Aisha Hinds is ready to invade your home with the procedural drama 9-1-1 and takes you on an emotional ride like no other. The series is a fast-paced exploration into the lives and careers of first responders, including police officers, paramedics and firefighters — the individuals who put their lives on the line every day to save others. The show draws from real-life, high-pressure experiences of emergency response providers who regularly face heart-stopping situations that are often unpredictable, intense and uplifting at the same time.
Hinds’ numerous television credits include a supporting role on Detroit 1-8-7, recurring roles on HawthoRNe and The Shield and guest appearances on Boston legal, Medium, CSI: NY, Judging Amy, Crossing Jordan, ER and NYPD Blue. She also starred opposite Marcia Gay Harden in the pilot H.A.TE. Her feature film roles include Assault on Precinct 13, Neo Ned and love... More Aquarium.
What attracted you to the showIJ
Initially just the idea of entering the Murphy-verse. I had been a fan of the programming that they had been doing over the years. And this idea came to me while Ryan and his team were the voice behind it. And so while this is looked at as a procedural for network television, I knew that if there was going to be an interesting take on it, a voice behind that would make it significant, that it would be Ryan Murphy. Certainly once I found out who else was in the cast, namely Angela Bassett ,who is someone that I have looked up to for so many, many years of my life, I had no doubt. I was a fan of Peter Krause. And being a fan of American Horror Story, I had watched Connie’s work for years. Those two were factors. And then of course, I did a Fox show last year called Shots Fired. So it was a delight to rejoin the family.
Now that you’ve seen it, does it strike you as Murphy-esqueIJ
Interestingly yes. And I say that because Ryan Murphy works with the same crew over and over and everyone sort of shares the same heart and same spirit. He’s such a genuine person. I think sometimes we think of geniuses as people that are intimidating or those you can’t talk to or the ones who can’t talk to you. But he’s a genuine human being and he’s a person who cares about people. This is a show that pays tribute to people that we forget are people. The first responders are out there in the world and are tackling daily emergencies in grand numbers. We don’t really remember them unless there’s an emergency. So it’s very interesting that he would give them a voice and peel back the layers of their humanity so that we can invest in them in a deeper, more meaningful way which is a testament to his spirit and him as a man.
Does it look like American Horror Story or his other showsIJ
We have some long hours. Then there’s the pressure of authenticity. One episode dealt with a snake. I certainly didn’t think when I read the script that I would be walking into a room full of serpents. I thought for sure our VFX team would be employed. But there I was, in the middle of real creatures.
What’s the balance between the drama and the personal situationIJ
As Brad Falchuk said, they’re sort of not necessarily adhering to the rules of procedural drama. I think they’re more interested in telling the stories. However, the stories tell themselves. And so in one episode they may stay with one case longer than the next or stay with a character’s back story more than the next. What’s important is being authentic to the story at the moment than the structure of acts one, two and three. So the show gives the audience the feeling that they’re riding along for the day with these people.
How many episodes have you shot so farIJ
I think we’re probably at half our season now.
Does it get that crazy week after weekIJ
By episode two, I was like wait. If we’re here, where do we goIJ We were shooting the fifth episode where there’s this huge plane crash and it feels like we’re shooting an action movie. It feels cinematic. And this is halfway through the season. Where do we have to goIJ But it continues to grow and that’s the beauty of the show and our researchers. It is an education for us too. Some days it’s a snake around someone’s neck. Some days it’s a plane crash in the middle of the water. Some days it’s a cat in a tree.
Can you tell us about your character specificallyIJ
We get to peel back the emotional layers with my character Henrietta. You get to meet her family, children. She has a tough exterior on the outside but I think she has such a heart of gold. We’re these first responders who have to disconnect our emotions from each situation, but I think all of those emotions come to the surface. You get to see a sort of softer, a more vulnerable side to her. So you see what informs Hen’s decision to wake up every day and put herself out there.
(The show airs on on Star World from Monday to Friday at 9 pm)