Angela Bassett reveals the painful reason she’s hoping to switch up her costume next season on “9-1-1” (exclusive)

The 67-year-old actress opened up about what she was anticipating when it came to seeing her 9-1-1 character, Athena Grant, transition from a LAPD Field Sergeant to a full-time detective on the new season of the show.

“I’m just looking forward to— I know nothing about the detective world, so that’s some research that I’ve got to look into, just like I did as a sergeant on the street doing drive-alongs and stuff with incredible detectives in L.A.. So I’m looking forward to that,” Bassett told PEOPLE at the Disney 2026 Upfront on Tuesday, May 12.

“But, I think I wear better clothes and maybe [a] not so flat a shoe, so I can not go to the chiropractor so often because that belt is a lot. It’s very weighty,” she added.

However, during the Season 9 finale, her character was shot and hospitalized, leaving her poised to step into a new role as a full-time detective in the upcoming 10th season of the hit ABC show.

While discussing her character’s near-death experience in the finale, the actress teased what fans can expect from the show and its beloved characters moving forward.

“I know we are too in love with these characters and I count myself a fan as well, and I don’t know why they’re taking us through these heart palpitations,” said Bassett. “But I guess we all need a little drama in our life so it’s not so beige.”

“If everything goes well, then we need to shake it up a bit,” she added of the show.

In December, the Oscar nominee was given the top spot on AARP’s Movies for Grownups’ list of the 25 Most Fabulous Women Over 50. During an interview with the outlet, she admitted that she doesn’t let age “limit” her.

“I don’t allow age to impose some limit on me. Half the time I forget how old I am,” said the 9-1-1 star, “or if it’s a birthday, it’s wonderful, it’s a birthday season — but how old? I don’t know. Plenty enough of people will remind you.”