In her new TV show, Foxs9-1-1(airing Wednesdays, 9 p.m.
ET; streaming on Hulu), Angela Bassett, 59, stars as police sergeant Athena Grant.
How are you like street-wise Athena Grant?
Shes very level-headed and professional.
And I think Im professional.
She loves being a police sergeant.
Shes come through the ranks and paid her dues.
But she still wants to be out there with the people in the neighborhood.
She also doesnt mind thinking fast on her feet.
When youre in a jam say your car wont start who are your personal 9-1-1s?
Ill call Courtney [Vance, her husband].
He can be clear and level-headed in those sort of situations.
Now, on the day-to-day, hes kind of flighty.
I can be, Hellooo.
Listen with both ears, c’mon!
But when I need him to be focused he gets laser about it.
Have you ever called 9-1-1 yourself?
Im a Florida girl, and we didnt have fireplaces.
I thought the flue was open, but it was closed.
Suddenly, embers were flying everywhere!
I realized I had to call the fire department, and I was very happy to see them.
I attempt to fix things myself.
You turn 60 this year.
Do you look forward to getting older?
As long as I can keep doing what I want to do, Im fine with it.
I just dont want to slow down.
Its important to surround yourself with good people, interesting people, young people, young ideas.
Go places, learn new stuff.
Look at the world with wonder dont be tired about it.
What would you tell your 20-something self?
Dont wait around for a better time."
“But I didnt.
And now that I have kids, its, “Can I go away for the weekend?
“You feel guilty about leaving them and that theyll have forgotten you when you get back!
I bet youre a good mom.
I am, but Im atoughmom!
I want to be evil!
I did play Lady Macbeth on stage, toAlec BaldwinsMacbeth back in New York in 1998.
But Ive played a lot of characters who aresorighteous and understanding.
I dont want to be a goody-goody two-shoes all the time.
