2023 NAACP Image Awards: 3 Things To Know About Angela Bassett
It’s safe to say Angela Bassett did the thing. The legendary actress took home several honors during the 54th annual NAACP Image Awards hosted by actress and producer Queen Latifah, including “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture,” “Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series,” and “Entertainer of the Year.”
The veteran has been in the industry for over two decades, but there’s still a lot some people may not know about the onscreen trailblazer. So, in honor of her winning, here are three things about the thespian that’ll probably shock you.
She was inspired to get into acting after watching the play Of Mice and Men
During an 11th-grade class trip to Washington, D.C., Bassett saw a rendition of the play Of Mice and Men featuring a not-yet-famous James Earl Jones at the Kennedy Center. It was then that Bassett first considered acting as a full-time career.
She holds the most wins for “Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture” in Image Award history
Over the years, Bassette has earned dozens of award nominations. During the 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards, she earned her fifth “Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture” award for her role on 9-1-1. The actress holds the record for the most wins in that category, with five total. Whoopi Goldberg and Viola Davis follow with four wins each.
She was initially set to star in Monster’s Ball
Once upon a time, Bassett was offered the lead role as Leticia Musgrove in the 2001 drama film Monster’s Ball, but she made it clear she wanted no parts. As fans may remember, actress Halle Berry went on to star in the film, ultimately winning “Best Actress” at the 74th Academy Awards, making her the first and only Black woman to win the award.
In an interview with Newsweek, she opened up about refusing the gig, telling the outlet, “It's about putting something out there you can be proud of 10 years later. I mean, Meryl Streep won Oscars without all that.”
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