Quinta Brunson Says She Felt 'Complete Freedom' Cutting Her Hair Off: 'I Kept Getting Cold Feet'

"I just feel very much like myself," the actress said of the stylish pixie cut

Quinta Brunson loves her new haircut!

On Sunday, Sept. 15, the Abbott Elementary star, 34, showed off her new pixie cut at the 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, where she was nominated for multiple categories for her hit ABC show.

On the red carpet, Brunson spoke with style correspondent Zanna Roberts Rassi about her new short hairstyle in footage that was broadcast the following day on Today with Hoda and Jenna.

"I’ve been planning it for a really long time and I kept getting cold feet and I decided it was time to stop getting cold feet and just cut it off," the actress said of the look, which she slicked back with a curl on the side for occasion.

Rassi then asked the actress of her first reaction to the haircut, to which she said she felt "shock, but then complete freedom."

"Like, I have never felt better. I just feel very much like myself. It’s like a piece of me that I was trying to get for a long time," Brunson continued.

She showed off the pixie cut earlier this week at the 2024 BAFTA TV Tea Party event in Beverly Hills, Calif., where she styled her bangs in front of her face.

Abbott Elementary scored a total of eight nominations at the latest Emmy Awards ceremony in categories including outstanding directing for a comedy series, outstanding comedy series and outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for Brunson.

The comedian attended the starry event in a shiny black strapless Georges Chakra FW24 couture gown that flared out at her knee into a dramatic train. The length of the dress was accented by two big matching bows on the side.

Brunson has been starring in, executive producing and writing for the mockumentary comedy series, which she also created, since it debuted in 2021. The show, in which she portrays second-grade teacher Janine Teagues, will be back for a fourth season on Oct. 9.

Brunson told PEOPLE in an interview earlier this month that fans can expect "a fun season of TV."

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Last week, PEOPLE partnered with IHG Hotels & Resorts to host a pre-Emmys panel event featuring the cast of the series, including Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis and Sheryl Lee Ralph.

Walter, who plays teacher Melissa Schemmenti, teased the upcoming crossover episode saying it "is going to be killer! Killer! And I'm not going to say another word about it."

Brunson talked about the anticipated episode in July, saying that it will "change television as we know it," although she did not reveal any additional details.

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