Angela Evelyn Bassett (born August 16, 1958) is an American actress. She has become well-known for her biographical film roles portraying real life women in African American culture, perhaps most prominently as singer Tina Turner in the motion picture What's Love Got to Do with It, as well as her portrayal of Betty Shabazz in the films Malcolm X and Panther, Rosa Parks in the The Rosa Parks Story, Michael Jackson's mother Katherine in the miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream and Christopher 'The Notorious B.I.G.' Wallace's mother Voletta Wallace in the film Notorious.
Early life
Bassett was born in Harlem and relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida as a child. She and her sister D'nette were raised by their social worker/civil servant mother, Betty.12 As her interest in entertainment developed, she and her sister would often put on shows, reading poems or performing popular music for their family. At Boca Ciega High School, Bassett was a cheerleader and a member of the debate team, student government, drama club and choir.
Bassett attended Yale University and received her B.A. degree in African-American studies in 1980. In 1983, she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama. At Yale, Bassett met her future husband Courtney B. Vance, a 1986 graduate of the drama school. After graduation, Bassett worked as a receptionist for a beauty salon and as a photo researcher.
Bassett soon looked for acting work in the New York theater. 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 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). In 2006, she had the opportunity to work on the Wilson canon again, starring in Fences alongside longtime collaborator Laurence Fishburne at the Pasadena Playhouse in California.
Television and film career
In 1985, Bassett made her first television appearance as a prostitute in the TV movie Doubletake. However, she made her official film debut as a news reporter in F/X (1986). Bassett moved to Los Angeles and gained recognition in the films Boyz n the Hood (1991) and Malcolm X (1992). For her portrayal of Betty Shabazz, she earned an Image Award.
In 1992, Bassett played Michael Jackson's mother Katherine in the mini series The Jacksons: An American Dream. Later that year Bassett was cast as Tina Turner in the feature film What's Love Got to Do with It (1993). Bassett won a Golden Globe and earned an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Turner. She was the first African-American to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
Bassett starred in three movies in 1995, which 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, a chauffeur and bodyguard. Bassett's character in Waiting to Exhale, Bernadine Harris, was betrayed by her husband and in revenge she set fire to his entire wardrobe and vehicle, then sold what was left for one dollar.
In 1998, Bassett starred in the film How Stella Got Her Groove Back, once again collaborating with McMillan. She played Stella, a 40-year-old American professional woman who falls in love with a 20-year-old Jamaican man. In 2000, Bassett turned down the lead role in Monster's Ball due to the script's sexual content; the role would earn Halle Berry the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Bassett joined the regular cast of the medical drama series ER for the show's final season (2008-2009). She portrayed Dr. Catherine Banfield, an exacting Chief of the ER who was also working to recover from the death of a son and to bring another child into her family. Bassett's husband Courtney Vance played her television husband on ER as Russell Banfield.
She will also lend her voice on an upcoming episode of The Simpsons.
Personal life
Bassett is a private person, often choosing not to discuss her personal life with the public. She attends LA's West Angeles Church of God in Christ, along with fellow actor Denzel Washington. Bassett told the Los Angeles Times: "Loving God is like my being black. I just am. [No 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."
Bassett married actor Courtney B. Vance in 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 children, son Slater Josiah and daughter Bronwyn Golden, were born on January 27, 2006.
Bassett is an avid supporter of programs for the Arts, especially for youth. She annually attends events for children with diabetes and those in foster homes. She is an active Ambassador of UNICEF for the United States. 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.
Bassett is represented by the Executive Speakers Bureau of Memphis, Tennessee and receives over $50,000 per appearance.3
Filmography
Awards and nominations
-
-
-
-
- 2007, Best Supporting Actress for Akeelah and the Bee, Nominated
- 2005, Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy for Mr. 3000, Nominated
- 2002, Best Actress in a Network/Cable Film for The Rosa Parks Story, Winner
- 2002, Best Actress for Sunshine State, Winner
- 2001, Best Actress for Boseman and Lena, Nominated
- 2000, Best Supporting for Music of the Heart, Nominated
-
- 2003, Outstanding Children's Series (Our America), Nominated
- 1996, Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series (Storytime), Nominated
-
-
-
- 2007, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Akeelah and the Bee), Nominated
- 2005, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture (Mr. 3000), Nominated
- 2003, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture (Sunshine State) Winner
- 2003, Outstanding Actress in a Mini-Series/Television Movie (The Rosa Parks Story), Winner
- Also, on March 20th 2008, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard.
References
External links
![How Stella Got Her Groove Back [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BDSGGQXCL._SL160_.jpg)
![Clip Angela Bassett reflects on the inspiration for her role as a single mother in "Meet the Browns". Check local listings for airdates of ... Video](/viewVideo.html?title=TAVIS SMILEY | Guest: Angela Bassett | PBS&videoType=YouTube&summary=Angela Bassett reflects on the inspiration for her role as a single mother in "Meet the Browns". Check local listings for airdates of ...&link=http://www.youtube.com/v/sS9Z7y3wOm4&fs=1&source=uds&autoplay=1&thumb=http://2.gvt0.com/vi/sS9Z7y3wOm4/default.jpg&celebrity=Angela Bassett)
![Clip rolling out TV talk with Angela Bassestt and Rick Fox about the new Tyler Perry movie, "Meet The Browns". Exclusively on rolling out TV ... Video](/viewVideo.html?title=Angela Bassett & Rick Fox Meet The Browns&videoType=YouTube&summary=rolling out TV talk with Angela Bassestt and Rick Fox about the new Tyler Perry movie, "Meet The Browns". Exclusively on rolling out TV ...&link=http://www.youtube.com/v/C8ZsKi-Nl8k&fs=1&source=uds&autoplay=1&thumb=http://1.gvt0.com/vi/C8ZsKi-Nl8k/default.jpg&celebrity=Angela Bassett)
&videoType=YouTube&summary=Hollywood couple Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance share their love in this "Sidewalks" interview and in their new book, " ...&link=http://www.youtube.com/v/wnCvQPBLhDI&fs=1&source=uds&autoplay=1&thumb=http://2.gvt0.com/vi/wnCvQPBLhDI/default.jpg&celebrity=Angela Bassett)
, who came straight out of Brooklyn to take the world of rap music by storm ...&link=http://www.youtube.com/v/lOKodxeZhj8&fs=1&source=uds&autoplay=1&thumb=http://3.gvt0.com/vi/lOKodxeZhj8/default.jpg&celebrity=Angela Bassett)
