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Angela Bassett’s roles are legendary, from Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It to Marie Laveau in American Horror Story to Queen Ramonda in Marvel’s Black Panther. No matter the role Angela seems to embody the character and is always unforgettable. This week People tweeted out a clip from an upcoming episode of their People Every Day podcast on iHeartRadio, in which Angela pays tribute to Cicely Tyson and is interviewed about her career. In the clip, Angela is asked which of her roles was the most difficult to embody and which was the most enjoyable. Angela states that portraying Tina Turner was the most physically, emotionally, vocally and spiritually taxing and embodying the power and spirit of Marie Laveau was the most exhilarating. Below is a transcript from the clip via Twitter:
Janine Rubenstein: “What would you say of your other roles has been the most enjoyable and then maybe the most difficult?”
Angela: “Definitely, nothing has been as difficult as Tina Turner. Nothing as difficult physically, emotionally, spiritually, vocally.
That last shot in the limo, that was the last day of filming and that day was literally 25 hours.
At the end of it, it was like, “Don’t ask me my name. I can’t give you that.”
One of the other characters that you mentioned that was enjoyable was Marie Laveau in American Horror Story.
Voodoo Queen of New Orleans in the 1800s who had all this sway in that city with all people. Black, white and even still to this day, her name and her spirit is referenced. “
Angela also admits in the interview that her children, 15 year-old twins Bronwyn and Slater, have yet to see What’s Love Got to Do With It. She received an Oscar nomination and earned a Golden Globe for her performance in that film. Angela says that when the time is right she is sure that Bronwyn and Slater will see the movie. Below are a few quotes from People:
Based on the life of singer Tina Turner, the movie follows the ups and downs of Turner’s illustrious career. Bassett’s portrayal of the singer is considered by many to be one of her best, earning her an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe win for the role.
But despite the accolades the film brought her, Bassett says her kids “haven’t seen it,” and she’s not doing anything to change that. “Let them discover it,” she said. “Let their friends discover it … maybe [then] I’d get some more respect around here! … I tell them, you don’t know what I got up my sleeve.”
That’s not to say her kids are totally in the dark about their mom’s talents: “They really enjoyed [Soul],” Bassett noted of the recent Pixar flick, to which she lent her voice.
Angela will always be my auntie in my head. I love how she is just so joyous while always giving you the business. She cracked me up when she says that she hopes her children and their friends discover What’s Love Got To Do With It on their own because then would she get some respect around her house. She will definitely get some accolades from her children after they watch WLGTDWI. Angela embodied Tina Turner. I believe Angela when she says that playing Tina Turner took everything in her and left her with nothing, because you can tell that Angela bared her soul. I am sure having to portray that level of abuse and fear would be draining. It was in WLGTDWI that I fell in love with Angela. Angela was also seared into my heart when she played Bernadine Harris in Waiting to Exhale. That scene where Bernadine lights her husband’s car and effects on fire was THE scene.
I was reminded of Angela’s range when she played Marie Laveau in American Horror Story. I still use that scene of Angela as Marie laughing hysterically as one of my favorite gifs. Angela is a badass and there aren’t many actors that can come close to her range and depth as an actor. I hope to continue to see Angela on my screen both big and small and I look forward to her reprising her role as Queen Ramonda in the Black Panther sequel. Hopefully, she will also be bringing Ramonda to the Wakandaverse in the Disney+ series as well.
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Confession : when I think of Tina Turner or hear a song by her, I instantly think of Angela Bassett and not the real Tina!! pic.twitter.com/Ojt7Yn7e8A
— ??Arian Allen?? (@ONeNaMillion22) February 3, 2021
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