Jennifer Love Hewitt Says Postpartum Show on 9-1-1 Was 'Horrifying'

Jennifer Love Hewitt he represented a challenge when it came to his acting 9-1-1 character, Maddie's postpartum journey – but throwing herself into such a difficult post-natal story came with a complex set of emotions.

“It was crazy. I was seven months pregnant when we finished the start of [Maddie’s] postpartum storyline, I had to come back and finish it during the delivery,” Hewitt, 45, told Exclusive. Us Weekly while developing his partnership with Ferrero Rocher and their Add Your Gold campaign. “So it hurt me a lot because I was able to use a lot of what I was going through with Maddie when I came back to this show. But it was also very scary. I was like, 'Am I waking up more than this for me? Am I going to live?'”

In Season 5 of the hit firefighter drama, Maddie began experiencing waves of depression after she and her partner Chimney Han (Kenneth Choi) welcomed their first child, daughter Jee-Yun. After Jee-Yun nearly drowned in the bathtub, Maddie fled Los Angeles and told Chimney not to follow her, saying their daughter was not safe in his care. She later came to Boston after attempting suicide and was diagnosed with postpartum thyroiditis.

In real life, Maddie's delivery coincided with Hewitt's third pregnancy. She and her husband Brian Hallisay welcomed their youngest son, Aidan, in September 2021 – the same month season 5 of ' 9-1-1 started. (The pair, who tied the knot in 2013, are parents to daughter Autumn, 12, and son Atticus, 9.)

Hewitt said despite his concerns Maddie's story will affect his mental health, i 9-1-1 the cast and crew were “lovely” in taking care of him every step of the way.

“[They were] looking at me to make sure I'm not focusing too much on it, and that it's okay,” she recalled. “And I felt like I was able to give a real glimpse of what it could look like. I was in it. So it was, sort of, my dedication to any women at that time who also had that [experience].”

After Hewitt's brief maternity leave, the actress returned to the show and worked postpartum both on and off screen. Maddie and Chimney, meanwhile, went on to say “I do” before revealing they're expecting their second child in season 8. Although Hewitt feels “good” about her. 9-1-1 family is growing, insisting that real life does not imitate art in this regard.

“A number of people are texting me saying, 'This is what it means.' [you’re actually pregnant]?' I was like, 'No, I can do one real and one fake, people,'” he said with a laugh. “So let me be clear. I'm not pregnant again. I am very tired. I have three children, I'm fine.”

Hewitt hopes Maddie's second pregnancy will be a “good” one.

“I loved doing a post-natal story. I liked to show that I was traumatized after giving birth, so it was important for me to be able to be a part of that,” she said. “But I trust Maddie this time that we realize that not all pregnancies go this way. … That we can see maybe a good experience for him at this time. “

Maddie's tour will continue after halftime 9-1-1 season 8, returning in March 2025. In the meantime, Hewitt is focusing on a few other things, like his book. The Magic of Prosperity: My Journey to Happiness, Celebration and Making Every Day Magical, his upcoming Lifetime movie The Holiday Junkie – where he plays next to Hallisay – and prepares to avoid the “stress” of the holidays.

To keep her cool during all her upcoming celebrations, Hewitt turns to Ferrero Rocher. The Italian ionic chocolate brand has launched its Add Your Gold campaign with the hope of inspiring and motivating anyone who wants to bring their catching game to the next level through easy and accessible tutorials and exciting prizes.

“While it's natural to be stressed – obviously I am – when you're under a lot of stress, you take yourself out of your joy and out of a sense of magic, which is one of the reasons why I feel like Ferrero Rocher is such a foundation. ,” he said Us. “You can go to any local grocery store and pick them up. You are not waiting for a shipment. You are not worried about whether you will get home in time to put it on the table and make it look perfect. Everyone is happy about it. The pyramid is a showstopper. It's golden, it's sweet, it's beautiful.”

For those who really want to “scare” their guests this year, the Add Your Golden Touch Sweepstakes offers the chance to win a 96-piece Ferrero Rocher® pyramid. To enter, go here.

9-1-1 season 8 returns to ABC in March 2025.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi