Captivating, gifted, and sensational, Angela Bassett's presence has been felt in theaters, stages, and television screens throughout the world. Angela Evelyn Bassett was born on August 16, 1958 in New York City, to Betty Jane . Bassett's performance earned her an Academy Award nomination and a Golded Globe Award for Best Actress.
Engaged to Courtney B. Vance.
Bassett has built her career around playing some of the most celebrated real-life, pioneering black women of the twentieth century. She was Oscar-nominated and won both the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture-Comedy/Musical and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture for her star-making performance as Tina Turner /Anna Mae Bullock in Whats Love Got to Do with It . She won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her work as the late-Dr. Betty Shabazz (widow of the slain civil rights pioneer Malcolm X ) in Spike Lee s Malcolm X . She would later play Dr. Shabazz in a cameo appearance in Mario Van Peebles Panther . She delivered the only three-dimensional performance in the 1992 ABC miniseries about The Jackson Five and their family, "The Jacksons: An American Dream" . In 1999, she played Janet Williams--the principal of the school where Roberta Guaspari taught in Music of the Heart . She was also in the running to play Dorothy Dandridge , until Halle Berry beat her to the punch with HBOs Introducing Dorothy Dandridge . Her first and only Emmy nomination to date was for her lead role in The Rosa Parks Story .
She was once employed as a photo researcher at U.S. News & World Report magazine.
In 1974, she began to consider acting as a career choice after an 11th-grade class trip to Washington, D.C. during which she saw actor James Earl Jones perform in a Kennedy Center production of the play "Of Mice and Men".
Was offered the role of Leticia Musgrove in Monsters Ball , but she turned it down as she did not want to perform nude. As a result Halle Berry , who went on to become the first African-American actress to win the Best Actress Oscar for her performance, was cast instead.
Won the 2002 Lena Horne Award for Outstanding Career Achievements in the Field of Entertainment.
Has played Muslim activist Betty Shabazz in two different movies: Malcolm X and Panther .
Attended and graduated from Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport, Florida in 1976.
As of 2005, she is the first and only African-American recipient of the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, as Tina Turner in Whats Love Got to Do with It .
Received her Bachelors degree in African-American studies from Yale University.
Received her Masters degree in Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama .
Angela and her husband, Courtney B. Vance , became the parents of twins, Bronwyn Golden and Slater Josiah, on January 27, 2006 in California through a surrogate.
Her performance as Tina Turner in Whats Love Got to Do with It was ranked at #95 on Premiere Magazines list of the 100 Greatest Film Performances of all time.
In 1993, she and Jenifer Lewis played daughter and mother in Whats Love Got to Do with It , which earned her an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe Award. Nearly fifteen years later, they both teamed up with Oscar nominee Margaret Avery in Meet the Browns , in which Bassett and Lewis played sisters.
Bassetts line "Right here! Right now!" from Strange Days was sampled as the only lyrics used repeatedly in the song "Right Here, Right Now" by Fatboy Slim, his best known song.
Was considered for the role of Oda Mae Brown in Ghost but Whoopi Goldberg , who went on to win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance, was cast instead.
Is one of 10 African-American actresses to be nominated for the Best Actress Oscar. The others in chronological order are: Dorothy Dandridge , Diana Ross , Cicely Tyson , Diahann Carroll , Whoopi Goldberg , Halle Berry , Gabourey Sidibe , Viola Davis and Quvenzhan Wallis.
Received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California in March 20, 2008.
She was mentioned in the comedy drama film Un conte de Nol .
Is a vegetarian.
Was initiated as an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on July 13, 2013.
Lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband Courtney B. Vance and their children.
(April 2010) Buenos Aires, Argentina: Is a member of the international jury at the Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema.
Born on the exact same day as Madonna.
Her mother, Betty (Gilbert) Bassett, passed away on June 22nd, 2014.
Friends with Nancy Wilson , Marianne Jean-Baptiste , and Loni Love.
I really believe that what I do as an actress is my God-given talent.
This is my calling, not my career.
God made a way out of no way.
Drink a bunch of water and get facials regularly. I take care of my,skin.
The first time I acted was in high school in Florida, and when I heard,that applause I felt so alive and felt that electricity go up my spine.
Film is forever.
I like the nice guys. I like when they show the stories, the human,element behind it all.
