Angela Bassett Says 9-1-1 Cruise Ship Disaster Left Her ‘Soggy, Wet and Cold’ — and Brought Memories of Black Panther

Angela Bassett may have a new Oscar in her living room, but that hasn’t saved her from a sinking ship.

“It was terrible!” actress laughs to PEOPLE about the overwhelming reality of filming ABC’s Season 7 premiere 9-1-1which begins with an epic cruise ship disaster on Thursday night.

In the episode, Bassett’s field sergeant Athena and her police captain husband Bobby (Peter Krause) are “going on our honeymoon after four years,” she says. But this is 9-1-1, and things quickly take a turn when a traveler goes missing, pirates attack and a huge storm threatens.

“In that scenario, as you can imagine, it’s anything but relaxing,” says Bassett, 65.

9-1-1′with Bobby And Athena Are On The Honeymoon From Hell As The Cruise Ship Capsizes In Season 7 Trailer (Exclusive)

Disney/Chris Willard

Three-episode filming of the impending disaster — with gruesome scenes to pay tribute to Poseidon’s Adventure — required Bassett to exchange the land for a large tank of water.

It was not all bad. “They make sure the temperature is a nice, warm 91 degrees, I heard. And that part is good,” she says. But anyway, “in the end you stay in it for 12, 13, 14 hours. And you have to trust your cast and crew because you know what people do in the water,” he laughs.

The experience reminded Bassett of shooting Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, in which her character Queen Ramonda died in a tragic sacrificial drowning. “Again, with water. I think that’s a running theme for me,” she says. “Just being wet, wet and cold all day is very uncomfortable. I mean, who doesn’t love a hot shower, but one that lasts 15, 16 hours? Not so much.”

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It’s good news for at least one couple on the show. With a wedding on the horizon for Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Howard “Chimney” Han (Kenneth Choi) this season 9-1-1 he plans to show them some mercy.

“It’s going to be super smooth,” showrunner Tim Minear promised during a visit as part of the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour, according to TVLine. “You see fans on Twitter saying, ‘Why can’t they be happy?’ It’s like, oh, you don’t want to see them on the show anymore, that’s what you’re saying. So it’s going to be really smooth. It’s going to be great.”

Justin Stephens/Disney

Bassett, who is also an executive producer on 9-1-1, along with its spinoff 9-1-1: Lone Star, recently spoke to PEOPLE about the demands of filming 18 episodes a year for the high-octane network drama.

“I love the work I do here. It’s very satisfying,” she says, noting that her schedule often has her leaving home before sunrise and returning to her husband, Courtney B. Vance, and their 18-year-old twins, Bronwyn and Slater, at night. There is some guilt that comes with it, she allows.

“But I also hope that comes out of it [my children] to see a mom, a wife, a black woman achieving her dreams, having success,” says the star. “They will see that hard work pays off. And they will decide for themselves about that life.”

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Season 7 of 9-1-1 premieres Thursday at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.

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