Angela Bassett Promises Exciting New Season of ‘9-1-1′ Kicking Off With a ‘Huge Disaster’

Anyone who’s tuned into even one episode of the Fox series 9-1-1 knows it doesn’t really do subtle. According to star Angela Bassett, we can expect plenty more of that high-key drama in the upcoming fourth season.

Despite getting a late start on filming due to the pandemic, Basset tells FIRST that things “kick off” with the very first new episode, which airs January 18. “The iconic Hollywood sign is affected,” she teases. “It’s really exciting.”

You can get a quick glimpse of that excitement in the clip below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qSvBlL0tRg

The actress spilled about the series while discussing her role as an ambassador with the American Diabetes Association and their partnership with the American Heart Association for the Know Diabetes by Heart campaign.

“I lost my mother five, six years ago in June next year. She developed type 2 diabetes and succumbed to it very early. You know, 70 is still pretty young these days,” Bassett (62) tells us. “She was one of my biggest supporters in life in terms of, ‘Girl, go and be an actress! That’s not a silly dream!’”

Basset also says that her uncle was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but there was a night and day difference in their experiences. “One worked out, one did not. One was mindful of what they ate, one was not. One was very stressful, one didn’t seem as stressed by the little things in life,” she explains.

And although Bassett adds that there are countless variables that can affect the outcome of a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, being mindful of heart health is definitely an important factor.

“[The campaign is] coming together to get the message out that if you have type 2 diabetes, you’re two times more likely to have a stroke or die from heart disease or be affected in terms of brain health,” she says.

Which is exactly why she wants to encourage everyone with type 2 diabetes to visit KnowDiabetesbyHeart.com for tons of helpful information on things like finding the best doctor and hearing from other ambassadors living with the condition on how they avoid adding extra risks to their health.

Bassett is also taking part in a contest this holiday season where you can enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card — and personal conversation with her in the new year. “You never know, somebody might want to chat with me,” she says with a laugh. “I can get long-winded and I go on and on, but I might make a friend!”

You can find details on how to enter below and on the Know Diabetes by Heart website.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHf9wnSjiZv/

We can also look forward to Bassett’s performance in a new Pixar movie, Soul.

“It is fun, hilarious, thought provoking. You’ll smile, you might shed a tear,” she tells us. “It’s for the family to feel good, especially in this time.”

The film was meant to be released in theaters earlier this year, but instead will be streaming on Disney+ beginning December 25 at no extra cost to subscribers.

Whether she’s sending our heart racing on 9-1-1 or tugging on them in the animated film, one thing is sure: Bassett wants everyone, especially those with type 2 diabetes, to keep our tickers as healthy as possible.