Last night acting legend Angela Bassett received an honorary Oscar at the 14th Governors Award for her contributions to the film industry. Bassett has earned two previous nominations, including Best Actress in “What’s Love Got to Do with It” and Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
Bassett is the second Black actress to receive an honorary Oscar. Cicely Tyson received one in 2018.
Fellow actress Regina King made a rare appearance to celebrate and introduce Bassett.
“I've heard people say that Angela is the very embodiment of Black excellence but let me correct that; she has a perspective, and a voice, and a beauty that is proudly Black,” King told the audience. “But what she embodies at her core is beyond anything that is skin deep. She is artistic excellence embodied in human form.”
Bassett accepted her Oscar, saying, “This, for me, is not just another award. It’s a testament to my legacy. This trophy represents my contributions to this medium of film, all that I’ve given of my mind, body and spirit as an actress who is a Black woman. […] I proudly share this honor with women who stand up when they are told to stand back, who speak up when they are silenced, who remain determined when they are told they are defeated. These women represent those that I've had the honor to portray, as well as the everyday women who surround us and inspire us to keep striving.”
Bassett’s work is a gift. Enjoy a few of her 100+ performances at streaming options below.
Wendell & Wild (Netflix)
Strange Days (MAX)
Otherhood (Netflix)
Gunpowder Milkshake (Netflix)
Black Panther & Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney+)
The Score (Prime Video)
Waiting to Exhale (Hulu)
American Horror Story: Coven (Hulu)
911 (Hulu)
Perdita Patrice is a Texas-based writer and documentary filmmaker. She enjoys live music, reading, and watching TV. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @perditapatrice