Iconic Roles is a look at some of the best performances in film and television by actors and actresses.
Much-appreciated actress Angela Bassett is ready to reprise the character of Queen Ramonda in the upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, hoping to deliver another unforgettable performance. Throughout her career, the 64-year-old actress has made a solid reputation as a versatile artist who can effortlessly move across different genres. However, most of the credits on Bassett’s résumé come from drama movies and some are really must-watch stories.
Here is a selection of some of the best Angela Bassett drama movies.
Reva in Boyz n the Hood (1991)
One of the cult movies of the nineties sees Bassett portraying a single mother worried about the future of her ten-year-old child, Tre. Sure, Bassett’s role was minor, but it gave a glimpse of the actress’ bright future. The cast included Cuba Gooding Jr., Morris Chestnut, Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne, and Regina King. The movie had a massive impact on the lives of pretty much all the cast, who, safe for Fishburne, were in their breakout roles. Thanks to his poignant story, then-24-year-old director John Singleton became the first African-American and the youngest person to ever receive an Academy Awards nomination for Best Director, in addition to landing a Best Original Screenplay nomination.
Betty Shabazz in Malcolm X (1992)
Early in her career, Bassett impressed audiences and critics alike with her portrayal of a strong woman like Betty Shabazz, Malcolm X’s wife. In Spike Lee’s appreciated movie, Bassett displayed her vast array of emotions effortlessly, switching from serenity to sufferance and endurance. Perhaps, Bassett should have received more recognition from the Academy, who nominated just her co-star Denzel Washington for his equally outstanding work as the titular activist. The cast included Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr., Delroy Lindo, and director Lee himself. Malcolm X still stands today as one of the best Angela Bassett drama movies.
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Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993)
Arguably, the most iconic role in Bassett’s nearly-forty-year career. Once more, the African-American actress dealt with a strong woman who never gave up on her dreams and herself. Brian Gibson’s biopic on the legendary singer Tina Turner saw Bassett portraying the world’s powerhouse performer. What’s Love Got to Do with It was also one of the frequent nineties collaborations between Bassett and Fishburne. The duo showed great on-screen chemistry as husband and wife in an abusive marriage. Their efforts were rewarded with Best Actor and Actress nominations at the Oscars.
Rachel Constantine in Contact (1997)
Directed by Academy Award winner Robert Zemeckis, Contact follows the story of Dr. Eleanor Arroway (Jodie Foster) who finds evidence aliens exist. Contact had a great theatrical run, grossing over $17o million, and is still one of the best-performing movies in the actress’ career. While Bassett is just a supporting character in this story, her performance as the White House Chief of Staff to President Clinton didn’t go unnoticed. Her line about German dictator Adolf Hitler, “Twenty million people died defeating that son of a b—-, and he’s our first ambassador to outer space?” is still legendary.
Tanya Anderson in Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
Once more, Bassett gave the best of herself in the role of a widowed mother, the mother of Akeelah, an 11-year-old girl who dreams of taking part in the annual spelling bee. For the occasion, Bassett joined forces again with Fishburne, who portrayed Akeelah’s coach, Dr. Joshua Larabee. The movie also featured Keke Palmer in her breakout role as the young protagonist. Bassett perfectly depicts the inner conflict of a mother who wants to see her daughter shine but is afraid that her daughter’s dreams will collapse, leaving her and her family in a hopeless situation.
