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Angela Evelyn Bassett (born August 16, 1958) is an Emmy and Academy Award-nominated, and Golden Globe winning American actress who has built her career portraying some of the most significant real life women in American culture.
Born in New York City, and then relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida, as a child. Angela Bassett and her sister D'nette were raised by their social worker mother, Betty. Bassett spent most of her childhood in housing projects, but even at a young age she was an entertainer. She and her younger sister often put on shows, reading poems or performing popular music, for their mother and aunts. At Boca Ciega High School, Bassett was a member of the debate team, student government, drama club, choir, and was a cheerleader.
Stressing the importance of an education by their mother, after graduating from high school, Bassett earned an academic scholarship to Yale University and received her B.A. in African-American studies there in 1980. In 1983, she earned a Master of Fine Arts Degree from the Yale School of Drama. It was at Yale that Bassett first met her future husband Courtney B. Vance, a 1986 graduate of the drama school. Right after college, Bassett worked as a receptionist for a beauty salon and as a photo researcher.
Soon after graduating from Yale, Bassett began finding work on the New York stage. One of her first New York performances came in 1985 when she appeared in J.E. Franklin's Black Girl at Second Stage Theatre. She also appeared in two August Wilson plays at the Yale Repertory Theatre under the direction of her long-time instructor Lloyd Richards. The Wilson plays featuring Bassett were Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (1984) and Joe Turner's Come and Gone (1986). Both proved her immense talent on stage and her potential to venture off into television and film.
In 1985 she made her first appearance on television as a prostitute in the TV movie Doubletake (1985). However, she made her official film debut as a news reporter in F/X (1986). Bassett has said "I really believe that what I do as an actress is my God-given talent. This is my calling...not my career." After success on the stage and a small taste of film, Bassett packed her bags, moved to Los Angeles and gave herself only a year to attain her calling. Bassett soon gained recognition in the highly acclaimed, but controversial, films Boyz n the Hood (1991) and Malcolm X (1992). For her portrayal of Betty Shabazz in that film, Bassett earned an Image Award.
Later that year, she won the role of Tina Turner in the feature film What's Love Got to Do with It. Bassett went through a lengthy and intense audition and even broke her finger during a screen test of a violent scene, but she eventually won the role over actresses, Robin Givens and Halle Berry. To gain Turner's famous figure, Bassett went on a no-sugar diet and did weight-training 4 hours a day, 6 days a week. She also had to memorize numerous song lyrics and full dance routines to portray the singing legend during her performances.
All of Bassett's hard work paid off once the film was released in 1993. Bassett earned a Golden Globe and was nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Turner in What's Love Got to Do with It. As of 2006 Bassett is the only African-American to win the Best Actress Golden Globe for a Musical or Comedy. Bassett's costar in Whats Love, Laurence Fishburne, was also nominated for the Oscar that year and the two became the first and only African-American actors to be nominated in the Best Actor categories in the same year for the same film.
Angela Bassett starred in three movies in 1995 that were released with varied reactions from critics; Vampire in Brooklyn, Strange Days, and Waiting to Exhale (where she worked with author Terry McMillan). In Strange Days, Bassett plays Lornette "Mace" Mason who is regarded as the savior/heroine in the film often saving the male main character in gutsy, raw fist fights or fiery car chases. Bassett's Mace is also one of the few black female science-fiction characters in film. Bernadine, Bassett's character in Waiting to Exhale, was betrayed by her husband and in revenge she set fire to his entire wardrobe and vehicle, then she sold what was left for one dollar. Bassett's performance in the film was so popular that her scenes are often referenced in novels, and there are still social groups that gather to watch Waiting to Exhale.
It can be argued that Angela Bassett's first truly leading role , where the film solely depended on her star power and charisma, was in 1998's How Stella Got Her Groove Back where she once again collaborated with McMillan. She played Stella in the film about a 40 year old professional woman falling in love with a 20 year old Jamaican man. Bassett appears in nearly every scene in the film, showing off her toned figure in jogging suits or two-piece swim-suits , but more notably displaying her leading lady status. She unsurprisingly received rave reviews:
Bassett made headlines when she stated that she was offered the role in Monster's Ball (for which Halle Berry won a history-making Oscar) but did not accept it because of its representation of African-American females.
Bassett hasn't had to audition for a film since 1993's What's Love Got to Do with It? although Bassett says that she wouldn't mind auditioning for a director to prove that she can do a role they aren't used to seeing her perform.
Angela Bassett is a private person, often choosing not to discuss her personal life with the public. She is also a religious person who is of the Christian faith and attends LA's West Angeles Church of God in Christ along with fellow actor Denzel Washington. Bassett told the LA Times: "Loving God is like my being black. I just am. one says] 'You know what? I'm gonna be blacker today!' It's my culture. It's not something I put on or take off or show more. You just communicate that in the way you live your life."
She has been married to actor Courtney B. Vance since 1997. In the summer of 2005, they starred together in a production of the play His Girl Friday at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The couple's first children, son Slater Josiah and daughter Bronwyn Golden, were born on January 27, 2006. The children were carried by a surrogate mother after Bassett had a seven year battle with infertility.
Bassett is an avid supporter of progams for the Arts, especially for youth. She annually attends events for children with diabetes and in foster homes, and she is an active Ambassador of UNICEF. Bassett is a big supporter of the Royal Theater Boys & Girls Club in her hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida. The Club is one of the first all performing arts Boys & Girls Clubs in the country.
Awards/Nominations
Image Awards
Year Category Project Result
1993 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Malcolm X Winner
1994 Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture What's Love Got to Do With It Winner
1996 Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Waiting to Exhale Winner
1998 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Contact Nominated
1999 Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture How Stella Got Her Groove Back Winner
2000 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Music of the Heart Winner
2001 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Boseman and Lena Nominated
2002 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture The Score Winner
Outstanding Actress in a Television Film/Mini-Series Ruby's Bucket of Blood
2003 Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Sunshine State Winner
Outstanding Actress in a Television Film/Mini-Series The Rosa Parks Story
2005 Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Mr. 3000 Nominated
2006 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Akeelah and the Bee Nominated
Filmography
# F/X (1986)
# Challenger (TV) (1990)
# Boyz n the Hood (1991)
# City of Hope (1991)
# Passion Fish (1992)
# Innocent Blood (1992)
# The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992)
# Malcolm X (1992)
# What's Love Got to Do with It? (1993)
# Vampire in Brooklyn (1995)
# Panther (1995)
# Strange Days (1995)
# Waiting to Exhale (1995)
# Contact (1997)
# Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's (1997) (documentary)
# How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
# Music of the Heart (1999)
# Supernova (2000)
# Whispers: An Elephant's Tale (2000) (voice)
# Boesman and Lena (2000)
# The Score (2001)
# Sunshine State (2002)
# The Rosa Parks Story (2002)
# Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives (2003) (documentary) (narrator)
# Masked and Anonymous (2003)
# The Lazarus Child (2004)
# Mr. 3000 (2004)
# Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) (voice only)
# Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
# Meet the Robinsons (2007) (voice)
# Toussaint (2007)
| Latest news about Angela Bassett |
Angela Bassettbrandonenglish When I die, I only have one request: I want Angela Bassett to play my mother in my biopic. Too much #notorious #fb; alibrown Hear Angela Bassett, Mia Farrow, Tina Brown, and yours truly on stage at the Simmons Leadership ... Continue reading
90s Forgotten & Underrated Science Fiction Films: Great Sci-Fi ...Strange Days stars Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett as Lenny Nero and Lornette Mason. Lenny sells "SQUID" discs, which are first-person-filmed DVDs that play in a device that taps into its user's brain, allowing the user to feel every ... Continue reading
Angela Bassett FeetAngela Bassett feet pictures, Angela Bassett legs, Angela Bassett toes, Angela Bassett foot and shoes. Angela Bassett is a stunningly lovely successful American actress, best known for her amazing role in the movie What's Love Got to Do ... Continue reading
Did Angela Bassett Get Plastic Surgery? You Be The Judge! : Diggin ...3 Responses to “Did Angela Bassett Get Plastic Surgery? You Be The Judge!” LaDivaSim says: February 26, 2010 at 12:35 pm. Come on now! You can do better than that. The only difference between these two pics is shes not wearing any ... Continue reading
Entertainment Schmig – Friday, March 19th, 2010 « Y98 – More Music ...Extreme Makeover: Home Edition at 7 on ABC (Christian Slater, The Jonas Brothers and Celine Dion help rebuild a house); The Simpsons at 7 on FOX (Angela Bassett plays First Lady Michelle Obama); SEASON PREMIERE of Gene Simmons Family ... Continue reading
Today's Column: Hollywood, Back Off these 80s Toons - Kyles FilesNot so sure that's going down, but if a deal gets done, cast Brad Pitt or Colin Farrell as Lion-O, Angela Bassett as Cheetara and Anthony Hopkins as the "Evil Mumm-ra." Idris Elba is the ideal Panthro. Oh yeah, bonus box office points ... Continue reading
Alive or Dead » Score, TheActors: De Niro Robert,Norton Edward,Brando Marlon,Angela Bassett,Farmer Gary,Harrold Jamie,Oz Frank,Crime,Drama,Thriller,. help with logistic regression? Hello, Just wondering if someone could help me with some data analysis/regression ... Continue reading
Angela Bassett « AbagondAngela Bassett (1958- ), an American actress, is perhaps the best black female actress alive in Hollywood. She is both more beautiful and far more talented than Halle Berry, the only black woman so far to win an Oscar for best actress. ... Continue reading
Direct Links to Download Foreign Movies, Flim Festival, awarded ...Here's Desiree (Angela Bassett) back for her first real visit home since she left under a cloud 25 years ago. She doesn't trust her mother Eunice (Mary Alice) and won't be drawn into staying in the black enclave of Lincoln Beach, ... Continue reading
Jennifer Hudson wins Golden Globe for Dreamgirls performance ...She earned admiration and respect from peers such as Tom Cruise, Oprah Winfrey and Angela Bassett. She gave a magnamious performance. As a dramatic actor, she had no peer in the movie. Her singing also spearheaded a 2008 album that ... Continue reading
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