S. Epatha Merkerson Says NBC Wanted Her to Change Her Hair for ‘Law & Order’ Role

S. Epatha Merkerson says she was asked to change her appearance before landing the role that would become one of the defining parts of her career.

In a recent interview with PEOPLE, the actress recalled being told by “Law & Order” creator Dick Wolf that NBC executives had an issue with her hair. At the time, Merkerson was wearing a large afro.

“[Dick] called me in, and he said, ‘It’s your hair. NBC has a problem with your hair,’” Merkerson recalled.

Rather than argue with the network’s concerns, Merkerson decided to make the change. She went home, altered her hairstyle and returned to meet with Wolf.

His reaction was immediate.

“When I walked in, he just looked at me and he said, ‘That’s Van Buren,’” she said, referring to the character Anita Van Buren.

Merkerson first appeared on “Law & Order” in 1991 as a different character. Two years later, she returned as Van Buren, the detective squad chief, and went on to play the role for 17 years, until the original series ended in 2010.

Despite the difficult experience surrounding her appearance, Merkerson remembers her relationship with Wolf positively. She later returned to his television universe as a regular on “Chicago Med,” which premiered in 2015.

Merkerson said she heard that Wolf still wanted to work with her and sent him a direct message through a mutual connection: “Tell him I want a job.”

The response came quickly. According to Merkerson, Wolf called her back about 15 minutes later and offered her a role on “Chicago Med.”

The actress has remained with the medical drama for more than a decade. She credits the long-running professional relationship to mutual trust and her commitment to her work.

“They know that I believe in what we do,” she told PEOPLE. “They know that I participate and I try to do my best in everything.”

Merkerson, who turns 74 in November, said she remains grateful for the opportunities she has received and intends to keep acting for as long as she can.

“I’m still having fun. I’m still enjoying the work, and I want to continue to do it as long as I can,” she said.

For Merkerson, her decades-long association with Wolf is a reminder of the lasting impact of both “Law & Order” and the people who helped shape her career.