Finally!
Our beloved auntie, the incomparable actress, Angela Bassett, is slated to receive an honorary Oscar at the 2023 Governors Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Monday.
Angela Bassett’s career trajectory is a testament to her unrelenting dedication to her craft and her commitment to honoring the complex, strong, and multi-faceted characters she has brought to life. She earned her first Oscar nomination for her role as the iconic Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” in 1993. Almost thirty years later she returned to the Academy Awards for her second nomination for her stellar performance as Queen Ramonda in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” While Bassett didn’t walk away with the statuette, she still made history becoming the first Black person, first woman and first Marvel Studios actor to be nominated for a performance in a comic book adaptation.
Her ability to completely inhabit a role, infusing it with depth and humanity, is her hallmark. Bassett’s wide range of performances includes historical figures such as Rosa Parks in “The Rosa Parks Story,” Coretta Scott King in “Betty & Coretta,” and Katherine Jackson in “The Jacksons: An American Dream”. Each of these roles caused viewers to take a double look as Bassett morphed into an indistinguishable version of the women whose stories she brought to life on screen.
In recent years, her roles in the hit TV show “American Horror Story” and our beloved blockbuster movie “Black Panther” have given Bassett the opportunity to continue showcasing her talent, proving that she can conquer any genre.
There is no doubt that her depth, range, and dedication to her craft earned her an Oscar even in the absence of winning one. And while we look forward to the day when members of the academy give Black films the time and attention they deserve prior to their votes, we also proudly celebrate this honor for the matchless body of work Bassett has given us over the last four decades.
Angela Bassett, we salute your immeasurable talent, your impactful career, and the trail you continue to blaze for future generations.
Bassett was given the award by fellow actress Regina King at the 2023 Governors Award in (insert city) on January 9, 2024). Check out the full speech below:
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