Zoe McLellan didn't want to make any big changes to Meredith Brody in the second season of "NCIS: New Orleans," so she decided to wait until season three to grow her hair out. The same day she floated the idea to the show's hairstylist Margeaux Fox, executive producer Gary Glasberg surprised McLellan by suggesting a new 'do, but for this season.
"Gary was in town and the first thing he says to me is, 'Hey Zoe, what do you think about growing your hair out,'" the 40-year-old actress told Headlines & Global News in an exclusive interview. As if she hadn't thought about it, McLellan responded, "Oh, what a great idea!"
The new look has earned Brody the nickname "Luscious Locks" by her fellow NCIS agents Christopher LaSalle (Lucas Black) and Sonja Percy (Shalita Grant), but it also reflects the agent's more relaxed approach to life since moving to the Big Easy.
"She's loosened up a little bit," McLellan said about her character. "LaSalle makes fun of her, but I feel he helps her lighten up a little bit. She's not so by the book anymore and New Orleans does this to people. It really does."
The Goddess responsible for my "luscious locks"! pic.twitter.com/EpAlrVMRNo
— Zoe McLellan (@zoe_mclellan) August 13, 2015
She continued, "I feel as a woman, there's something that happens when we shift our hairstyle, when it's drastic. This is a pretty snappy 'do and I think it's bringing that side of me out. The thing I love about it too is it's sexy but it's still professional."
McLellan met a few female NCIS agents when she first got the part and immediately thought, "These women are really beautiful." She admired how they balanced their femininity while still maintaining a tough, strong presence on the job, qualities she also sees in Brody, a sexy kickass agent herself.
"I like that I'm still feeling like a woman. Like a goddess," she joked. "Sometimes the kick ass part, I literally feel like I'm playing a joke on people. Am I really getting away with this."
"NCIS: New Orleans" also celebrates the culture and people of its title city and McLellan often hears from New Orleanians who appreciate the show's depiction of their city.
"I get the most feedback from people that are here and my favorite thing to hear is, 'You're doing the city proud. Thank you for being here.' And that feels really good," she said. "They are proud to see their city in a beautiful light, the locations that they love and obviously, this city has been through a lot. It's this fun new energy out there on TV and I think people really, really like that."
"NCIS: New Orleans" airs on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on CBS.
