This article delves into the life of Angela Bassett, a renowned and talented American actress. Learn more about her childhood, career milestones, and personal life on manhattanka.
Early Years
Angela Evelyn Bassett Vance, a prominent African American actress, was born on August 16, 1958, in Manhattan, to a modest family. Her father, Daniel Benjamin, was a civil servant, and her mother, Betty Jane, was a social worker. Angela’s childhood was far from easy. After the birth of her sister, D’nette, the parents’ attention shifted entirely to the newborn. As a result, Angela was sent to live with her aunt for four years.
Angela attended Jordan Park Elementary School and later Disston Middle School, where she pursued extracurricular activities such as drama and dance. She earned her higher education in the arts at Yale University. Angela’s passion for acting grew during her college years, when she actively participated in theatrical productions and even ventured into film.
Career Beginnings and Acting Achievements
Angela Bassett’s professional acting debut came in the film Doubletake, where she played the role of a prostitute. Following this, she appeared in numerous films and shows, including:
- Spenser
- The Cosby Show
- A Killing Affair
- Freedom
- Thirtysomething
- HeartBeat
- Man Called Hawk
- In the Best Interest of the Child
- Kindergarten Cop
- Alien Nation
- The Flash
- Locked Up: A Mother’s Rage
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer
- Spy Family
In 1992, Angela played Betty Shabazz in the critically acclaimed film Malcolm X, earning her an Image Award.
Her most notable performance came with the film What’s Love Got to Do with It, where she portrayed Anna Mae Bullock, earning a Golden Globe Award and an Oscar nomination. Angela went on to play leading roles in Waiting to Exhale (as Bernadine Harris), Strange Days (as Lornette Mason), How Stella Got Her Groove Back (as Stella Payne), Music of the Heart (as Janet Williams), Bosman and Lena (as Lena), Ruby’s Bucket of Blood (as Ruby Delacroix), and The Rosa Parks Story (as Rosa Louise McCauley Parks).
Other notable performances include:
- Desiree Perry in Sunshine State
- Tanya Anderson in Akeelah and the Bee
- Brenda in Meet the Browns
- Coretta Scott King in Betty and Coretta
- Athena Grant in 9-1-1
- Carol Walker in Kindred
Angela’s other works include:
- Century City
- The Lazarus Child
- Mr. 3000
- Spy
- Nothing But the Truth
- Green Lantern
- Jumping the Broom
- London Has Fallen
- 9-1-1, among many others.
Personal Life
Angela Evelyn Bassett Vance keeps her personal life relatively private. She met her husband, actor Courtney Bernard Vance, during her university years. Their paths crossed again when Angela was 38, and they married after 17 years.
The couple could not conceive children naturally and turned to a surrogate mother. They are proud parents of twins, son Slater and daughter Bronwyn. Angela and Courtney continue to live happily together. In early 2024, the couple shared their secret to a lasting marriage: mutual support, kindness, and a consistent effort to nurture their relationship.