Angela Bassett Glides Across Genres in These Unforgettable Onscreen Roles
The 80th Golden Globe Awards is looking to be one for the books, and Black excellence is sure to be in attendance. Among many firsts and a potentially historic win, legendary actress Angela Bassett has her own bragging to do. Thanks to her nomination for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture” for her role as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, she is now the first actor, male or female, to earn a nom for a movie, from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Bassett is up against several talented stars, including Kerry Condon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dolly De Leon, and Carey Mulligan. In honor of her prestigious nomination, we’re looking at a few of Bassett’s most memorable roles across genres. Take a look below.
The 80th Golden Globe Awards will be on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT from The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on NBC and Peacock.
Tina Turner / What’s Love Got to Do with it
This legendary thespian has a few biopics on her resume, including Civil Rights figures Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King, as well as the mother of the late Notorious B.I.G. and preschool teacher Voletta Wallace. However, one of her most dynamic performances portraying a public figure arguably came in 1993 when she starred as the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, Ms.Tina Turner.
The film is a heavy watch due to the violent incidents portrayed throughout, reenacting the horrible abuse the legendary singer had to endure. Still, Angela transformed, giving one raving performance, scene after scene. The movie earned both Anglea and Laurence Fishburne, who played the late Ike Turner, an Academy Award nomination for ‘Best Actor.’ Among many other accolades, Angel earned a Golden Globe Award for ‘Best Actress in a Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy.’
Queen Ramonda / Black Panther & Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Marvel Studios is one of the hottest production companies in Hollywood, pumping out some of the biggest-grossing superhero films in the business. In 2018, director Ryan Coogler gathered several of the industry’s most notable Black stars for one the most significant movie events to hit the Marvel universe. That year, Angela took on her role as Queen Ramonda, the Queen Mother of Wakanda, wife of T'Chaka, and mother of T'Challa, played by the late Chadwick Boseman, and Shuri played Letitia Wright. Angela reprised her role in the movie’s sequel and made a cameo in other Marvel films, including Avengers: Endgame. The performance earned the actress a nomination at this year’s Golden Globes Awards for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture.”
Detective Rita Veder / Vampire in Brooklyn
Angela is the drop-dead gorgeous half vampire half, humane Detective Rita Veder in this cult classic 1995 dark comedy horror film, Vampire in Brooklyn. Legendary comedian Eddie Murphy plays Maximillian, the vampire on the hunt for her. The iconic actress is almost unrecognizable as she ponders the decision of staying humane or forever joining the world of the undead. The film also stars Allen Payne, Kadeem Hardison, the late John Witherspoon, and plenty more.
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