About Angela Bassett
Angela Bassett is a highly acclaimed American actress known for her dynamic performances on both the big and small screen. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards and nominations, including two Golden Globe Awards and nominations for two Academy Awards. Bassett's breakthrough role came in the biopic "What's Love Got to Do with It" (1993), where she portrayed singer Tina Turner, winning her a Golden Globe Award and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She has also starred in a variety of other notable films, such as "Malcolm X" (1992), "Notorious" (2009), and "Black Panther" (2018), where she played Queen Ramonda in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In addition to her success in film, Bassett has also had a prolific career on television. She has starred in miniseries and television films, such as "The Jacksons: An American Dream" (1992) and "The Rosa Parks Story" (2002), earning nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress. Her performances in the FX horror anthology series "American Horror Story" and her role as an LAPD patrol sergeant in the Fox drama series "9-1-1" also garnered critical acclaim. Overall, Bassett is a versatile and accomplished actress who has made a significant impact on the entertainment industry.
Angela Bassett Early Life & Parents
Born on August 16, 1958, in New York City, USA, Angela Evelyn Bassett is the full name of this renowned actress. Named after her aunt Evelyn, her full name is Angela Evelyn Bassett. Her parents are Betty Jane and Daniel Benjamin Bassett, and she has a younger sister named D'nette. Unfortunately, her mother, a social worker, passed away in 2014. Following her parents' separation, Bassett and her sister moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, to live with their grandmother. It wasn't until their grandmother's funeral that she reconnected with her father, who had another daughter from his first marriage named Jean, several years older than Bassett. Bassett is of Afro-American ethnicity and holds American nationality.
Angela Bassett's academic journey began at Jordan Park Elementary School and continued at Disston Middle School, where she completed her 7th-grade education. She later moved to Azalea Middle School, where she completed her 8th and 9th grades. In high school, she was a model student at Boca Ciega High School, earning mostly straight 'A's and 'B's. Her extracurricular activities were equally impressive, including choir, cheerleading, drama club, and many other clubs. After graduating from high school, Bassett attended Yale University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in African-American studies in 1980. She also earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama, solidifying her passion for the arts and her academic prowess.
Angela Bassett's Acting Career
- Angela Bassett is an American actress, director, and producer who has had a successful career in film, television, and theatre. She started her acting career on stage under the direction of Lloyd Richards, where she appeared in two August Wilson plays, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" (1984) and Joe Turner's "Come and Gone" (1986), at the Yale Repertory Theater. She also appeared in J. E. Franklin's "Black Girl" at Second Stage Theater around the same time.
- Although she started her career on stage, she soon switched to TV and films. Initially, she was mostly cast in stereotypical roles reserved for African-American women. Her first major role came in 1991 when she was cast in John Singleton's "Boyz N The Hood".
- In 1992, Bassett was offered the role of Katherine Jackson in the mini-series "The Jacksons: An American Dream", as she was a big fan of the Jackson 5. She went on to play the role of Betty Shabazz in the biopic "Malcolm X", which was released in the same year. She would portray Betty Shabazz again in "Panther", released in 1995.
- In 1993, Bassett got the breakthrough role of her career, playing Tina Turner in the biographical film "What's Love Got to Do with It". In the years, 1995 and 1998, she played major roles in two film adaptations of books by Terry McMillan, "Waiting to Exhale" and "How Stella Got Her Groove Back".
- Despite her success in film and TV, Angela Bassett continued to appear in stage productions. In 2005, she worked with her husband Courtney B. Vance in "His Girl Friday". The next year, she starred in another August Wilson play, "Fences".
- In 2002, she played the protagonist in the biographical telefilm" The Rosa Parks Story". After a year, she worked with Keke Palmer and Laurence Fishburne in the critically acclaimed movie "Akeelah and the Bee". She next went on to appear in a major role in the 2009 biopic "Notorious".
- It was her role as Dr. Cate Banfield in the final season of ER in 2008 that truly solidified her presence on the small screen. Bassett continued to make waves in television, appearing in four seasons of the critically acclaimed series "American Horror Story".
- In addition to her television work, Bassett also lent her voice to the character of First Lady Michelle Obama in an episode of "The Simpsons" titled 'Stealing First Base'. She also took on the role of Amanda Waller, a notable DC Comics character, in the superhero film "Green Lantern", released in 2011.
- Known for her portrayals of real women, Bassett played the role of Coretta Scott King in the television film "Betty and Coretta" in 2013. This was not the first time Bassett had portrayed a real-life character, having previously played Betty Shabazz in both Malcolm X and Panther.
- In 2014, Bassett announced that she would be making her directorial debut with "Whitney", a TV film based on the life of Whitney Houston, whom Bassett had worked with previously. This was a significant move for Bassett, showcasing her talents as both an actress and a director.
- Bassett continued to take on diverse roles, portraying United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom Maureen Crane in the 2015 film "Survivor". Although the film received a negative review from Mark Kermode, Bassett's performance was still noteworthy. She also reprised her role as Ramonda in the Marvel superhero film "Black Panther" and voiced the Decepticon villain Shatter in the Transformers live-action film "Bumblebee" in 2018.
- She made an appearance as Lynne Jacobs in "London Has Fallen", which was released in March 2016. This was the first time she had reprised a role in a sequel, and she expressed excitement at the opportunity to revisit the character following the success of Olympus Has Fallen. In January 2018, she took on a lead role in the Fox TV series "9-1-1", a procedural drama about first responders. Not only was she an actor in the show, but she also served as a producer. This marked a significant career move for her, as she took on a more prominent behind-the-scenes role in addition to her on-screen work. Her involvement in "9-1-1" was a major undertaking, as the show has been a critical and commercial success. By serving as both an actor and producer, she played an integral part in the show's creation and development, contributing to its overall success.
- She added to her acting credits in 2019 by joining the cast of the action-packed film Gunpowder Milkshake. Additionally, she returned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the highly anticipated Avengers Endgame, reprising her role as Ramonda. She returned to the big screen in November 2022 to portray Ramonda once again, this time in the film "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever".
- The upcoming Netflix film "Damsel" will feature her acting alongside Millie Bobby Brown.
Angela Bassett Awards and Achievements
Angela Bassett has won several awards and achievements to date. Her awards and achievements include:
Golden Globe Awards:
- 1993: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for "What's Love Got to Do with It" (Won)
- 2022: Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (Won)
Screen Actors Guild Awards:
- 2019: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for "Black Panther" (Won)
Black Reel Awards:
- 2002: Outstanding Actress in a TV Movie or Limited Series for "Ruby's Bucket of Blood" (Won)
- 2003: Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for "Sunshine State" (Won)
- Outstanding Actress - TV Movie or Limited Series for "The Rosa Parks Story" (Won)
- 2023: Outstanding Supporting Actress for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (Won)
NAACP Image Awards:
- 1995: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for "Malcolm X" (Won)
- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture for "What's Love Got to Do with It" (Won)
- 1996: "Waiting to Exhale" (Won)
- 1999: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture for "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" (Won)
- 2000: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for "Music of the Heart" (Won)
- 2002: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for "The Score" (Won)
- Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie for "Ruby's Bucket of Blood" (Won)
- 2003: "The Rosa Parks Story" (Won)
- 2009: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for "ER" (Won)
- 2014: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture for "Black Nativity" (Won)
- 2020: Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for "9-1-1" (Won)
- 2022: Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for "9-1-1" (Won)
- 2023: NAACP Image Award for Entertainer of the Year (Won)
- Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for "9-1-1" (Won)
- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (Won)
Critics' Choice Movie Awards:
- 2023: Best Supporting Actress for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (Won)
Critics' Choice Super Awards:
- 2021: Best Actress in an Action Series for "9-1-1" (Won)
- 2023: Best Actress in a Superhero Movie for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (Won)
Hollywood Critics Association:
- 2023: Best Supporting Actress for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (Won)
Saturn Awards:
- 1996: Best Actress for "Strange Days" (Won)
Capri Hollywood International Film Festival:
- 2022: Best Supporting Actress for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (Won)
Hollywood Walk of Fame:
- 2008: All film work (Motion Pictures) (Inducted)
Angela Bassett Net Worth
Angela Bassett is a successful actress, director, producer, and activist who has accumulated an impressive net worth of $25 million as of 2023. Her annual income is estimated to be over $3 million. Acting is her primary source of wealth. Over the years, she has signed several contracts for movies and television shows, and she has gained popularity for playing various famous roles. Apart from acting, Angela has also made money from appearing on shows and brand promotions. In 2007, she put her almost 5,000 square feet Hancock Park property in LA on the market after living in it for over ten years, with an asking price of $6 million. Angela is living a lavish lifestyle and has endorsed several brands, including Airbnb, Boehringer Ingelheim, National Urban League, and Olay. Her hard work and dedication to her profession have helped her achieve immense success and wealth, making her one of the most successful actresses in the industry today.
Angela Bassett Husband & Children
Angela Bassett is happily married to her husband, Courtney B. Vance, who is a fellow actor from the United States. The couple first met while studying at Yale School of Drama, where they ran in the same circles and became friends. However, they only started dating about 14 years later when they met again in Los Angeles, and both were single at the time. Despite their first date being 'boring,' their second date was a success and sparked a connection that led them to tie the knot in a beautiful ceremony on October 12, 1997. They celebrated their nearly 25th wedding anniversary in 2022 and are considered Hollywood's power couple, having set an example with their enduring marriage. The couple became parents to twins children, Bronwyn Golden Vance and Slater Josiah Vance, through surrogacy in 2006, adding to the joy of their long-lasting marriage.
Before her marriage to Vance, Angela dated artist Mark Jenkins briefly, but not much is known about their time together. The actress has remained tight-lipped about her dating history and only ever publicly acknowledged her relationship with Vance, whom she considers her soulmate.
Angela Bassett Height & Weight
Angela Bassett has an enviable physique and stands at a height of 5 feet 4 inches, weighing around 52 kg. She has a slim body type and maintains her figure through regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle. The actress has a pair of beautiful hazel eyes that complement her dark brown hair, which is often styled in a variety of ways. Her 34B bra size and 4 (US) dress size highlight her petite frame, and her body measurements are 34-25-37 inches. Angela has been vocal about her commitment to fitness, stating that she enjoys a mix of cardio, strength training, and yoga to keep herself in shape. Despite being in her 60s, Angela Bassett continues to look youthful and radiant. She has attributed her timeless beauty to taking care of her skin and staying active. The actress has also been known to follow a balanced diet, focusing on nutrient-rich foods and staying hydrated. Her dedication to her health and wellness has undoubtedly paid off, as she remains one of the most beautiful and talented actresses in Hollywood today.
