Angela Bassett: ‘9-1-1’ Role Inspired Healthier Lifestyle

At 67, Angela Bassett is a picture of health and vitality, but she admits that wasn’t always the case. The acclaimed actress revealed that she used to take her well-being for granted in her younger years, a perspective that has shifted significantly over time, partly influenced by her role on the hit drama ‘9-1-1’.

From Invincible Youth to Mindful Maturity

Bassett shared with People magazine that as a young person, she felt invincible, indulging in whatever she pleased regarding diet and sleep. “It’s something you, as a young person, take for granted,” she explained. “You know, you’re invincible, you do anything. Eat what you like, sleep as little as you like, enjoy it all. And as you mature, you back up off that a little bit.”

This shift in perspective was also deeply impacted by her family’s health experiences. Witnessing the effects of poor health firsthand, particularly her late mother’s struggles with heart disease, served as a powerful motivator for Bassett to adopt a more health-conscious lifestyle.

Art Imitating Life on ‘9-1-1’

Bassett’s role as Police Sergeant Athena Grant on ‘9-1-1’ has also played a part in her renewed focus on health. She noted how the storylines often resonate with her own life, joking, “Sometimes I joke and say, ‘Do you have a camera in my home? You know, are you peering into my life?’ There’s a few similarities here and there.”

Marital Bliss: Marrying the Right Person

Beyond her professional life, Bassett also shared insights into her long-lasting marriage to actor Courtney B. Vance. Married since 1997, she believes that finding the right partner is crucial for wedded bliss. “Staying together so long… I think the important thing is that you gotta marry the right person,” she advised.

Bassett emphasized the importance of shared values and mutual respect in a relationship. “Make sure you’re both looking in the same direction,” she stated, adding that couples should recognize each other as individuals with unique dreams and desires, while still supporting one another’s strengths and weaknesses.