EXCLUSIVE: Aisha Hinds Discusses How Hen’s Past Comes Back to Haunt Her in ‘9-1-1’
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ABC’s hit drama “9-1-1” is full of unforgettable heroes, but Aisha Hinds’ Henrietta “Hen” Wilson is one of the show’s most important. From the start, she’s been a spectacular role model for Black women and girls, showing us that we can do anything and if the world keeps closing doors in our faces, we can just kick them down.
Hinds spoke with The Root about Hen’s commitment to her family at home and at Firehouse 118, as well as how art imitates life in her scenes with Angela Bassett.
Season 6 ended with Hen reevaluating her priorities and moving on from her dream of going to medical school, because she didn’t want to sacrifice more time with her family. As she recommitted to her crew at the 118, and the lives they save on a daily basis, Hen discovered a renewed purpose in her life.
“It’s making the decision and reconciling. Is it important for me to kind of be positioned in this space? Impact the world in this way? Or is it important for me to pour into my family and the next generation through my children, and maybe empower them to make that kind of impact in those spaces,” Hinds told The Root. “I love the idea of exploring the dynamics of the Black family in that way.”
The foundation of that family is built on the beautifully authentic Black love between Hen and her wife, Karen, played by Tracie Thoms. Hinds gushed about how the “grounded sense of love” Hen and Karen have for one another is her favorite part of their relationship. Hen is a heroic firefighter and Karen is a brilliant scientist who almost became an astronaut. They’re extraordinary, but they’re also just a regular family with their children, Denny and Mara. The real world impact of this amazing, Black queer married couple is not lost on Hinds.
“The fact that that’s the world that [Denny] gets to grow up in. We’re having morning conversations over pancakes about Career Day and these are the careers that his moms have. Yes, it makes it so normal,” she said.
Hen’s family plays a major role in the latest episode, “Ashes, Ashes.” Her actions in the Season 7 premiere — both good and bad — are relived as she receives a medal for her role in the crew’s rescue of survivors from Bobby and Athena’s cruise ship disaster. In an exclusive clip, it’s not all good news as Councilwoman Ortiz, the mother of an accident victim she couldn’t save, takes an uncomfortable interest in their family.
If this woman tries to block Mara’s adoption after everything they’ve done to create a safe space for the traumatized little girl, she’ll probably have to deal with Hen’s best friend, Sgt. Athena Grant-Nas, played by the legendary Angela Bassett. To say Hen and Athena are friendship goals is an understatement. They keep each other sane as they try to navigate white patriarchal systems without losing their sense of self. They support one another with a deep unconditional love that starts off screen and translates to Hinds and Bassett’s scenes together.
“It’s a fine line between calling action and us just existing in our bodies and in our conversations,” Hinds said. “It’s such a beautiful opportunity to bring that to life and breathe our obstacles in life into our on screen life and showcase the dynamic beauty of two women, sharing secrets, having conversations and doing life together. Navigating personal life and professional life decisions.”
If you haven’t checked in on “9-1-1,” now is the perfect time to jump in on this captivating, diverse cast of talented actors. With Season 7 about to wrap up, you can spend the entire summer binging it on Hulu and come back for Season 8.
“9-1-1” airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on ABC.
