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What's Love Got to Do with It
Background:
African-American actress Angela Bassett initially gained notice when she was
cast as Betty Shabazz, the wife of civil rights leader Malcolm X, in Spike Lee's
biopic Malcolm X (1992), in which she earned a NAACP Image Award. She even
received more notice for her portrayal as the music legend Tina Turner in What's
Love Got to Do with It (1993). Bassett's spectacular performance handed her a
NAACP Image Award, and Golden Globe, as well as an Oscar nomination. Bassett,
who has specialized in playing strong women, again captured the attention of the
public after playing Bernadine 'Bernie' Harris in the adaptation of Terry
McMillan's hit novel Waiting to Exhale (1995). Angela was awarded a NAACP Image
Award in 1996 for her starring role in the film.
In 1998, she also won the NAACP Image Award for her outstanding performance in
How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998). In recent movies, the actress also
received recognition for her significant performance as Danny Glover's wife Lena
in Boesman and Lena in (2001) and Robert De Niro's love interest Diane in The
Score (2001), in which she won NAACP Awards in 2001 and 2002.
On the small screen, Angela Bassett also made a name for herself after having a
character role in Ruby's Bucket of Blood (2001). Do to her brilliant
performance, she was honored with a NAACP Award and a nomination at SAG.
Additionally, Bassett's performance in CBS' biopic The Rosa Parks Story (2002)
brought her a Black Reel Award and an Emmy nomination.
Off screen, Bassett, who was paid $3,500,000.00 for SUPERNOVA (2000) and
$3,500,000.00 for THE SCORE (2001), reportedly came out swinging against Halle
Berry and her Oscar-winning performance in Monster Ball by saying it's shameful
for black actresses to play sluts. She also became headlines for joining
American preacher Jesse Jackson in trade-marking the Academy Awards racially
unbalanced. As for her private life, 5' 4" inch tall Basset was linked to
cardiologist Mark Jenkins before marrying actor Courtney Vance on October 12,
1997.
A Raisin in the Sun
Childhood and Family:
Daughter of Betty Bassett (social worker, divorced from Angela's father), Angela
Bassett was born on August 16, 1958, in New York. Along with younger sister
D'nette Bassett, Angela was raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, under the
guidance of her mother. Growing up in a poor family, young Angela was educated
in determination and sovereignty.
Angela attended Boca Ciega High School in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she
became the first black student at her high school to be accepted into the
National Honor Society. Inspired by James Earl Jones in a production of
Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men while she was on a high school trip to Washington,
DC, Angela considered acting as a career. At the age of 15, she made her debut
as Mama in a school production of A Raisin in the Sun. She also performed
monologues and poetry readings at church conventions. Since she won a
scholarship, Angela continued her studies at Yale University, where she earned a
B.A in African-American studies. She also spent three years at the Yale School
of Drama, where she studied under stage director Lloyd Richards and received a
Master of Fine Arts Degree. During her time at Yale, Angela went on acting and
was seen in a number of school plays and other productions. Upon graduation, she
worked at the Hartford Stage Company before relocating to New York where she
performed in on and off-Broadway productions as well doing screen appearances.
Off screen, Angela met actor Courtney Vance (born on March 12, 1960) while
studying at Yale University. After becoming engaged in 1997, the couple tied the
knot on October 12, 1997. Angela currently resides with her husband in
California.
The Rosa Parks Story
Career:
Motivated by James Earl Jones in a production of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men,
Angela Bassett began to consider acting as a career choice. At the age of 15,
Bassett made her acting debut in a school production of A Raisin in the Sun and
continued to act in a number of school plays and other productions while
studying at Yale. Upon graduation, Bassett worked for the Hartford Stage Company
performing The Mystery Plays before moving to New York in 1985. She was then
seen on Broadway when Lloyd Richards, one of Bassett's mentors at Yale, cast her
in August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.
Bassett eventually made her on screen performance debut when she appeared in the
TV-movie Doubletake (1985) and then guest starred on The Cosby Show (1985) and
Spenser: For Hire (1985). In the subsequent year, Bassett landed her first
feature film role in the cult favorite F/X (1986) and played a role in the
made-for-TV movie Liberty (1986).
In 1988, Bassett returned to the Broadway stage by performing in August Wilson's
and Joe Turner's Come and Gone, directed by Lloyd Richards, before relocating to
Los Angeles.
Though she gained success on stage, Bassett had a difficult time finding more
prominent roles in film and television. In 1989, she guest starred in the
detective spin-off series A Man Called Hawk (1989, two appearances), the Vietnam
War series Tour of Duty (1989, two appearances), 227 and Thirty Something. In
the early 1990s, she kept busy with such television work as Family of Spies
(1990), Challenger (1990), Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer (1990),
In the Best Interest of the Child (1990), Line of Fire: The Morris Dees Story
(1991), Fire! Trapped on the 37th Floor (1991), The Heroes of Desert Storm
(1991), Locked Up: A Mother's Rage (1991) and One Special Victory (1991).
After receiving a supporting role in Kindergarten Cop (1990), Bassett landed her
first notable role in John Singleton's acclaimed Boyz 'N the Hood (1991),
playing Laurence Fishburne's estranged wife Reva Devereaux. She next had a
supporting role in John Sayles' City of Hope (1991) before costarring in another
Sayles' film, Passion Fish (1992), and emerging in the horror flop Innocent
Blood (1992). She also starred as the matriarch of the Jackson Family in The
Jacksons: An American Dream (1992,TV).
Bassett finally received recognition when she was cast as Betty Shabazz, the
wife of civil rights leader Malcolm X, in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992, opposite
Denzel Washington). Due to her brilliant performance, Bassett won a NAACP Image
Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.
In 1993, Bassett experienced another breakthrough moment with the release of
What's Love Got to Do with It (1993), in which she portrayed music legend Tina
Turner. From her portrayal, Bassett won a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead
Actress in a Motion Picture and a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion
Picture (Musical or Comedy) in 1993. Additionally, Bassett's spectacular
performance brought her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
After lending her voice to the TBS documentary miniseries A Century of Women and
keeping a low profile through 1994, Bassett returned in 1995 with roles in
Vampire in Brooklyn (1995, costarring Eddie Murphy), Panther (1995, reprising
the role of Betty Shabazz for an unaccredited cameo) and was seen in the sci-fi
thriller Strange Days (1995).
That same year, Bassett received another big break when she and Whitney Houston
costarred in the adaptation of Terry McMillan's hit novel Waiting to Exhale
(1995, played Bernadine 'Bernie' Harris). In addition to the rave reviews for
the film, Bassett's outstanding performance was garnered with another NAACP
Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture in 1996.
The following year, Bassett teamed with Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey in
the 1997 sci-fi drama Contact before attracting the public's attention with a
title character in the second adaptation of McMillan's novel, How Stella Got Her
Groove Back (1998), portraying a divorcee whose dissatisfaction is well assuaged
by a muscular twenty-year-old guy. The role handed her a NAACP Image Award for
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture in 1998. Finishing the decade,
Bassett played the role of a school principal named Janet Williams in Music of
the Heart (1999, starring Meryl Streep).
Entering the new millennium, the Golden Globe-winning actress provided the voice
of Groove in Whispers: An Elephant's Tale (2000) after acting in another sci-fi
thriller Supernova (2000). Subsequently, Bassett drew the attention of the
public when she starred in Boesman and Lena in 2001, in which she (along with
costar Danny Glover) received rave reviews from critics for their insightful
performances as a distressed South African couple striving for stability in the
face of apartheid. Moreover, Bassett's outstanding performance handed her a
NAACP Award for Best Actress.
2001 was a remarkable year for Bassett when she played roles in two
unforgettable films. First, she portrayed Robert De Niro's love interest Diane
in The Score (2001, also starring Edward Norton and Marlon Brando), for which
she earned the NAACP Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Secondly, Bassett
starred as Ruby Delacroix in the made-for-TV movie Ruby's Bucket of Blood
(2001). Again her performance brought her a nomination at the SAG Awards and the
2002 NAACP Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television
Movie or Miniseries.
In 2002, Bassett was highly praised for her work in CBS' biopic The Rosa Parks
Story (2002, also served as executive producer). Bassett's dazzling performance
awarded her with a Black Reel for Best Actress in 2003 as well as an Emmy
nomination.
Coming back to the silver screen, Bassett won a leading lady role as
unsuccessful actress Desiree Stokes Perry in John Sayles' Sunshine State (2002)
before starring in Masked and Anonymous (2003, as Mistress) alongside Bob Dylan,
Jessica Lange and John Goodman. She next starred with Andy Garcia in Lazarus
Child (2004, as Elizabeth Chase) and with Bernie Mac in the baseball comedy Mr
3000 (2004, played Mo).
Recently, Bassett had a reoccurring role as CIA Director Hayden Chase and
appeared in the thriller Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005, starring Brad Pitt and Angelina
Jolie). She will also play Tanya Anderson in the upcoming Akeelah and the Bee
(2005).
Awards:
