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Born
Angela Bassett was born in Harlem, New York, New York City -
Moving to Winston Salem
After her mother got pregnant again (when she was 10 months old) she sent Angela to live with her father's sister "Aunt Golden" -
Highschool
She graduated from Boca Ciega High School. -
Degree
Angela received her Bachelor's Degree in African-American studies from Yale university. -
Work
After jobs as a researcher and receptionist for a beauty salon, Angela moved to New York for some theater work. In 1985 she appeared in J.E. Franklin's "Black Girl". -
"How Stella got her Groove Back"
She headlined another McMillian movie "How Stella Got Her Groove Back". It made 39.2 million dollars at the box office. This movie is about how a 40-year old falls in love with a 20-year old -
Boyz 'N the Hood
Anglea had a key role in John Singleton's creative anti-gang film. -
The Jackson's: An American Drean
A year later she landed the role as Katherine Jackson. Who was the mother of the Jackson Five singing group. -
Malcolm X
In 1992 she also played the role as the widow and wife of Malcolm X, Betty Shabazz in Spike Lee's film "Malcolm X" (starring Denzel Washington).She won an Image Award for Best Supporting Actress. -
"What's Love Got to Do with It"
Her most critically acclaimed movie earned her big awards and nominations. It also made over $40 million in the US. The film is about the life of Tina Turner costarring Laurence Flashburne. She won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture- Comedy/ Musical and was also nominated for an Academy Award -
Waiting to Exhale
Angela costarred with Whitney Houston in the adaptation of Terry McMillian's "Waiting to Exhale". -
Contact
In Jodie Foster's encounter film, "Contact", Angela potrayed a top-level presidential advisor. -
Married
Angela got married to Courtney B. Vance. She met him while studying at Yale University. -
Shakespeare's Hamlet
Bassat played the role of Lady McBeth in Shakespeare's Hamlet, costarring Alec Baldwin, at the Joseph Papp Public Theater in New York CIty. -
Versatile Performer
Angela is a very versatile performer. She once shared the stage with her husband, Courtney in a regional production of "His Girl Friday" in 2005. -
Children
After 7 years of infertility her and her husband had twins via surrogate, Bronwyn (girl) and Slater (boy). -
Akeelah and the Bee
She starred in Akeelah and the Bee with Keke Palmer and Laurence Fishburne. She played the mother of a spelling kid who tries to win a national championship. -
ER
Her and husband Courtney both also appeared on the infamous tv show ER during their final season. -
The Notorious B.I.G.
In Notorious she played the mother role of the rapper Christopher "Biggie" Wallace. -
Broadway
In The Mountain Top, costarring Samuel L. Jackson, she played a maid who spends time with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. before his assassination. -
Betty & Corretta
On small screen play she played King's widow, Corretta Scott King, which co-starred Mary J. Blige as Betty Shabazz. She also starred in "Olympus has Fallen" as well as "Black Nativity". -
American Horror Story
She has appeared on several season of AHS including Coven (season 3) which earned her 2 Emmy Nominations, AHS: Freak Show (season 4), and Hotel (season 5). -
Black Panther
In the recently released movie,"Black Panther" Angela played the role of Wakanda's Queen and T'Challa's mother. -
How does their contributions influence your life today
Her contribtutions inspire me to never give up and always chase your dreams. Whether that be acting, singing, dancing, rapping, art, etc. -
Contributions to the Black communtiy
She has supported many charities such as UNICEF (United Nation's International Emergency Fund), Habitat for Humanity, and Boy's and Girl's club. -
How has she changed society?
Angela Bassett has been one of many examples that hard work and dedication can get you so far in life. Her career accomplishments speak for them self. There's this stigma that we as black people won't accomplish much in life but she broke that stigma and has showed that all you need is faith.
