Hot Sexy Image Angela Evelyn Bassett 
| Angela Bassett | |
|---|---|
Angela Bassett in the 2007 Red Dress Collection for The Heart Truth campaign | |
| Born | Angela Evelyn Bassett August 16, 1958 Harlem, New York, United States |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse(s) | Courtney B. Vance (1997-present) |
Television and film career
| | This article may be written from a fan's point of view, rather than a neutral point of view. Please clean it up to conform to a higher standard of quality, and to make it neutral in tone. (May 2008) |
In 1985, Bassett made her first television appearance 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.
In 1992 Bassett played Katherine Jackson (Michael Jackson's mother) in the Mini Series American Dream: The Jacksons. Later in 1992, Bassett won the role of Tina Turner in the feature film What's Love Got to Do with It (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.
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 chauffeur and bodyguard. Bernadine Harris, 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 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.
Bassett joined the regular cast of the medical drama series ER for the show's final season. 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 also played her television husband on ER as Russell Banfield.
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 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."
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. The couple's children, son Slater Josiah and daughter Bronwyn Golden, were born on January 27, 2006. During an interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show, the couple confirmed that the twins were born via a surrogate mother after several years of unsuccessful attempts at conceiving naturally.
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 between $20,000-$30,000 per appearance.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
| 1986 | F/X | TV Reporter | |
| 1990 | Kindergarten Cop | Stewardess | |
| 1991 | Critters 4 | Fran | Released Straight-to-Video |
| Boyz n the Hood | Reva Devereaux | ||
| City of Hope | Reesha | ||
| 1992 | Passion Fish | Dawn/Rhonda | |
| Innocent Blood | U.S. Attorney Sinclair | ||
| Malcolm X | Betty Shabazz | ||
| 1992 | The Jacksons: An American Dream | Katherine Jackson | |
| 1993 | What's Love Got to Do with It | Anna Mae Bullock/Tina Turner | Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress |
| 1995 | Vampire in Brooklyn | Det. Rita Veder | |
| Panther | Betty Shabazz | ||
| Strange Days | Lornette 'Mace' Mason | ||
| 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 |
| Music of the Heart | Principal Janet Williams | ||
| 2000 | Supernova | Dr. Kaela Evers | |
| Whispers: An Elephant's Tale | Groove | Voice Role | |
| Boesman and Lena | Lena | ||
| 2001 | The Score | Diane | |
| 2002 | Sunshine State | Desiree Stokes Perry | |
| 2003 | Masked and Anonymous | Mistress | |
| 2004 | The Lazarus Child | Dr. Elizabeth Chase | |
| 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 | |
| Of Boys and Men | Rieta Cole | ||
| Meet the Browns | Brenda Brown | ||
| Nothing But the Truth | Bonnie Benjamin | ||
| 2009 | Notorious | Voletta Wallace | Supporting Role |
| The Princess and the Frog | Eudora | ||
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1985 | Doubletake | Prostitute at Headquarters | CBS TV-Movie |
| 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 | Episode: The Master's Mirror Episode: Never My Love |
| Tour of Duty | Lt. Camilla Patterson | Episode: Hard Stripe Episode: The Volunteer | |
| 227 | Amy Burnett | Episode: A Pampered Tale | |
| Thirtysomething | Kate Harriton | Episode: Legacy | |
| 1990 | Family of Spies | Bev Andress | CBS TV-Movie |
| Alien Nation | Renee Longstreet | Episode: Eyewitness News | |
| Challenger | Cheryl McNair | ABC TV-Movie | |
| Equal Justice | Janet Fields | Episode: Goodbye, Judge Green | |
| In the Best Interest of the Child | Lori | CBS TV-Movie | |
| 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 |
| The Flash | Linda Lake | Episode: Beat the Clock | |
| Fire: Trapped on the 37th Floor | Allison | ABC TV-Movie | |
| Stat | Dr. Willie Burns | Episode: Ladyfinger | |
| The Heroes of Desert Storm | Lt. Phoebe Jeter | ABC TV-Movie | |
| Locked Up: A Mother's Rage | Willie | TV-Movie | |
| One Special Victory | Lois | NBC TV-Movie | |
| 1992 | Nightmare Cafe | Evelyn | Episode: Sanctuary for a Child |
| The Jacksons: An American Dream | Katherine Jackson | ABC Miniseries | |
| 1995 | Get Smart | Uncredited Role Runway Model | Episode: Pilot |
| 2001 | Ruby's Bucket of Blood | Ruby Delacroix | Showtime TV-Movie |
| 2002 | The Rosa Parks Story | Rosa Louise McCauley Parks | CBS TV-Movie |
| 2003 | Freedom: A History of Us | Sheyann Webb Melba Pattillo | PBS Miniseries Episode: Marching to Freedom Land Episode: Let Freedom Ring |
| 2005 | Alias | CIA Director Hayden Chase | Episode: Authorized Personnel Only (1) Episode: The Index Episode: The Descent Episode: Search And Rescue |
| 2006 | Time Bomb | Jill Greco | CBS TV-Movie |
| 2008-2009 | ER | Dr. Cate Banfield | |
