Angela Bassett

Infobox Actor
name = Angela Bassett


imagesize =
caption = Angela Bassett in the 2007 Red Dress Collection for The Heart Truth campaign
birthdate = birth date and age|1958|8|16
birthplace = Harlem, New York, U.S.
spouse = Courtney B. Vance (1997-)
goldenglobeawards = Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
1994 "What's Love Got to Do with It"
naacpimageawards = Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
1995 "What's Love Got to Do with It"
1996 "Waiting to Exhale"
1999 "How Stella Got Her Groove Back"
2003 "Sunshine State"
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
1995 "Malcolm X"
2000 "Music of the Heart"
2002 "The Score"
Outstanding Actress in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Dramatic Special
2002 "Ruby's Bucket of Blood"
2003 "The Rosa Parks Story"
awards = Saturn Award for Best Actress (film)
1995 "Strange Days"

Angela Evelyn Bassett (born August 16, 1958) is an Emmy- and Academy Award-nominated, and Golden Globe-winning African-American actress who is particularly known for biographical film roles portraying women in American culture.

Biography

Early life

Bassett was born in New York City and relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida as a child. She and her sister D'nette were raised by their social worker/civil servant mother, Betty. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/9/Angela-Bassett.html Angela Bassett Biography (1958-) ] ] [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CEFDC1E3FF930A15755C0A965958260 As Tina Turner, Wig to High Heels - New York Times ] ] As a young child, her interest in entertainment developed, as she and her sister would often put on shows, reading poems or perform popular music for their family. At Boca Ciega High School, Bassett was a member of the debate team, student government, drama club, choir, and was a cheerleader.

Bassett attended Yale University and received her B.A. 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.

She 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).

Television and film career

In 1985 she made her first appearance on television as a prostitute in the TV movie "Doubletake" (1985). 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.

Later that year, she won the role of Tina Turner in the feature film "What's Love Got to Do with It". The film was released in 1993. Bassett earned a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Turner. She was the first African-American to win the Best Actress Golden Globe for a Musical or Comedy.

Angela Bassett starred in three movies in 1995 that 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 plays Lornette "Mace" Mason, a black female science-fiction character in film. Bernadine, Bassett's character in "Waiting to Exhale", was betrayed by her husband and in revenge she set fire to his entire wardrobe and vehicle, then she sold what was left for one dollar.

In 1998, she starred in How Stella Got Her Groove Back where she once again collaborated with McMillan. She played Stella in the film about a 40-year-old professional woman falling in love with a 20-year-old Jamaican man.

On April 28, 2008 it was announced that Bassett will join the regular cast of the medical drama series "ER" for the show's final season. She will portray Dr. Cate Banfield who replaces Kari Matchett's outgoing character Dr. Skye Wexler as ER Chief. She will first appear in the second episode of the season.

Personal life

Bassett is a private person, often choosing not to discuss her personal life with the public. She is also a religious person who is of the Christian faith and attends LA's West Angeles Church of God in Christ along with fellow actor Denzel Washington. Bassett told the "Los Angeles Times": "Loving God is like my being black. I just am. [No one says] 'You know what? I'm gonna be blacker today!' It's my culture. It's not something I put on or take off or show more. You just communicate that in the way you live your life."

She has been married to actor Courtney B. Vance since 1997. In the summer of 2005, they starred together in a production of the play "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. The children were carried by a surrogate mother after Bassett had a seven year battle with infertility.

Bassett is an avid supporter of programs for the Arts, especially for youth. She annually attends events for children with diabetes and in foster homes, and she is an active Ambassador of UNICEF. 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 currently a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the United States.

Awards/Nominations

* Academy Award:* 1994, Best Actress in a Leading Role for What's Love Got to Do with It, Nominated

* BET Awards:* 2007, Best Actress for Akeelah and the Bee, winner

* Black Movie Awards:* 2006, Best Supporting Actress for Akeelah and the Bee, Winner

* Black Reel Awards:* 2007, Best Supporting Actress for Akeelah and the Bee, Nominated:* 2005, Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy for Mr. 3000, Nominated:* 2002, Best Actress in a Network/Cable Film for The Rosa Parks Story, Winner:* 2002, Best Actress for Sunshine State, Winner:* 2001, Best Actress for Boseman and Lena, Nominated:* 2000, Best Supporting for Music of the Heart, Nominated

* Daytime Emmy Awards:* 2003, Outstanding Children's Series (Our America), Nominated:* 1996, Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series (Storytime), Nominated

* Emmy Awards:* 2002, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Mini-Series/Television Movie (The Rosa Parks Story), Nominated

* Golden Globe Award:* 1993, Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for What's Love Got to Do With It, Winner

* Image Awards:* 2007, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Akeelah and the Bee), Nominated:* 2005, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture (Mr. 3000), Nominated:* 2003, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture (Sunshine State) Winner:* 2003, Outstanding Actress in a Mini-Series/Television Movie (The Rosa Parks Story), Winner:*Also, on March 20th 2008, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard.

Filmography

* "F/X" (1986)
* "Challenger" (TV) (1990)
* "Kindergarten Cop" (1990)
* "Boyz n the Hood" (1991)
* "Critters 4" (1991)
* "City of Hope" (1991)
* "Passion Fish" (1992)
* "Innocent Blood" (1992)
* "" (1992)
* "Malcolm X" (1992)
* "What's Love Got to Do with It" (1993)
* "Vampire in Brooklyn" (1995)
* "Panther" (1995)
* "Strange Days" (1995)
* "Waiting to Exhale" (1995)
* "Contact" (1997)
* "Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's" (1997) (documentary)
* "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" (1998)
* "Music of the Heart" (1999)
* "Supernova" (2000)
* "Whispers: An Elephant's Tale" (2000) (voice)
* "Boesman and Lena" (2000)
* "The Score" (2001)
* "Sunshine State" (2002)
* "The Rosa Parks Story" (2002)
* "Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives" (2003) (documentary) (narrator)
* "Masked and Anonymous" (2003)
* "The Lazarus Child" (2004)
* "Mr. 3000" (2004)
* "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (2005) (voice only)
* "Akeelah and the Bee" (2006)
* "Time Bomb" (2006) (TV)
* "Meet the Robinsons" (2007) (voice)
* " Meet the Browns" (2008)Upcoming
* "ER" (2008)
* "Gospel Hill" (2008)
* "Of Boys and Men" (2008)
* "Nothing But the Truth" (2008)
* "Notorious" (2009)
* "Toussaint" (2009)
* "The Princess and the Frog" (2009) (voice)

References

External links

*imdb|0000291
*amg name|2:4466
* [http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?navtyp=SRH&sfld=C&logsrch=1&nbc1=1&str=angela%20bassett Bassett at Wireimage.com]
* [http://www.tvguide.com/detail/celebrity.aspx?tvobjectid=139770 Bassett at TvGuide.com]
* [http://sidewalkstv.com/webclips/v/bassett-vance.html Angela Bassett Interview] with husband Courtney B. Vance on "Sidewalks Entertainment"
* [http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/20081008_Ellen_Gray___ER__resolves_longtime_plots__adds_Angela_Bassett_to_final_season_s_cast.html PhillyDailyNews]