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Angela Bassett began her amazing career in the 1980s after graduating the prestigious Yale University. Big up to Mrs. Bassett for doing the damn thing at Yale University. Bassett breakthrough role was her amazing portrayal of singer Tina Turner in the biopic What’s Love Got to Do with It. Homegirl was shaking them hips and rollin’ like no other. From there, she had roles in Malcolm X, How Stella Got Her Groove back and now as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther. Wakanda Forever!!! You can also see Bassett on the tv drama series 9-1-1. Keep rollin, Mrs. Bassett!
Anna Mae Bullock/Tina Turner- What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993)
In one of her most powerful performances, Bassett played the GREAT and ICONIC Tina Turner. First off, Bassett is straight up FIT and Turner. You see her arms? Damn!! So sexy. Bassett was great and showed so much emotion, pain and triumph as the legendary singer. You see the horrors and abuse Turner went through at the hands of her husband. Let me tell you, them hips were rollin, rollin, rollin on the river as she danced on stage. For this role, Bassett was nominated for her first and only Academy Award nomination.
Detective Rita Veder- Vampire in Brooklyn (1995)
What do you think would happen when a vampire comes to Brooklyn? In this cult classic, we black people have to show how it would happen with this film. Bassett plays Detective Rita Veder who is sought after by a vampire who is played by Eddie Murphy. The film has some interesting scenes and is more of a comedy than a horror film.
Secret Service Director Lynne Jacobs- Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
In a supporting role as she plays the director of the Secret Service, Bassett is the strong woman that helps Banning gain the trust of the Presidential Cabinet. Bassett is only in the film for a really short time but she makes her presence known. Listen, there is one person you don’t want to meet on the street and that is the head of the Secret Service. Love how they put a strong, black woman as the head of safety for the president.
Variety of Roles- American Horror Story (2013-2018)
In the world of American Horror Story, there are plenty of intense and strange stories. Bassett has played many great roles on the show and each one should be commended. For this one, I think her best was as Marie Laveau in American Horror Story: Coven. Coven, to me, is by far the best season. As Laveau, Bassett displays how the mighty high priestess of voodoo magic rolls in New Orleans. Bassett is excellent as the voodoo queen.
Bernadine Harris- Waiting to Exhale (1995)
I remember watching this film a long, long, long time ago. The only thing that really stood out to me was Angela Bassett and knowing you shouldn’t cross her at all. The movie centers of four women living in the Phoenix. It explores each one of their relationships with the men in their lives and their friendship with each other. Bassett plays Bernadine Harris, a mother of two children. Bassett story is the lead as she is going through a divorce. She is strong and plays no game. The scene where she sells all his stuff for $1 dollar and then burns his car is wild. No need to piss off this woman.
Queen Ramonda- Black Panther (2008)
It would be a shame and dishonor not to include Black Panther under Angela Bassett. WAKANDA FOREVER!!!!! Bassett plays T’Challa and Shuri’s mother, the Queen Mother of Wakanda. Bassett is amazing even if the role is small. She has the ultimate sense of black excellence, pride and beauty. She becomes an adviser to T’Challa. Once again, WAKANDA FOREVER!!!
Stella Payne- How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
In the Terry McMillan’s best-selling novel of the same name, Bassett starred in this film where everyone got their groove back, especially Stella. Bassett plays Stella Payne, a highly successful 40-year-old stockbroker, who is raising her son and living in Cali. After some persuasion, she takes a first-class trip to Jamaica where she meets young islander Winston Shakespeare, who is twenty years her junior and a mighty spark happens. Bassett does her thing and plays Stella with perfection.
Sergeant Athena Grant-Nash- 9-1-1 (TV series)
In a series that follows series follows the lives of Los Angeles first responders from police officers, paramedics, firefighters, and dispatchers, Bassett has the starring role. Bassett plays Athena Grant-Nash, a field sergeant in the Los Angeles Police Department. Bassett makes sure that Athena is blunt, tough and an amazing black woman who takes charge along with being extremely accomplished and professional. At her job, she is hard working but in her personal life, she is a loving mother who will do anything for her family and them kids.
Betty Shabazz- Malcolm X (1992)
In the powerful Spike Lee film, Malcolm X, the film is centered on the life of the famous civil rights activist played by the amazing and great Denzel Washington. Even though Washington carries this film, we cannot forget his loving and caring wife Betty Shabazz. Shabazz was a nurse and NOI activist who married Malcolm X. Bassett had a somewhat small role but played it beautifully. She showed that Betty cared for her husband and kids even when things started going downhill.
Lornette “Mace” Mason- Strange Days (1995)
Oh, Strange Day. It has been years since I have seen this movie. It’s a film starring Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis. It revolves around a black marketeer of recordings that allows its user to experience the recorder’s memories and physical sensations. Things go wild when one of the memories is the murder of a prostitute. Bassett plays bodyguard and limousine driver Lornette “Mace” Mason and she turns in a strong and gritty performance. There are many themes that this film explored back in the day.
