9-1-1 made its highly-anticipated midseason return with a dramatic two-part serial killer story based on the real-life Weepy Voiced Killer from the 80s. In true 9-1-1 fashion, however, there was a twist. At the center of the investigation and the crimes was Detective Amber Braeburn (Abigail Spencer).
After Braeburn kidnapped a pregnant Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and chained her up in her basement, we learned she had dissociative identity disorder and possessed several different personalities, or consciousnesses.
“I was giving myself over to more of a whodunit, classic drama in that first episode. We got a bad guy. He did this crazy thing. And I’m finding this lost girl. A contemporary, classic detective story,” Spencer told Decider during a phone interview. “And then at the end of that, there’s permission and a twist, right? So in the second episode you go into the horror town, and what that does from a story permission place, is it gives me room to play.”
Though the intense two-part episode was incredibly dark and ultimately deadly for Braeburn, Spencer took nothing but positive memories away from set. “I think all those actors are so special. When I was on set, I understood why it was the hit that it is,” the 9-1-1 guest star said. “After a while, you could get lazy with a show that’s on the air for eight years. Nobody is. They’re ready. They’re prepared. They pay attention. They care. And it comes through. And I think that’s why there’s this fandom and the show keeps growing. I love all of them.”
Read on for Decider’s full interview with Spencer to hear her thoughts about working with Jennifer Love Hewitt again, acting opposite Angela Bassett, shooting that scream-worthy throat slashing scene, a recent reunion with Suits co-star Gabriel Macht, Scottie potentially making an appearance on Suits: LA, and more.
I had the pleasure of chatting with your old Ghost Whisperer pal Jennifer Love Hewitt, who said it was so amazing reuniting with you and having that existing foundation for this arc.
Jennifer was great. She was a tremendous scene partner. She’s a wonderful actress. She’s been entertaining the world consistently her whole life. I told her we need to give her all the awards. I was like “If you ever win an award, can I give it to you?” [Laughs] And Tim was great. Everyone over at 9-1-1 — they gave me room to play, and I really appreciated that.
Your character shares a number of scenes with the great Athena Grant. What was it like doing the thing with 9-1-1 icon Angela Bassett?
Oh my god. I will say I was pretty excited, and she was everything I could have hoped for and more. I love working with great actors. And I’m really lucky to do that and to hold space with them. You know, classic Wicked hold space. I was like, “How do I hold hands with Angela Bassett? We’re gonna touch pinkies? Oh she’s gonna touch my hair? OK cool.” [Laughs] Let me tell you a little BTS about Angela Bassett. She’s tremendous in the episode. She takes it all very seriously. But she was my off-camera hair and makeup person. She was making sure that my hair was in order. At one point she even pulled a hair out of my head. She was like, “You didn’t need that.” And I was like dead on the floor. I was like, “Angela Bassett just pulled a hair out of my head, I can die.”
And then you did. And she killed you again.
[Laughs] And then I did! Just a couple of minutes later. She was a great scene partner. There was a whole day where I was like, “Am I in a buddy cop drama with Angela Bassett?” And it was, which was so funny. I’ve definitely played detectives and cops and stuff before. But I had not done that in a really long time, and I was ill prepared that day, because they don’t really tell you what you’re gonna do when you get there. You have to be down with the mystery and the play of it all. So they put the bullet-proof vest on me, and they had to make a new one for me, because I’m not of normal size. I was like, “I probably should not be going into this raid.” [Laughs] And they handed me the gun and they’re literally about to call “Action!” and I turned to the real smart guys who work on the show, and I was like, “I forgot how to hold a gun. How do I hold the gun? Real quick. Real quick!” I’m not kidding. It was like “Three. Two. Here’s how you hold the gun! One. And action!” And Angela kicks open the door and I’m inside holding my laughter until they yelled cut, because it was so funny to me.
Oh my god. I had no idea. Well now you’re a pro! Tim Minear said to expect a “lights-out” performance from you, and we saw you really dive in during 8×10. How did you approach Amber’s different consciousnesses in the basement?
I did do research around multiple personality disorder. And I do have people that work in the space who I’m close to. Underneath all of that, what I really enjoy and what I’m noticing about 9-1-1, is the reason it’s really striking a nerve with people is because of first responders. We’re all touched by first responders every day. That is a very real job. And to go home with those people and use that story device at the center is very relatable. It’s like you’re constantly on a nervous system roller coaster. These people are responsible for our lives. And I liked the glue of all of that. Then you’ve got the Ryan Murphy tone, which is sensational. So you get a lot of permission. I was giving myself over to more of a whodunit, classic drama in that first episode. We got a bad guy. He did this crazy thing. And I’m finding this lost girl. A contemporary, classic detective story. And then at the end of that, there’s permission and a twist, right? So in the second episode you go into the horror town, and what that does from a story permission place, is it gives me room to play. It was just trying to be precise about and tracking when it was Peter, when it was John, when it was Amber. And also being available to Jennifer.
When I spoke to her yesterday, she told me she was so glad it was you in the basement.
We were also singing, and dancing, and laughing, and being silly and absurd. Because if you’re in that energy all the time, it’s impossible. You’ve got to keep it loose and find the play. But underneath it, what she’s doing for her character, Maddie — I’m a keeper of all those characters. And while it’s horrible and unforgivable, all the things that were done, it’s my job to bring life and humanity and understanding underneath it.
We obviously have to talk about Amber saying “Screw it!” and slashing Maddie’s throat. I screamed so loud at that scene. What was that like to film?
[Laughs] I’m so happy. I mean, it’s a weird thing to say. But I’m so happy to hear that. Those scenes are all about incredible precision. So they’re really choreographed and you have to work very closely with the stunt coordinator and the camera guys. Like it is a “1, 2, 3, that, that, go” type thing. Luckily Jennifer is a dancer. She’s a pro. And I’m a dancer. I think a lot of it is really in the precision in the choreography, and where you face the camera. We did not do a lot of takes of that. We didn’t have to. But it is shocking, and it should be. It’s a horror episode. You really have to be led down a road where you think the worst is going to happen, so well done everyone at 9-1-1.
I’m very much not a horror person, and when I heard your line delivery of “Somebody’s got a bun in the oven” earlier in the episode, I was like, “Oh absolutely not. Do I have to turn this off?”
[Laughs] I did it so many different ways. I don’t know what they chose, to be honest. But I had full permission. And I was very inspired by the great Jack Nicholson in The Shining. These moments of madness, right? To truly lean into the madness of the moment, a lot of times that’s through humor. And that’s what Ryan does so well in bringing the humor and the madness at the same time. So I was very happy to enter my villain season on the show.
When I interviewed Tim Minear last week, he said the entire cast fell in love with you and Kenny Choi texted him a day earlier saying they needed to find a way to bring you back again somehow.
Aww. I didn’t know that! I’m not mad at it. My first job was soap operas.
The show is famous for finding creative ways to have guest stars return — even if their characters are dead. So would you be open to return in some capacity down the line if the story called for it?
Oh my god, are you kidding? I really wanted to work with Ryan Murphy for a long time, so I’m very happy to have an introduction into his universe. He’s single-handedly keeping Los Angeles working, and that is not lost on me. Most, if not all, of his productions are in Los Angeles, and I think that’s really important right now. And I think all those actors on the show are so special. When I was on set, I understood why it was the hit that it is. After a while, you could get lazy with a show that’s on the air for eight years. Nobody is. They’re ready. They’re prepared. They pay attention. They care. And it comes through. And I think that’s why there’s this fandom and the show keeps growing. But that’s so nice. I love all of them.
Before we wrap, I have to ask about Suits, because I saw you recently had a reunion with Gabriel Macht.
We did. It was really sweet. I was only supposed to do one episode of Suits, and the fact that it turned into nine years is kind of crazy. But I remember when we did our first episode, I was like, “Hey, favorite scene partner.” And when I saw him [recently], we were like “Hey favorite scene partner!” We really do enjoy working together. And Gabriel is a tremendous actor.
Fans loved Scottie so much. Are you open to revisiting that character on Suits: LA? I know Gabriel’s making his debut soon.
Of course, if Aaron Korsh needs anything. [Laughs] We actually had lunch when I was shooting 9-1-1. His office is on the lot, and we had lunch. The thing I really miss is the community. I love being in the community of actors. And I really felt so much community on that show. My son wanted to start watching Suits this past year. Obviously, a lot of people did. And I watched it really for the first time with him, because when we did it, I was shooting Rectify. I was shooting True Detective. I was in a space where I couldn’t really stop. And so I’m now on the other side of this grand second act with Suits. And I’m watching it, and I’m like, “Oh my God, everybody’s tremendous.” But I was like, “Oh, I get it with Scottie.” I get why she resonates with people.
In my mind I was on all nine seasons, but not that many episodes. So I’m like, “Why is she resonating?” And now I get it I really really get it. So yes, I love Scottie. It’d be so fun. Even with Timeless and Grey‘s Anatomy, you are building a catalogue. It’s a body of work. And with streaming and these tremendous ways that we can transform new versions of the shows, like Suits: LA, or whatever spin-off, you can keep exploring new people. So I’m so curious how that’s going to unfold in the future.
Well I loved Scottie and Suits, so fingers crossed that we can see her again on Suits: LA.
It means so much to everyone. I really appreciate hearing it. We need to hear it, because you do these things and they get sent off into the world and to be able to know that something I got to be a part of affected you in a positive way, what’s better than that? Nothing.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
New episodes of 9-1-1 premiere Thursdays on ABC with next-day streaming on Hulu.
