The following article contains references to sexual assault.
Angela Bassett was a queen in many people’s eyes long before she took the throne in Wakanda.
Her role in 1993’s"What’s Love Got To Do With It.
“catapulted her to stardom and earned her an Oscar nomination.
The Yale University graduate has stunned audiences in films, theater productions, and television.
She’s currently thehighest-paid actress of color on a dramatic series.
With a career spanning almost 40 years, Bassett has accomplished everything an actress dreams of.
However, her life off the screen hasn’t been glamorous.
Her childhood wasn’t much of a fairytale, and her road to success wasn’t smooth.
Here are a few tragic details about Angela Bassett you probably haven’t heard.
She was born in New York but relocated to Florida as a child.
“They took me as a 10-month-old baby and raised me,” Bassett tellsPeople.
Despite seeing her aunt as a maternal figure, Bassett still yearned for a real connection with her mother.
Bassett recalls that time as a difficult period, as her mother struggled to provide for the family.
However, her mother displayed a lot of determination, which was an attitude Bassett would later adopt.
“And set high standards.
But, yeah, she set high standards.”
Despite having a difficult childhood, Bassett credits her mother for inadvertently pointing her toward the world of acting.
In an interview withThe Guardian, she joked that her mother had a bit of a dramatic side.
The actor has frequently used her platform to address real issues and open up about her life experiences.
Bassett recalled a moment when her mother’s boyfriend entered her room as she slept.
After the assault, a young Bassett made the brave decision to speak up.
She confided in her mother, who jumped into action to protect her.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available.
However, their journey to parenthood included years of struggle and many heartbreaks.
During their arduous journey, the couple leaned on each other.
Bassett never lost faith.
“I was devastated when it didn’t happen [again and again].
The couple’s surrogate helped them welcome fraternal twins Bronwyn Golden and Slater Josiah.
Having twins had crossed Vance’s mind before.
“I didn’t know how it was going to happen.”
With two award-winning actors as parents, the twins have a bright future ahead of them.
Bassett toldPeoplethat her kids are eager to follow their success.
“It’s a little music, a little sports.
But whatever they want to do, I support them.”
The actress has spoken out about racism, discussing the importantrole representation can playin challenging stereotypes.
“It can’t come from their young minds,” Bassett said of their racist behavior.
“It’s something that they’ve heard somewhere.”
In an interview withESPN, Bassett explains that helps young children like her own feel a sense of pride.
They are princesses, and our sons are princes,” she said.
For Black actors like Angela Bassett, the mere chance of getting a fair audition is rare.
She wanted roles that weren’t stereotypical depictions of Black women roles that showcase her versatility.
“I would love to have an Oscar.
“So yeah, I didn’t really believe.
And I’m 64 years old it’s, like, ‘Okay, when?’
It’s been 30 years now.
We’re burning daylight!
When’s this gonna happen?
She lost her mother to heart failure
In 2014, Angela Bassett suffered a heartbreaking loss.
Her mother, Betty Jane, passed away from heart failure.
By raising awareness, Bassett hopes to urge others to take their health more seriously.
“And of course, I have to be an advocate for my kids …
I think I’m a little bit more hyper and concerned about them than even myself sometimes.”
Director Ryan Coogler had the difficult task of writing and directing a sequel without his noble king.
“We are all going through this grief.
Before the emotional shoot, the cast came together for a special cause.
“We went to visit together his resting place,” Bassett said onThe Kelly Clarkson Show.
“It was a beautiful day.
That was really, really lovely.”
According to Bassett, Gibson demanded many takes of the music numbers and even had her working 25-hour days.
During one graphic rape scene, Bassett recalled the director’s insensitivity.
“We would do the rape scene.
Because Brian would listen to him before he would listen to me,” said Bassett.
Her role as the powerful Queen Ramonda grappling with the loss of her son created immediate Oscar buzz.
Bassett was previously nominated in 1994 for her iconic portrayal of Tina Turner but ultimately lost.
“So I took his hand and held it softly as the winner was announced.
Although his name wasn’t called, Austin is no less a winner.”
