to watch on Pluto TV, and you can find DVD box sets on Amazon. These films continued to add to Posener's resume, which may have gotten her more opportunities nearing the end of the 2010s.

In 2018, Nicola Posener would get the opportunity to be the recurring character of Amelia on the CBS soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful." Her character is a nanny to the children of the Forresters and the Spencers and even has a crush on Thomas Forrester (Matthew Atkinson). Posener would continue to appear as Amelia throughout the series, but after 2020, she was only mentioned and implied to remain as the nanny off-screen. Being part of "The Bold and the Beautiful" is sure to get any actor notice, as many have gotten their start on soap operas.

It's relatively common knowledge that soap operas go on for what seems like forever, and "The Bold and the Beautiful" is still airing on CBS with its 36th season after starting in 1987. However, its sister series "The Young and the Restless" still has it beat. The show is currently on its 50th season after starting back in 1973. Aside from some other television series like "Age of the Living Dead" and the Shudder original movie "Shook" in 2021, appearing on the latest episode of "NCIS" is likely a big deal for Posener.

Although Posener's Maxine Lautner character might seem like just a one-time date for Nick Torres, there could be a possible future for her and Nick to get together, as he's currently available despite his chemistry with Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) from "NCIS: Hawai'i." Only time will tell.