Arielle Kebbel Discusses Joining the Cast of ‘9-1-1’ [Interview]

If you’re a fan of 9-1-1, you’re already aware of Arielle Kebbel’s character Lucy Donato on 9-1-1‘s latest season and just how badass she is.

Kebbel joined the 9-1-1 series with a bang when her character saved the day during a high-speed chase-type situation, narrowly avoiding a bomb explosion. From there, we saw the layers of Kebbel’s character slowly unfold. 

We caught up with Kebbel on the red carpet of ATX Television Festival to discuss her role on 9-1-1 and what it was like joining the series in the back half of the season. (You can watch the full video below.)

“I loved my role, and I was excited to get to work. But also, I was a little nervous walking on to Season 5 of a show,” Kebbel began.

“You know, you don’t know if people are really close, if they’re not so close, what the set environment is like, and I truly was blown away by the camaraderie and the way that the cast is so close and supportive of the crew, and so welcoming of new characters.”

“I mean, I think everybody hugged me on day one,” Kebbel continued. “I just really felt such a genuinely warm welcome. I was blown away.”

Watch the full interview with Arielle Kebbel:

“It’s interesting because I’ve done a lot of action through the years. And so I kind of thought, ‘I’m prepared for this.’ And between the gear you’re wearing so much before you even step foot to do the stunt.”

“So, you’ve got all of this heavy gear, and then you’re doing a stunt, then it’s take after take, you’re outside, you’re at night shoots. It did remind me why sometimes with certain characters, you have to almost train like you’re an athlete, and really take care of your body in a very specific way so that you can do that over and over again,” Kebbel said. 

Kebbel also gives proper recognition to the two women who helped her the most for the role of Lucy — Jessie Graff and Shauna Duggins. 

“I did have a wonderful stunt double, Jessie Graff. She’s phenomenal, super famous. She was the first female American Ninja Warrior winner,” Kebbel said. “Shauna Duggins was the stunt coordinator. She directed the first episode I came on. And it was so special working with these two badass blonde women.”

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9-1-1 will return for its sixth season on Monday, September 19th, on FOX.

*Additional reporting by Ashley Bissette Sumerel

Check out all of our coverage of the ATX Television Festival right here. There is still more to come!

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Cade Taylor

Cade Taylor is a television and film critic living in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV. His love for television developed at a young age, with a concentration on queer stories, sitcoms, teen dramas, and science fiction thrillers. In addition, he works full-time as a news producer, telling the stories of Missourians and helming "Produced in the Bi-State," a segment spotlighting actors, musicians, and entertainers from the St. Louis area. He can be reached by email at cade@telltaletv.com.