Angela Bassett is an American actress and director. She was born on August 16, 1958, in New York City. She is known for her powerful performances in films and television shows. Bassett graduated from Yale University and went on to study at the Yale School of Drama, where she received her Master of Fine Arts degree.
Bassett’s breakout role came in the 1993 biopic “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” in which she portrayed the legendary singer Tina Turner. Her portrayal earned her critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Bassett has since appeared in numerous films, including “Malcolm X,” “The Jacksons: An American Dream,” “Waiting to Exhale,” “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” “Black Panther,” and “Mission: Impossible – Fallout.” She has also appeared in several television shows, including “ER,” “American Horror Story,” and “911,” for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
In addition to her acting career, Bassett has also directed several television shows and a feature film. She is widely regarded as one of the most talented and accomplished actresses in Hollywood.
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Angela Bassett about gay rights
Angela Bassett has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and has spoken out on several occasions about the importance of equality and inclusion for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
In a 2019 interview with The Advocate, Bassett discussed her role in the film “Otherhood,” in which she plays a mother who supports her gay son. Bassett spoke about the need for families to love and accept their LGBTQ+ children, saying, “As parents, we want the best for our children. And if our children are gay, that’s who they are. And that’s who we should love and support.”
Bassett has also been involved with various LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations and events. In 2015, she served as a grand marshal at the Los Angeles Pride Parade, and in 2019, she attended the Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles Dinner, where she spoke about the importance of advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.
Overall, Angela Bassett has been a powerful and inspiring voice for LGBTQ+ equality, using her platform to promote love, acceptance, and equal rights for all individuals.
Career
Angela Bassett is a highly acclaimed actress with a career spanning over three decades. She has received numerous awards and nominations for her work, and has become an icon in the entertainment industry. In this essay, we will explore Bassett’s career, highlighting some of her most notable roles and achievements.
Bassett’s career began in the 1980s, when she appeared in several television shows, including “The Cosby Show,” “Spenser: For Hire,” and “Tour of Duty.” Her breakthrough role came in 1993, when she portrayed Tina Turner in the biopic “What’s Love Got to Do with It.” Her performance in the film earned her critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Following her success in “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” Bassett went on to star in several notable films throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. She appeared in “Malcolm X,” “Panther,” and “Waiting to Exhale,” among others. In 1998, she starred in “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” in which she played a successful businesswoman who falls in love with a younger man while on vacation in Jamaica. Bassett’s performance in the film earned her a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture.
In 2006, Angela Bassett made her directorial debut with the film “Whitney,” a biopic about singer Whitney Houston. She also starred in the film, playing Houston’s friend and mentor, Robyn Crawford. Although the film received mixed reviews, Bassett’s performance was praised by critics.
In the mid-2000s, Bassett began to focus more on television work. She appeared in several shows, including “Alias,” “ER,” and “Close to Home.” In 2008, she starred in “ER,” playing the role of Dr. Cate Banfield. Her performance in the show earned her a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.
In 2013, Bassett joined the cast of the anthology series “American Horror Story,” created by Ryan Murphy. She has appeared in several seasons of the show, including “Coven,” “Freak Show,” “Hotel,” “Roanoke,” and “Apocalypse.” Her performances on the show have been widely praised by critics, and she has received several award nominations for her work.
Angela Bassett has also continued to work in film throughout her career. In 2018, she appeared in the Marvel superhero film “Black Panther,” playing the role of Ramonda, the mother of T’Challa, the titular character. The film was a critical and commercial success, and became one of the highest-grossing films of all time.
In addition to her work in front of the camera, Angela Bassett has also been involved in several charitable organizations and causes. She has served as a UNICEF ambassador, and has worked with organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the Lupus Foundation of America.
Overall, Angela Bassett’s career has been marked by her powerful performances, her dedication to her craft, and her commitment to making a difference in the world. From her early roles in television to her later work in film and television, she has established herself as one of the most talented and accomplished actresses of her generation.
Angela Bassett: Personal Life Experience
Angela Bassett is a highly acclaimed actress and director, known for her powerful performances on stage and screen. In addition to her successful career, Bassett has also had many personal life experiences that have shaped who she is today. In this essay, we will explore some of the most significant personal experiences in Angela Bassett’s life.
Bassett was born on August 16, 1958, in New York City. She grew up in Harlem, where she was raised by her mother, Betty Jane, and her father, Daniel Benjamin Bassett. Bassett’s parents were both social workers, and they instilled in her a strong sense of social justice and activism from a young age.
Bassett attended Yale University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in African American Studies. She then went on to study at the Yale School of Drama, where she received her Master of Fine Arts degree. While at Yale, Bassett was one of only a few African American students in her class, and she faced discrimination and challenges as a result. However, she persevered and went on to become one of the most successful graduates of the program.
One of the most significant personal experiences in Bassett’s life was her portrayal of Tina Turner in the 1993 biopic “What’s Love Got to Do with It.” The role was challenging and demanding, both emotionally and physically, and required Bassett to undergo intensive training to capture Turner’s iconic stage presence and energy. However, the experience was also transformative for Bassett, as she gained a new appreciation for the power of music and the resilience of the human spirit.
Bassett’s personal life has also been marked by her marriage to actor Courtney B. Vance. The couple met in the 1980s while studying at Yale, and they married in 1997. They have two children together, a son named Slater and a daughter named Bronwyn. Bassett has spoken openly about the challenges of balancing her career and her family life, but she has also emphasized the importance of having a strong support system and being committed to both her work and her family.
Another significant personal experience in Bassett’s life has been her involvement in various social justice and advocacy causes. She has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, and has spoken out on numerous occasions about the importance of love and acceptance for all individuals. She has also been involved with organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the Lupus Foundation of America, using her platform to raise awareness and funds for important causes.
In 2009, Angela Bassett was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, a chronic condition that affects millions of people around the world. Bassett has been open about her struggles with the disease, and has spoken out about the importance of education and awareness around diabetes prevention and management. She has also made lifestyle changes, including a focus on healthy eating and regular exercise, to manage her condition and maintain her overall health and well-being.
In recent years, Angela Bassett has also become a role model and mentor for young actors and directors. She has been involved in several mentorship programs, including the Sundance Institute’s Women’s Initiative, which aims to support and promote the work of female filmmakers. Bassett has emphasized the importance of diversity and representation in the entertainment industry, and has worked to create opportunities for underrepresented groups to succeed and thrive in the industry.
Angela Bassett’s personal life experiences have shaped her into the talented and accomplished woman she is today. From her early upbringing in Harlem to her struggles with diabetes, her career success and her commitment to social justice and advocacy causes, Bassett has shown herself to be a strong, resilient, and inspiring individual who has made a lasting impact on the world around her.
Conclusion
Angela Bassett is a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, and has been a supporter of gay rights throughout her career. She has spoken out on numerous occasions about the importance of acceptance and equality for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
One of the ways in which Bassett has shown her support for the LGBTQ+ community is through her work as an actress.
She has played several roles that have highlighted issues affecting the community, including her portrayal of a lesbian woman in the 1999 film “Boys Don’t Cry.” She has also appeared in several other films and television shows that have explored LGBTQ+ themes and characters, including “American Horror Story” and “London Has Fallen.”
Bassett has also been a vocal advocate for marriage equality. In 2015, following the landmark Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage across the United States, Bassett tweeted her support for the decision, writing, “Love is love. Congratulations to all of the newlyweds across the country!”
In addition to her acting work, Bassett has also been involved with several LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations. She has served on the board of directors for GLAAD, a media advocacy organization that works to promote LGBTQ+ representation in the media. She has also been involved with the Trevor Project, a national organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth.
Bassett has spoken openly about the importance of love and acceptance for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. In a 2018 interview with The Advocate, she emphasized the need for greater visibility and representation for LGBTQ+ individuals in the entertainment industry, saying, “We need to continue to put our money where our mouth is and support artists, writers, and directors who are telling stories from diverse perspectives.”
Angela Bassett’s support for the LGBTQ+ community has been a consistent theme throughout her career. From her work as an actress to her involvement with advocacy organizations, she has shown herself to be a passionate and committed ally for the community, and an inspiration to many who continue to fight for equality and acceptance for all individuals.
