Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett

born on 16/8/1958 in Harlem, NY, United States

Angela Bassett

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Angela Bassett

Bassett at the 2007 Red Dress Collection for The Heart Truth campaign
Born Angela Evelyn Bassett
August 16 1958
Harlem, New York, U.S.
Alma mater Yale University, Yale School of Drama
Occupation Actress
Years active 1985present
Spouse(s) Courtney B. Vance (m. 1997)
Children 2

Angela Evelyn Bassett (born August 16, 1958) is an American actress. She has become well known for her biographical film roles portraying real-life women, including Tina Turner in What's Love Got to Do with It, as well as Betty Shabazz in Malcolm X and Panther, Rosa Parks in The Rosa Parks Story, Katherine Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream, and Voletta Wallace in Notorious. She is currently starring on the FX horror series American Horror Story: Coven, as Marie Laveau.

Early life

Bassett was born in Harlem, New York on August 16, 1958, the daughter of Betty Jane and Daniel Benjamin Bassett.[1] After her parents' separation, she relocated from Winston Salem, North Carolina to St. Petersburg, Florida, where she and her sister D'nette were raised by their social worker/civil servant mother.[2][3] As her interest in entertainment developed, Angela and her sister would often put on shows, reading poems or performing popular music for their family. At Boca Ciega High School, Bassett was a cheerleader and a member of the Upward Bound college prep program, the debate team, student government, drama club and choir.

Bassett attended Yale University and received her B.A. degree in African-American studies in 1980. In 1983, she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama. At Yale, Bassett met her future husband Courtney B. Vance, a 1986 graduate of the drama school. After graduation, Bassett worked as a receptionist for a beauty salon and as a photo researcher.

Bassett soon looked for acting work in the New York theater. One of her first New York performances came in 1985 when she appeared in J. E. Franklin's Black Girl at Second Stage Theatre. She appeared in two August Wilson plays at the Yale Repertory Theatre under the direction of her long-time instructor Lloyd Richards. The Wilson plays featuring Bassett were Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (1984) and Joe Turner's Come and Gone (1986). In 2006, she had the opportunity to work on the Wilson canon again, starring in Fences alongside longtime collaborator Laurence Fishburne at the Pasadena Playhouse in California.

Career

Television and film career

In 1985, Bassett made her first television appearance as a prostitute in the TV movie Doubletake. However, she made her official film debut as a news reporter in F/X (1986). Bassett moved to Los Angeles and gained recognition in the films Boyz n the Hood (1991) and Malcolm X (1992). For her portrayal of Betty Shabazz, she earned an Image Award.

In 1992, Bassett played Katherine Jackson in The Jacksons: An American Dream. Later that year, Bassett was cast as Tina Turner in What's Love Got to Do with It (1993). Bassett won a Golden Globe and earned an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Turner. She was the first African-American to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

Bassett starred in three movies in 1995, which were released with varied reactions from critics: Vampire in Brooklyn, Strange Days, and Waiting to Exhale (where she worked with author Terry McMillan). In Strange Days, Bassett played Lornette "Mace" Mason, a chauffeur and bodyguard. In Vampire in Brooklyn, she played Rita Veder, a tortured cop with a dark secret. Bassett's character in Waiting to Exhale, Bernadine Harris, was betrayed by her husband and in revenge she set fire to his entire wardrobe and vehicle, then sold what was left for one dollar.

In 1998, Bassett starred in How Stella Got Her Groove Back, once again collaborating with McMillan. She played Stella, a 40-year-old American professional woman who falls in love with a 20-year-old Jamaican man. In 1999, Bassett starred in Music of the Heart, once collaborating with the horror icon Wes Craven. In 2000, Bassett turned down the lead role in Monster's Ball because of the script's sexual content; the role earned Halle Berry the Academy Award for Best Actress.

In 2003, she read from the WPA slave narratives in Unchained Memories. In the 1930s, about 100,000 former slaves were still living during the Great Depression, of which 2,300 were interviewed part of the Federal Writers' Project. The transcripts of the Slave Narratives collection of the Library of Congress is a record of slavery, bondage and misery.

Bassett joined the regular cast of ER for the show's final season (2008-2009). She portrayed Dr. Catherine Banfield, an exacting Chief of the ER who was also working to recover from the death of a son and to bring another child into her family. Bassett's husband Courtney Vance played her television husband on ER as Russell Banfield. As well, Angela appeared in a heart breaking,and inspiring family movie called "of Boys and Men" in 2008(Wikipedia;Bounce tv). She co-starred along side Robert Townsend, who played her husband in this movie.

In 2010, Bassett lent her voice to portray First Lady Michelle Obama[4] on an episode of The Simpsons entitled "Stealing First Base". Bassett was also cast in the superhero film Green Lantern, released in 2011, as notable DC Comics character Amanda Waller.[5]

In 2010, Deadline.com reported that Bassett would have a role in One Police Plaza.[6]

In 2011, Bassett co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson in the play The Mountaintop a fictionalized depiction of the night before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King (Jackson portrays MLK) while at the Lorraine Motel. The critically acclaimed play by Katori Hall originally debuted in London's West End in 2009 and went on to win the Lawrence Olivier Award for Best New Play. The production opened on Broadway on October 13, 2011. Bassett recently appeared as Secret Service director Lynne Jacobs in the action thriller Olympus Has Fallen, released in March 22, 2013.

Personal life

Bassett married actor Courtney B. Vance in 1997. In the summer of 2005, they starred together in a production of His Girl Friday at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The couple's children son Slater Josiah and daughter Bronwyn Golden - were born on January 27, 2006.[7][8][9]

Bassett is an avid supporter of programs for the Arts, especially for youth. She annually attends events for children with diabetes and those in foster homes. She is an active Ambassador of UNICEF for the USA. Bassett is a big supporter of the Royal Theater Boys & Girls Club in her hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida. The Club is one of the first all performing arts Boys & Girls Clubs in the country.

She is represented by the Executive Speakers Bureau of Memphis.[10]

Bassett was initiated as an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. on July 13, 2013.[11]

Angela and her husband and their children live in Los Angeles

Awards and nominations


Awards and nominations
Year Association Category Nominated work Result
1994 Academy Award Best Actress What's Love Got to Do with It Nominated
1994 Chicago Film Critics Association Award Best Actress What's Love Go to Do with It Nominated
1994 Golden Globe Award Best Actress Motion Picture Musical or Comedy What's Love Got to Do with It Won
1994 MTV Movie Award Best Female Performance What's Love Got to Do with It Nominated
1995 Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Malcolm X Won
1995 Image Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture What's Love Got to Do with It Won
1996 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series Storytime Nominated
1996 Image Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture Waiting to Exhale Won
1998 Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Contact Nominated
1996 Saturn Award Best Actress Strange Days Won
1999 Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture How Stella Got Her Groove Back Won
2000 Black Reel Award Best Supporting Actress Music of the Heart Nominated
2000 Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Music of the Heart Won
2001 BET Award Best Actress Boesman and Lena Nominated
2001 Black Reel Award Best Actress Boesman and Lena Nominated
2001 Image Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture Boesman and Lena Nominated
2002 BET Award Best Actress The Rosa Parks Story Nominated
2002 BET Award Best Actress The Score Nominated
2002 Black Reel Award Best Actress on Television Ruby's Bucket of Blood Won
2002 Image Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture The Score Won
2002 Image Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film Ruby's Bucket of Blood Won
2002 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie The Rosa Parks Story Nominated
2002 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Ruby's Bucket of Blood Nominated
2003 Black Reel Award Best Actress on Television The Rosa Parks Story Won
2003 Black Reel Award Best Actress The Sunshine State Won
2003 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Children's Special Our America Nominated
2003 Image Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film The Rosa Parks Story Won
2003 Image Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture The Sunshine State Won
2005 BET Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Theatrical Film Mr. 3000 Nominated
2005 Black Reel Award Best Actress Mr. 3000 Nominated
2005 Image Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture Mr. 3000 Nominated
2006 Black Movie Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress Akeelah and the Bee Nominated
2007 BET Award Best Actress Akeelah and the Bee Nominated
2007 Black Reel Award Best Supporting Actress Akeelah and the Bee Nominated
2007 Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Akeelah and the Bee Nominated
2008 BET Award Best Actress Meet the Browns Nominated
2009 BET Award Best Actress ER Nominated
2009 BET Award Best Actress Notorious Nominated
2009 Image Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture Meet the Browns Nominated
2009 Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series ER Won
2012 BET Award Best Actress Jumping the Broom Nominated
2012 Black Reel Award Best Supporting Actress Jumping the Broom Nominated
2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Betty & Coretta Pending

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
1986 F/X TV Reporter
1986 Liberty Linda Thornton Television movie
1988 Doubletake Prostitute at Headquarters Television movie
1990 Kindergarten Cop Stewardess
1990 Family of Spies Bev Andress Television movie
1990 Challenger Cheryl McNair Television movie
1990 In the Best Interest of the Child Lori Television movie
1990 Perry Mason: In the Case of the Silenced Singer Carla Peters Television movie
1991 Line of Fire: The Morris Dees Story Pat Television movie
1991 Critters 4 Fran
1991 Boyz n the Hood Reva Devereaux
1991 Heroes of Desert Storm, TheThe Heroes of Desert Storm Lt. Phoebe Jeter Television movie
1991 Locked Up: A Mother's Rage Willie Television movie
1991 One Special Victory Lois Television movie
1991 City of Hope Reesha
1991 Fire: Trapped on the 37th Floor Allison Television movie
1992 Passion Fish Dawn/Rhonda
1992 Innocent Blood U.S. Attorney Sinclair
1992 Jacksons: An American Dream, TheThe Jacksons: An American Dream Katherine Jackson Television movie
1992 Malcolm X Betty Shabazz
1993 What's Love Got to Do with It Anna Mae Bullock/Tina Turner
1995 Vampire in Brooklyn Det. Rita Veder
1995 Panther Betty Shabazz
1995 Strange Days Lornette 'Mace' Mason
1995 Waiting to Exhale Bernadine 'Bernie' Harris
1997 Contact Rachel Constantine
1998 How Stella Got Her Groove Back Stella
1999 Our Friend, Martin Miles' Mom Voice role
1999 Music of the Heart Principal Janet Williams
2000 Supernova Dr. Kaela Evers
2000 Whispers: An Elephant's Tale Groove Voice role
2000 Boesman and Lena Lena
2001 Score, TheThe Score Diane
2001 Ruby's Bucket of Blood Ruby Delacroix Television movie
2002 Sunshine State Desiree Stokes Perry
2002 The Rosa Parks Story Rosa Parks Television movie
2003 Unchained Memories Reader
2003 Masked and Anonymous Mistress
2004 Lazarus Child, TheThe Lazarus Child Dr. Elizabeth Chase
2004 Mr. 3000 Maureen 'Mo' Simmons
2005 Mr. & Mrs. Smith Mr. Smith's Boss Uncredited voice role
2006 Akeelah and the Bee Tanya Anderson
2006 Time Bomb Jill Greco Television movie
2007 Meet the Robinsons Mildred Voice role
2008 Gospel Hill Sarah Malcolm
2008 Of Boys and Men Rieta Cole
2008 Meet the Browns Brenda Brown
2008 Nothing But the Truth Bonnie Benjamin
2009 Notorious Voletta Wallace
2011 Jumping the Broom Mrs. Watson
2011 Green Lantern Amanda Waller
2012 This Means War Collins
2012 I Ain't Scared Of You Herself
2013 Betty & Coretta Coretta Scott King Television movie
2013 Olympus Has Fallen Lynne Jacobs
2013 Black Nativity Angela Cobbs Post-production

Television

Year Film Role Notes
1985 Spenser: For Hire Joe's Daughter Episode: "The Choice"
1985 Cosby Show, TheThe Cosby Show Mrs. Mitchell Episode: "Mr. Quiet"
1987 Ryan's Hope Leonie Peach Unknown episodes
1988 Cosby Show, TheThe Cosby Show Paula Episode: "Bookworm"
1989 Man Called Hawk, AA Man Called Hawk Bailey Webster 3 episodes
1989 Tour of Duty Lt. Camilla Patterson 2 episodes
1989 227 Amy Burnett Episode: "A Pampered Tale"
1989 Thirtysomething Kate Harriton Episode: "Legacy"
1990 Alien Nation Renee Longstreet Episode: "Eyewitness News"
1990 Equal Justice Janet Fields Episode: "Goodbye, Judge Green"
1991 Flash, TheThe Flash Linda Lake Episode: "Beat the Clock"
1991 Stat Dr. Willie Burns Episode: "Ladyfinger"
1992 Nightmare Cafe Evelyn Episode: "Sanctuary for a Child"
1995 Get Smart Uncredited role as Runway Model Episode: "Pilot"
2003 Freedom: A History of Us Sheyann Webb Episode: "Marching to Freedom Land"
2003 Freedom: A History of Us Melba Pattillo Episode: "Let Freedom Ring"
2003 The Bernie Mac Show Herself Episode: Laughing Matters
2005 Alias CIA Director Hayden Chase 4 episodes
2008-2009 ER Dr. Cate Banfield 21 episodes
2010 Simpsons, TheThe Simpsons First Lady Michelle Obama Episode: "Stealing First Base"
2013 American Horror Story: Coven Marie Laveau 9 episodes

References

  1. Excerpt from "FRIENDS: A Love Story" Faithful Reader.com
  2. Angela Bassett Biography (1958). Filmreference.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-07.
  3. Weinraub, Bernard (1993-06-23). As Tina Turner, Wig to High Heels . New York Times. Retrieved on 2010-08-07.
  4. FoxFlash. FoxFlash. Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved on 2010-08-07.
  5. By (2010-03-24). Angela Bassett joins 'Green Lantern' Cast @ Variety. Variety.com. Archived from the original on 28 July 2010. Retrieved on 2010-08-07.
  6. Angela Bassett Cast in ABC's One Police Plaza. TVGuide.com. Retrieved on November 18, 2010.
  7. Introducing Slater and Bronwyn ANGELA, COURTNEY, SLATER & BRONWYN at People Magazine Photo Special
  8. "ANGELA BASSETT IS A BUSY WORKING MOM" September 19, 2008, Black Celeb Kids
  9. "Bssett and Vance On Oprah" Oprahcom
  10. Executive Speakers Bureau, Angela Bassett. Executivespeakers.com. Retrieved on 2010-08-07.
  11. [Photos] Actress Angela Bassett & Susan L Taylor Become Members of Delta Sigma Theta. theJasmineBRAND. Retrieved on 2013-11-30.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Angela Bassett

  • Angela Bassett at the Internet Movie Database
  • Angela Bassett at the Internet Broadway Database
  • Angela Bassett at the Internet off-Broadway Database
  • Angela Bassett at All Movie Guide
This page was last modified 23.12.2013 05:44:32

This article uses material from the article Angela Bassett from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and it is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.