A to Zim: 'NCIS: New Orleans' Star Zoe McLellan Answers Our 26 Burning Questions
The actress (a.k.a. Special Agent Meredith Brody) takes our rapid-fire Q&A.
Zoe McLellan is no stranger to small-screen military crime investigations and police procedurals. On NCIS: New Orleans, the TV spinoff of parent show NCIS, the actress plays Special Agent Meredith Brody, the mid-western transplant who comes to NOLA in search of a fresh start. If the actress looks familiar, it's because longtime NCIS fans probably recognize her as Petty Officer Jennifer Coates on the legal series JAG. Most recently, the actress starred on the soapy ABC comedy-drama Dirty Sexy Money.
With the Season 1 finale of NCIS: New Orleans fast approaching (May 12th), the actress took time to answer our 26 burning questions, like what it's like to film the freshman series in The Big Easy, and play someone as bad-ass and tough-talking as Meredith Brody.
Advice you have for anyone trying to make it as an actor:
Be yourself.
Best part about playing Meredith "Merri" Brody on NCIS: New Orleans:
Bonding with the cast and crew. I love this tribe.
Co-star (past or present) that really made an impression on you and why:
Scott Bakula. He's kind to everyone around him. He takes time to say hello every day. He really cares. One of the sweetest humans I know.
Describe yourself in one sentence:
Brave.
Embarrassing story you are ready to share with the world:
I had no idea what a Twitter handle was until I booked this show.
Favorite travel destination:
Italy!
GIF that accurately describes how you feel today:
Shalita Grant just had to tell me what a GIF is, so let me get back to you on this.
Hardest part about playing Meredith Brody:
It's time away from my little boy.
Interesting story you have about first starting out as an actress:
I was 18 years old and looking for an agent. The only thing on my resume was high school theatre. I told the agent (Rachelle Moody in Portland, Oregon) that she needed to send me out on one audition. If I booked it, she needed to represent me, and if I didn't she would never hear from me again. I went on a huge cattle call for America's Most Wanted. I booked the part and played the victim. It aired and they caught the killer that night after years of looking for him! They caught the bad guy and I got an agent.
Jennifer Coates from JAG or Lisa George from Dirty Sexy Money. Which character do you miss playing most?
Lisa George! She was sexy and sassy and got to wear great clothes!
Kick-ass Meredith Brody moment:
Bad-ass fight with an assassin in the middle of the French Quarter.
Last movie you watched:
Boyhood.
Music video from the '80s or '90s you love:
Anything by Cyndi Lauper.
NCIS: New Orleans episode you really enjoyed filming and why:
I really enjoyed “Careful What You Wish For” because I got to dive into Brody's past, and had a lot of layers to play with.
Off-the-beaten-path destination in NOLA you would like to recommend:
Swan River Yoga and the little cafe in back. It's in Mid-City.
Pet peeve:
People who don't do what they say they are going to do.
Question you would ask a historical figure:
I would love to ask Anais Nin how much fun she had with her poetry and her men!
Revelations you have had about NCIS: New Orleans:
It's the biggest gift I've ever received in my professional life.
Song that pumps you up:
"Brave" by Sara Bareilles.
TV character you love the most:
Abby McCarthy from Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce.
Up-and-coming band you hope becomes super popular soon:
Boh Doran, my super talented cousin.
Viral video you would like to recommend today:
Don't have one. I guess anything that makes you laugh. As you see, I don't spend much time on the Internet.
Words to live by:
Be bold. Be brave. Be better than yesterday.
X-word you— oh, nevermind. Please insert your shameless plug here:
XXX!
YouTube video you can't get enough of:
Don't have one. See answers to "E," "G," and "V."
If you didn't know Zimbio was an entertainment site, what would you think "a Zimbio" was?
A sexy Latin dance move.
