![9-1-1 Season 7 Finale Recap: Eddie Says Goodbye to Christopher, Bobby’s Fate](/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/What-Happened-on-9-1-1-Season-7-Episode-10-Breaking-Down-That-Wild-Finale-01.jpg?crop=0px%2C47px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Angela Bassett
Before her successful acting career, Angela Bassett was born in New York City. The Music of the Heart star relocated to North Carolina and then to St. Petersburg, Florida, before starting her education. After finishing high school as a member of the Upward Bound college prep program, Bassett attended Yale University where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in African-American studies in 1980. Three years later, the award-winning actress earned her Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama.
Bassett started her acting career in the theater and one of her first performances was when she appeared in the 1985 production of Black Girl in New York City. That same year, the New York native made her television debut as a prostitute in the TV movie Doubletake. Bassett relocated to Los Angeles in 1988 for more acting jobs. Throughout the 90s, the A Man Called Hawk actress earned industry attention for her roles in films such as 1991’s Boyz in the Hood, 1992’s Malcolm X, 1993’s What’s Love Got to Do with It, 1998’s How Stella Got Her Groove Back and 1999’s Music of the Heart. Her performance as Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It earned her the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and an Academy Award nomination.
Throughout the 2000s, Bassett appeared in several highly acclaimed films including 2009’s Notorious, 2018’s Blank Panther and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Her performance in the 2022 Marvel film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever earned her a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Bassett married actor Courtney B. Vance in 1997 and welcomed twins Slater and Bronwyn in 2006 via surrogate.
You might also be interested in:
Articles about Angela Bassett
![9-1-1 Season 7 Finale Recap: Eddie Says Goodbye to Christopher, Bobby’s Fate](/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/What-Happened-on-9-1-1-Season-7-Episode-10-Breaking-Down-That-Wild-Finale-01.jpg?crop=0px%2C47px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
![911 Season 7 Episode 9 Recap Eddie Pretends Kim Is His Dead Wife and Spoilers Possible Death](/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/911-Season-7-Episode-9-Recap-Eddie-Pretends-Kim-Is-His-Dead-Wife-and-Spoilers-Possible-Death-1.jpg?crop=0px%2C8px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Breaking Down '9-1-1' Season 7 Episode 9: Did [Spoiler] Just Die?
![9-1-1 Recap Angela Bassett References](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/9-1-1-Recap-Angela-Bassett-References-2.jpg?crop=0px%2C37px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Angela Bassett Mourns ‘9-1-1’ Crew Member After Fatal Car Crash
![Hacks Deborah Vance Is 1st Fictional Star to Get Tom Cruise Coconut Cake](/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Hacks-Deborah-Vance-Is-1st-Fictional-Star-to-Get-Tom-Cruise-Coconut-Cake-1.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Hacks’ Deborah Vance Is 1st Fictional Star to Get Tom Cruise's Coconut Cake
![Angela Bassett Good American Jeans](/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/angela-bassett-jeans.jpg?crop=0px%2C12px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Angela Bassett Shines Bright In These Embellished Kardashian-Approved Jeans
![The Talks Sheryl Underwood Roasts Peter Krause for Making Angela Bassett Get in the Water on 911](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/The-Talks-Sheryl-Underwood-Roasts-Peter-Krause-for-Making-Angela-Bassett-Get-in-the-Water-on-9-1-1-0.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C1998px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
'The Talk' Roasts 9-1-1's Peter Krause for Making Angela Bassett Get in Water
![Angela Bassett Jokes She Might Need 'Therapy’ After Sending Kids to College: 'Feeling Very Sad'](/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Angela-Bassett-Jokes-She-Might-Need-Therapy-After-Sending-Kids-to-College-Feeling-Very-Sad-1.jpg?crop=6px%2C8px%2C1270px%2C717px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Angela Bassett Jokes She Might Need 'Therapy’ After Sendings Kids to College
![Season 7 Trailer Gives Off Titanic Vibes Teases Deadly Ship Wreck](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Season-7-Trailer-Gives-Off-Titanic-Vibes-Teases-Deadly-Ship-Wreck.jpg?crop=137px%2C0px%2C1689px%2C953px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
‘9-1-1’ Season 7 Trailer Gives Off ‘Titanic’ Vibes, Teases Deadly Shipwreck
![Millie Bobby Brown to Star in Netflix s Damsel](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Millie-Bobby-Brown-to-Star-in-Netflix-s-Damsel-2.jpg?w=600&h=338&crop=1&quality=86&strip=all)
Millie Bobby Brown Enters Her 'Warrior Era' in Netflix's 'Damsel'
![Feature A Guide to Ryan Murphy Television Universe](/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Feature-A-Guide-to-Ryan-Murphy-Television-Universe.jpg?crop=0px%2C64px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
A Comprehensive Guide to Ryan Murphy’s Sprawling Television Universe
![Angela Bassetts fashion gallery](/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Angela-Bassetts-fashion-gallery.jpg?crop=0px%2C115px%2C1391px%2C786px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Angela Bassett Shows Skin in Embellished Suit at ‘Orion and the Dark’ Premiere
![Stars Who Are Continually Snubbed by the Oscars Leonardo DiCaprio Margot Robbie and More](/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Stars-Who-Are-Continually-Snubbed-by-the-Oscars-Leonardo-DiCaprio-Margot-Robbie-and-More.jpg?crop=0px%2C82px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Margot Robbie and More Stars Who Are Continually Snubbed by the Oscars
![Angela Bassett's Family Guide: Get to Know Her 2 Kids With Husband Courtney B. Vance](/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Angela-Bassetts-Family-Guide-Get-to-Know-Her-2-Kids-With-Husband-Courtney-B.-Vance1.jpg?crop=229px%2C29px%2C1552px%2C877px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
A Guide to Angela Bassett's Family: Husband Courtney B. Vance, 2 Kids
![Angela Bassett Pays Tribute to Black Actresses in Honorary Oscar Speech](/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Angela-Bassett-Pays-Tribute-to-Black-Actresses-in-Honorary-Oscar-Speech-2.jpg?crop=0px%2C78px%2C1543px%2C871px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Angela Bassett Pays Tribute to Black Actresses in Honorary Oscar Speech
![Governors Awards 2024](/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Governors-Awards-2024-Red-Carpet-Arrivals-Feature.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
The Best Fashion From the 2024 Governors Awards
![Best Beauty Looks At The 2024 Golden Globes](/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Best-Beauty-Looks-At-The-2024-Golden-Globes-5-e1704690466358.jpg?crop=0px%2C51px%2C1333px%2C754px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
These Makeup and Hair Looks Dominated the 2024 Golden Globes Red Carpet
![Celebrities Can't Stop Wearing Red kendall jenner sydney sweeney angela bassett](/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Celebrities-Cant-Stop-Wearing-Red-kendall-jenner-sydney-sweeney-angela-bassett.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C1998px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Celebrities Are Seeing Red This Fall and Winter: Sydney Sweeney and More
![Celebs at Museum Gala](/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Celebs-at-Museum-Gala-.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Natalie Portman, Lupita Nyong'o and More Rock the 2023 Academy Museum Gala
![Celebs at Paris Fashion Week](/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Celebs-at-Paris-Fashion-Week.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
The Stars Are Showing Out at Paris Fashion Week Spring 2024
![Paris Hilton and Angela Bassett Walk in Mugler Show](/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Paris-Hilton-and-Angela-Bassett-Walk-in-Mugler-Show-4.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C2000px%2C1131px&resize=600%2C338&quality=86&strip=all)
Angela Bassett Makes Runway Debut in Mugler Show Alongside Paris Hilton
![american-horror-story-cast-members](/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/american-horror-story-cast-members.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C1200px%2C679px&resize=600%2C338&quality=40&strip=all)