Monday, May 16, 2011

Who is Angela Evelyn Bassett?

Who is Angela Evelyn Bassett ? The entertainment world knows her as Angela Bassett. Bassett is an American actress. She has become well-known for her biographical film roles portraying real life women in African American culture, including singer Tina Turner in the motion picture What's Love Got to Do with It, as well as Betty Shabazz in the films Malcolm X and Panther, Rosa Parks in the The Rosa Parks Story, Katherine Jackson in the miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream and Voletta Wallace in the film Notorious.

Early life

Bassett was  born August 16, 1958  in Harlem, the daughter of Betty Jane and Daniel Benjamin Bassett.[1] After her parents' separation, she relocated 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 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.

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 mini series The Jacksons: An American Dream. Later that year, Bassett was cast as Tina Turner in the feature film 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 plays Lornette "Mace" Mason, a chauffeur and bodyguard. In Vampire in Brooklyn, she plays 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 the film 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 2000, Bassett turned down the lead role in Monster's Ball due to 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 the HBO film 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 the medical drama series 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.
In 2010, Basset 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, to be released in 2011, as notable DC Comics character Amanda Waller.[5]
In 2010, Deadline.com reported that Bassett would have a role in ABC's show, One Police Plaza.[6]

Personal life

Bassett is a private person, often choosing not to discuss her personal life with the public. She 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 me 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."
Bassett married actor Courtney B. Vance in 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. Trying for seven years since 2000, Bassett suffered two miscarriages. The couple's children -- son Slater Josiah and daughter Bronwyn Golden-- were born on January 27, 2006 in California via surrogate.[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 United States. 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.
Bassett is represented by the Executive Speakers Bureau of Memphis, Tennessee and receives over $50,000 per appearance.[10]

Filmography and awards

Film
Year↓ Film↓ Role↓ Notes
1986 F/X TV Reporter
1990 Kindergarten Cop Stewardess
1991 Critters 4 Fran Released Straight-to-Video
1991 Boyz n the Hood Reva Devereaux
1991 City of Hope Reesha
1992 Passion Fish Dawn/Rhonda
1992 Innocent Blood U.S. Attorney Sinclair
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, released Straight-to-Video
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 The Score Diane
2002 Sunshine State Desiree Stokes Perry
2003 Unchained Memories Reader
2003 Masked and Anonymous Mistress
2004 The 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
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
Television
Year↓ Film↓ Role↓ Notes
1985 Doubletake Prostitute at Headquarters CBS TV-Movie
1985 Spenser: For Hire Joe's Daughter Episode: "The Choice"
1985, 1988 The Cosby Show Mrs. Mitchell
Paula
Episode: "Mr. Quiet"
Episode: "Bookworm"
1986 Liberty Linda Thornton NBC TV-Movie
1987 Ryan's Hope Leonie Peach
1989 A Man Called Hawk Bailey Webster Episodes: "The Master's Mirror" and "Never My Love"
1989 Tour of Duty Lt. Camilla Patterson Episodes: "Hard Stripe" and "The Volunteer"
1989 227 Amy Burnett Episode: "A Pampered Tale"
1989 Thirtysomething Kate Harriton Episode: "Legacy"
1990 Family of Spies Bev Andress CBS TV-Movie
1990 Alien Nation Renee Longstreet Episode: "Eyewitness News"
1990 Challenger Cheryl McNair ABC TV-Movie
1990 Equal Justice Janet Fields Episode: "Goodbye, Judge Green"
1990 In the Best Interest of the Child Lori CBS TV-Movie
1990 Perry Mason: In the Case of the Silenced Singer Carla Peters NBC TV-Movie
1991 Line of Fire: The Morris Dees Story Pat NBC TV-Movie
1991 The Flash Linda Lake Episode: "Beat the Clock"
1991 Fire: Trapped on the 37th Floor Allison ABC TV-Movie
1991 Stat Dr. Willie Burns Episode: "Ladyfinger"
1991 The Heroes of Desert Storm Lt. Phoebe Jeter ABC TV-Movie
1991 Locked Up: A Mother's Rage Willie TV-Movie
1991 One Special Victory Lois NBC TV-Movie
1992 Nightmare Cafe Evelyn Episode: "Sanctuary for a Child"
1992 The Jacksons: An American Dream Katherine Jackson ABC Miniseries
1995 Get Smart Uncredited role as Runway Model Episode: "Pilot"
2001 Ruby's Bucket of Blood Ruby Delacroix Showtime TV-Movie
2002 The Rosa Parks Story Rosa Parks CBS TV-Movie
2003 Freedom: A History of Us Sheyann Webb
Melba Pattillo
PBS Miniseries
Episodes: "Marching to Freedom Land" and "Let Freedom Ring"
2005 Alias CIA Director Hayden Chase Episodes: "Authorized Personnel Only", "The Index", "The Descent" and "Search And Rescue"
2006 Time Bomb Jill Greco CBS TV-Movie
2008–
2009
ER Dr. Cate Banfield
2010 The Simpsons First Lady Michelle Obama Episode: Stealing First Base (voice)
Awards and nominations
Year↓ Award↓ Category↓ Result↓ For↓
1994 Academy Award Best Actress Nominated What's Love Got to Do with It
1994 Golden Globe Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Won What's Love Got to Do with It
1995 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture Won What's Love Got to Do with It
1995 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Won Malcolm X
1995 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture Won Waiting to Exhale
1996 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series Nominated Storytime
1996 Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Award Crystal Award for outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry.[11] Recipient
1996 Saturn Award Best Actress Won Strange Days
1998 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated Contact
1999 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture Won How Stella Got Her Groove Back
2000 Black Reel Award Best Supporting Actress in a Theatrical Film Nominated Music of the Heart
2000 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Won Music of the Heart
2001 Black Reel Award Best Actress in a Theatrical Film Nominated Boseman and Lena
2001 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated Boseman and Lena
2002 Black Reel Award Best Actress in a Network or Cable Film Won Ruby's Bucket of Blood
2002 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Won Ruby's Bucket of Blood
2002 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Won The Score
2002 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries Nominated Ruby's Bucket of Blood
2003 Black Reel Award Best Actress in a Theatrical Film Won Sunshine State
2003 Black Reel Award Best Actress in a Network or Cable Film Won The Rosa Parks Story
2002 Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Mini-Series or Television Movie Nominated The Rosa Parks Story
2003 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Children's Special Nominated (shared nomination) Our America
2003 Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Won Sunshine State
2003 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Won Sunshine State
2003 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Won The Rosa Parks Story
2005 Black Reel Award Best Actress, Musical or Comedy Nominated Mr. 3000
2005 BET Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Theatrical Film Nominated Mr. 3000
2005 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated Mr. 3000
2006 Black Movie Award Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Won Akeelah and the Bee
2007 Black Reel Award Best Supporting Actress Nominated Akeelah and the Bee
2007 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated Akeelah and the Bee
2009 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated Meet the Browns
2007 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Won ER
2010 Black Reel Award As a member of the Best Ensemble Nominated Notorious
In to addition to her awards and nominations for individual performances, Bassett was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008.













































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