Hollywood Icon Reflects on Career-Defining Moments
Two-time Oscar nominee Angela Bassett has finally addressed her 2023 Best Supporting Actress loss to Jamie Lee Curtis in a candid new interview with Town & Country, while simultaneously making history as one of only three Black actresses to receive an Honorary Academy Award. The 66-year-old screen legend revealed she initially struggled with disappointment after her critically acclaimed performance as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) failed to secure the competitive Oscar.
“I found it interesting… that I wouldn’t be allowed to be disappointed at an outcome where I thought I was deserving,” Bassett stated, while emphasizing her respect for fellow nominee Jamie Lee Curtis.
Historic Recognition
The Yale-trained actress made history in January 2024 when she received an Academy Honorary Award for her lifetime contributions to cinema, joining Whoopi Goldberg and Cicely Tyson as the only Black female performers to achieve this distinction. This recognition comes 30 years after her groundbreaking Best Actress nomination for portraying Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do With It (1993).
Current Projects & Legacy
- Action Return: Reprises CIA Director Erika Sloane role in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)
- Streaming Success: Recent Netflix fantasy film Damsel (2024) with Millie Bobby Brown
- Television Dominance: Continues as lead/producer on Fox’s 9-1-1 through Season 7
The Screen Actors Guild’s most-nominated Black actress continues breaking barriers, recently becoming Marvel Studios’ first acting Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner for superhero films. Industry analysts note her career resurgence demonstrates Hollywood’s growing appreciation for veteran talent.
