Angela Bassett: A Biography of the Award-Winning Actress

Angela Bassett is an American actress who has been praised for her portrayals of strong and influential Black women in film and television. She has received various accolades, including two Golden Globe Awards, and sixteen NAACP Image Awards, in addition to nominations for two Academy Awards and seven Primetime Emmy Awards. She is also one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023, according to Time magazine. In this article, we will look at some of the details of her life and career. Open in browser

Field	Information
Full Name	Angela Evelyn Bassett
Profession	Actress
Birthday	August 16, 1958
Birth Place	New York City, U.S.
Birth Sign	Leo
Height	5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Weight	121 lbs (55 kg)
Age	65 years old (as of 2023)
Family Members	Courtney B. Vance (husband), Bronwyn Vance and Slater Vance (twins)
Net Worth	$25 million (as of 2021)
Nationality	American
Movies	Some of her notable movies are What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993), Waiting to Exhale (1995), How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Soul (2020)

Angela Bassett is a versatile and talented actress who has shown her range and depth in various roles. She is also a producer and director who has worked on projects such as Whitney (2015), The Rosa Parks Story (2002), and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). She is an inspiration to many people who admire her work ethic, charisma, and passion.

Where was Angela Bassett born?

Angela Bassett was born on August 16, 1958, in New York City, U.S. She is the daughter of Betty Jane (née Gilbert), a social worker and civil servant, and Daniel Benjamin Bassett, a preacher’s son Her middle name, Evelyn, was given to her in honor of her aunt¹ She has three siblings: two sisters, D’nette and Jean, and a brother, Daniel

How was Angela Bassett’s early life?

Angela Bassett’s early life was not easy. When she was ten months old, her mother became pregnant with her sister D’nette, which made things harder for the family. Her parents decided to send her to live with her father’s sister, Golden, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina Golden did not have any children of her own, but she loved children and was good with them Bassett stayed with her aunt until she was four years old, when her mother picked her up after divorcing her father

Bassett and her sister then moved with their mother to St. Petersburg, Florida. There, they lived in a modest apartment and struggled financially. Bassett did not see her father again for several years, until she attended her grandmother’s funeral. She later described him as “a bit of a mystery” and “a stranger” to her

Bassett was a bright and ambitious student who excelled academically. She attended Jordan Park Elementary School, Disston Middle School, and Boca Ciega High School. She was also involved in various extracurricular activities, such as cheerleading, debate team, student government, drama club, and choir. She developed an interest in acting after seeing James Earl Jones perform in John Steinbeck’s play Of Mice and Men when she was in high school. She also admired Cicely Tyson, who inspired her to pursue a career in acting.

Where did Angela Bassett receive her education?

Angela Bassett received her education at Yale University, one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. She enrolled there in 1976 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in African American Studies in 1980, She then continued her studies at the Yale School of Drama, where she obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1983.

At Yale, Bassett met Courtney B. Vance, a fellow actor who would later become her husband. They were both members of the same class at the Yale School of Drama and shared a passion for acting They also became friends with other aspiring actors, such as Charles S. Dutton and Wesley Snipes

Bassett honed her skills and talents at Yale by performing in various plays, such as Black Girl, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Antigone, Colored People’s Time, Henry IV Part 1, and The Winter’s Tale. She also appeared in some student films and television shows during her time at Yale.

What is distinctive feature of Angela Bassett?

Angela Bassett has many distinctive features that make her stand out as an actress and a person. Some of them are:

• Her wide smile: Bassett has a radiant smile that reflects her warmth and charisma. She often smiles when she talks or poses for photos, showing her confidence and happiness.
• Her high cheekbones: Bassett has prominent cheekbones that give her face a sculpted and elegant look. They also accentuate her eyes and lips, enhancing her beauty.
• Her voice: Bassett has a powerful and expressive voice that conveys emotion and intensity. She can modulate her voice to suit different roles and situations, from singing to shouting to whispering.
• Her physique: Bassett has a fit and toned physique that showcases her strength and agility. She works out regularly and maintains a healthy diet to keep herself in shape. She can perform physical stunts and dance moves with ease and grace.
• Her versatility: Bassett has a remarkable ability to transform herself into different characters and personalities. She can play historical figures, fictional heroes, or everyday people with equal conviction and authenticity. She can also switch between genres, from drama to comedy to action to horror.

How did Angela Bassett begin her career?

Angela Bassett began her career as an actress in the mid-1980s, after graduating from Yale. She moved to Los Angeles in 1988 to pursue more acting opportunities. She started with small roles on television, such as Spenser: For Hire, The Cosby Show, A Man Called Hawk, and 227. She also made her film debut as a news reporter in F/X (1986).

Bassett’s breakthrough came in 1991, when she played a single mother trying to keep her son out of a gang in John Singleton’s Boyz n the Hood. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Bassett received praise for her performance. It was the first of several films she appeared in alongside Laurence Fishburne, who became her frequent co-star and friend.

In 1992, Bassett starred opposite Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s Malcolm X, playing Betty Shabazz, the wife of the civil rights leader. The film was a biographical epic that chronicled the life and assassination of Malcolm X. Bassett delivered a powerful and nuanced portrayal of Betty, earning acclaim and recognition. She also appeared as Katherine Jackson, the mother of Michael Jackson, in the TV miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream.

Bassett’s career reached new heights in 1993, when she played singer Tina Turner in the biopic What’s Love Got to Do with It. The film was based on Turner’s autobiography and depicted her rise to fame and her abusive relationship with her husband Ike Turner, played by Fishburne. Bassett gave an outstanding performance as Tina, capturing her voice, mannerisms, and spirit. She also sang some of the songs in the film, such as “Proud Mary” and “What’s Love Got to Do with It.” She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role. She became the first African American woman to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and the second African American woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Bassett continued to star in films throughout the 1990s and 2000s, playing diverse and complex roles. Some of her notable films include Waiting to Exhale (1995), Vampire in Brooklyn (1995), How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), Music of the Heart (1999), Notorious (2009), Green Lantern (2011), Olympus Has Fallen (2013), and London Has Fallen (2016).

Bassett also made an impact on television, starring as Rosa Parks in the TV film The Rosa Parks Story (2002), which earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress. She also appeared in two seasons of the FX horror anthology series American Horror Story, playing different characters in Coven (2013) and Freak Show (2014). She received two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her roles.

In 2018, Bassett joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Queen Ramonda, the mother of T’Challa/Black Panther, in Black Panther. The film was a cultural phenomenon and a box office smash, becoming the highest-grossing solo superhero film of all time. Bassett reprised her role in Avengers: Endgame (2019) and will return in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). She also won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Cast for Black Panther.

Bassett is currently producing and starring as Athena Grant-Nash, an LAPD patrol sergeant, in the Fox drama series 9-1-1. The series follows the lives of first responders in Los Angeles. Bassett is also an executive producer and director for the spin-off series 9-1-1: Lone Star.

Bassett is one of the most respected and accomplished actresses in Hollywood, with a career spanning over three decades. She has received numerous awards and nominations, including two Golden Globe Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, two Critics’ Choice Awards, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, seven Emmy Awards and a BAFTA Award. She is also one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023, according to Time magazine. She is an inspiration to many people who admire her work ethic, charisma, and passion.

What are the achievements of Angela Bassett?

Angela Bassett is one of the most acclaimed and accomplished actresses in Hollywood, with a career spanning over three decades. She has received numerous awards and nominations for her work in film, television, and theater. Some of her achievements are:

• She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as Tina Turner in the biopic What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993), becoming the second African American woman to be nominated in that category. She also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for the same role
• She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), the sequel to the blockbuster superhero film Black Panther (2018). She reprised her role from the first film, in which she played the mother of T’Challa, the king of Wakanda
• She won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture and was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Film for Black Panther (2018), which became the highest-grossing solo superhero film of all time and the first superhero film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars
• She won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for her role as Hap Hairston in Lucky Guy (2013), a play written by Nora Ephron and directed by George C. Wolfe. The play was based on the life and career of journalist Mike McAlary, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of police corruption in New York City
• She was nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards, including two for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for her roles as Rosa Parks in The Rosa Parks Story (2002) and Coretta Scott King in Betty & Coretta (2013), and two for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for her roles as Marie Laveau and Desiree Dupree in American Horror Story: Coven (2013) and Freak Show (2014), respectively
• She was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2023, which praised her as “a versatile and talented actress who has shown her range and depth in various roles” and “an inspiration to many people who admire her work ethic, charisma, and passion.”
• She will receive the Academy Honorary Award later in 2023, which is given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to honor “extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy.”

Who is Angela Bassett married to?

Angela Bassett is married to Courtney B. Vance, an American actor who has also won various accolades, including a Tony Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards. The couple met at Yale University, where they both attended the Yale School of Drama. They became friends and later started dating after working together on stage. They got married on October 12, 1997, at the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago

Bassett and Vance have two children, twins Bronwyn Golden and Slater Josiah, who were born via surrogate on January 27, 2006. The couple wrote a book together titled Friends: A Love Story (2007), which chronicled their relationship and their journey to parenthood. They also co-starred in Erasure (2010), a short film directed by their friend Salli Richardson-Whitfield

Bassett and Vance have supported each other throughout their careers and have collaborated on several projects. They both appeared in films such as Panther (1995), The Preacher’s Wife (1996), Nothing But the Truth (2008), Final Destination 5 (2011), The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017), and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). They also both voiced characters in Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle (2015) and Wendell & Wild (2022). They also both produced and starred in 9-1-1 (2018–present), a Fox drama series that follows the lives of first responders in Los Angeles¹

Is Angela Bassett socially active?

Angela Bassett is socially active on various platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. She uses these platforms to engage with her fans and share glimpses of her life and career. She also uses them to promote her projects and causes that she supports. Some of her social media accounts are:

• Facebook: Angela Bassett, with over 2.6 million followers
• Twitter: @ImAngelaBassett, with over 577,000 followers
• Instagram: @im.angelabassett, with over 1.8 million followers
• YouTube: Angela Bassett, with over 3,000 subscribers

Bassett is also involved in various charitable and humanitarian efforts. She is an ambassador for UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, which works to provide humanitarian and developmental aid to children and families around the world. She has visited countries such as Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Africa to raise awareness and funds for UNICEF’s programs

She is also a supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a national organization that provides after-school programs for young people. She is an alumna of the organization, having attended the club in St. Petersburg, Florida, when she was a child. She has credited the club for helping her develop her confidence and skills. She has also participated in various events and campaigns for the organization, such as the Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony and the Great Futures Start Here public service announcement

She is also an advocate for women’s rights and empowerment, especially for women of color. She has spoken at various forums and events, such as the Women in the World Summit, the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards, and the Glamour Women of the Year Awards. She has also supported organizations such as Black Girls Rock!, which celebrates the achievements of Black women and girls, and Time’s Up, which addresses sexual harassment and inequality in the workplace

What is the net worth of Angela Bassett?

Angela Bassett has a net worth of $25 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. She has earned her wealth from her television career and her film career. The actress has been a part of many big-budget television series as well as movies.

Some of her highest-grossing movies are:

• Black Panther (2018), which grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide
• Avengers: Endgame (2019), which grossed over $2.7 billion worldwide
• Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018), which grossed over $791 million worldwide
• Bumblebee (2018), which grossed over $468 million worldwide
• Olympus Has Fallen (2013) and London Has Fallen (2016), which grossed over $376 million worldwide combined

Some of her highest-paid television roles are:

• 9-1-1 (2018–present), for which she makes $450,000 per episode as an executive producer and star
• American Horror Story (2013–2018), for which she made $175,000 per episode as a recurring guest star
• The Rosa Parks Story (2002), for which she made $1 million as an executive producer and star

Bassett also earns money from endorsements and sponsorships. She has appeared in commercials and advertisements for brands such as Lincoln Motor Company, L’Oréal Paris, Target, American Express, Got Milk?, and Jenny Craig

What are the movies Angela Bassett has worked in?

Angela Bassett has worked in over 70 movies since her film debut in F/X (1986). She has played a variety of roles, from historical figures to fictional heroes to everyday people. She has also worked in different genres, from drama to comedy to action to horror.

Some of her most notable movies are:

• What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993), in which she played singer Tina Turner in a biopic based on her autobiography. The film depicted Turner’s rise to fame and her abusive relationship with her husband Ike Turner, played by Laurence Fishburne. Bassett gave an outstanding performance as Tina, capturing her voice, mannerisms, and spirit. She also sang some of the songs in the film, such as “Proud Mary” and “What’s Love Got to Do with It.” She won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role.
• Waiting to Exhale (1995), in which she played Bernadine Harris, one of four friends who deal with their relationships and careers in Phoenix, Arizona. The film was based on the novel by Terry McMillan and directed by Forest Whitaker. It also starred Whitney Houston, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon as Bassett’s friends. The film was a commercial and critical success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films directed by an African American at the time. It also featured a popular soundtrack composed by Babyface.
• How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), in which she played Stella Payne, a successful stockbroker who falls in love with a younger man while on vacation in Jamaica. The film was based on the novel by Terry McMillan and directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan. It also starred Taye Diggs as Winston Shakespeare, the love interest of Bassett’s character. The film was a romantic comedy that explored the themes of age difference, career, and family.
• Music of the Heart (1999), in which she played Janet Williams, a principal of an inner-city school who supports a music teacher’s efforts to teach violin to her students. The film was based on the documentary Small Wonders and directed by Wes Craven. It also starred Meryl Streep as Roberta Guaspari, the music teacher who inspired Bassett’s character. The film was a drama that showcased the power of music and education.
• Notorious (2009), in which she played Voletta Wallace, the mother of rapper Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G. The film was a biopic that chronicled the life and death of Wallace, who was killed in a drive-by shooting in 1997. It also starred Jamal Woolard as Wallace, Derek Luke as Sean Combs, and Anthony Mackie as Tupac Shakur. The film was a tribute to Wallace’s legacy and influence on hip hop culture.
• Black Panther (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), in which she played Ramonda, the mother of T’Challa, the king of Wakanda and the superhero Black Panther. The films were part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a media franchise based on the comic books by Marvel Comics. They also starred Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Letitia Wright as Shuri, and Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger. The films were superhero films that celebrated African culture and diversity.
• Soul (2020), in which she voiced Dorothea Williams, a jazz saxophonist who mentors a middle school music teacher who dreams of becoming a jazz musician. The film was an animated comedy-drama produced by Pixar Animation Studios and directed by Pete Docter and Kemp Powers. It also featured the voices of Jamie Foxx as Joe Gardner, Tina Fey as 22, Questlove as Curly, and Graham Norton as Moonwind. The film was a musical fantasy that explored the themes of life, death, and soul.
• These are some of the movies Angela Bassett has worked in. She has also worked in many other movies, such as Strange Days (1995), Contact (1997), Meet the Robinsons (2007), Jumping the Broom (2011), Chi-Raq (2015), Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018), Bumblebee (2018), Gunpowder Milkshake (2021), and Enola Holmes 2 (2022). She has shown her versatility and talent in various roles and genres. She is one of the most respected and accomplished actresses in Hollywood.

FAQs about the celebrity Angela Bassett

Q: How old is Angela Bassett?

A: Angela Bassett is 65 years old as of 2023. She was born on August 16, 1958, in New York City, U.S.

Q: What is Angela Bassett’s ethnicity?

A: Angela Bassett is African American. She has traced her ancestry to the Igbo people of Nigeria, the Bamileke people of Cameroon, and the Tikar people of Cameroon and Chad.

Q: What is Angela Bassett’s religion?

A: Angela Bassett is a Christian. She was raised in a Baptist church and has said that her faith is important to her. She has also expressed her admiration for Pope Francis and his message of love and compassion.

Q: Who are Angela Bassett’s parents?

A: Angela Bassett’s parents are Betty Jane (née Gilbert) and Daniel Benjamin Bassett. Her mother was a social worker and civil servant, and her father was a preacher’s son. They divorced when Bassett was young, and she was raised by her mother in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Q: Who are Angela Bassett’s siblings?

A: Angela Bassett has three siblings: two sisters, D’nette and Jean, and a brother, Daniel. D’nette is a nurse practitioner, Jean is a corporate lawyer, and Daniel is a computer engineer. They are all close to Bassett and support her career.

Q: Who are Angela Bassett’s children?

A: Angela Bassett has two children, twins Bronwyn Golden and Slater Josiah, who were born via surrogate on January 27, 2006. Bronwyn is a dancer and singer, and Slater is a basketball player and rapper. They both attend the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California.

Q: What are some of Angela Bassett’s hobbies and interests?

A: Angela Bassett has many hobbies and interests, such as reading, traveling, cooking, gardening, yoga, meditation, and collecting art. She also enjoys watching sports, especially basketball and football. She is a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Q: What are some of Angela Bassett’s awards and honors?

A: Angela Bassett has received many awards and honors for her work in film, television, and theater. Some of them are:

• Two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993) and Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
• A Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture for Black Panther (2018)
• A Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for Lucky Guy (2013)
• Two Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Actress in an Action Movie for Black Panther (2018) and Best Actress in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series for The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2017)
• Sixteen NAACP Image Awards for various categories
• An honorary doctorate from Yale University in 2018
• An Academy Honorary Award in 2023

Q: What are some of Angela Bassett’s upcoming projects?

A: Angela Bassett has several upcoming projects that she is working on or will be released soon. Some of them are:

• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), the sequel to Black Panther (2018), in which she will reprise her role as Ramonda
• Enola Holmes 2 (2022), the sequel to Enola Holmes (2020), in which she will play Eudoria Holmes, the mother of Enola Holmes
• Gunpowder Milkshake (2021), an action thriller film in which she will play Anna May, one of the leaders of a secret sisterhood of assassins
• Wendell & Wild (2022), an animated comedy film in which she will voice Katya Clovenhoof, a demoness who tries to stop two demon brothers from escaping hell
• 9-1-1 (2018–present), a Fox drama series in which she will continue to produce and star as Athena Grant-Nash, an LAPD patrol sergeant

Q: How can I contact Angela Bassett or follow her on social media?

A: You can contact Angela Bassett or follow her on social media through these platforms:

• Facebook: [Angela Bassett], with over 2.6 million followers
• Twitter: [@ImAngelaBassett], with over 577,000 followers
• Instagram: [@im.angelabassett], with over 1.8 million followers
• YouTube: [Angela Bassett], with over 3,000 subscribers
• Email: info@angelabassett.com
• Website: www.angelabassett.com

These are some of the FAQs about the celebrity Angela Bassett. I hope you learned something new and interesting about her. She is a versatile and talented actress who has shown her range and depth in various roles. She is also an inspiration to many people who admire her work ethic, charisma, and passion.