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."

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."

Her sassy new haircut could also help Brody in the romance department, although McLellan hopes the "New Orleans" writers further explore her relationship with ex-fiance James Lathom (Luke Mably), who first appeared late in the first season.

"I really love that storyline because they're both married to their job and not necessarily looking for the traditional everyday relationship. But they love each other," McLellan said. "I really hope they bring him back in at some point because I think it's important to look at that as well. There are people out there who can relate."

When HNGN suggested Brody and LaSalle shared more of a brother-sister relationship in the first season, McLellan laughed because she's mostly heard the opposite. Fans often tell her, "Hey, is there a chance of Brody and LaSalle? They have such great chemistry."

Off screen, she and Black do share a brother-sister bond that might make an onscreen romance "weird," but she understands their chemistry. She also noted that the writers had stopped writing banter between them.

"I don't necessarily think that's the place they're going to. Still, I think there are people out there hoping. Maybe that's the point," McLellan said about the possible love connection. "I think [the writers are] going to bring a love interest in for him and for me."

McLellan credited the producers for putting together such a great cast that "genuinely cares about each other." That mutual respect sets the tone for the show's guest actors and directors who come on, and also helps keep everyone's spirits up on those late work nights.

"Usually there's like one bad egg. Or there's connections but not exactly someone you would sit at one in the morning, when you're on your 14th hour, still talking and laughing," she said. "I was just sitting in the air conditioned car, because it's scorching hot outside, and was just having a big old chat with Scott [Bakula] and Lucas. We're having a heart to heart, real-life conversation and looking at pictures of our kids and I thought, 'This is such a gift.'"

She pointed to the "NCIS" mothership for setting the example of great cast camaraderie, which has obviously worked for them as the original series moves into its 13th season. "It's incredible," McLellan said of the show that spun off "New Orleans."

The sole female agent on Pride's team last season, McLellan was thrilled the show added Shalita Grant's character full time so they could portray two strong women working together rather than against each other.

"It's rare and important for the bonding to happen. For them to write stories where we're looking out for each other and we're helping each other out and we're learning from each other because we've gotta do that. It's so important," she said. "I told [Grant] straight up I'm not okay with that. I don't believe in that. I don't think that that's a good message to send young girls if they watch the show... Let's celebrate our differences and then let's celebrate our common ground."

"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.