Oscar-nominated actress Angela Bassett’s career continues to set Hollywood on fire – and it does not stop for the time being.
In a new interview with With style, the Yale-trained tespian and fashionista opens up about the famous roles she has played (such as Rosa Parks, Betty Shabazz, Tina Turner and the Queen of Wakanda in Black Panther), how she embraces aging, and what it means to fight for your worth as a black woman in Hollywood.
“I have never been motivated solely by money or fame,” she explained. “For me, it has always and only been for the joy of following my dreams. That’s what makes me feel alive. ”
“Now it’s good to be paid,” explained Bassett, who last year became one of the highest paid actresses on television for her lead role in 9-1-1. “It’s one thing I’ve been saying to myself since early in my career. I mean, I would literally say, ‘I want to work in roles that can change me and change the conversation. I want to work consistently. And I want to “It’s a matter of knowing your worth and standing up for it. It’s a good thing to be in positions and places where your worth is valued.”
“I’m glad it can affect others,” she added. Yet there is a bit of me that is from a generation where we do not talk openly about that kind of thing. But I understand what generation it is today. ”
Part of that influence, Bassett noted, is to support other women – especially black women – when they reach further milestones.
“I love supporting my sisters and I cheer for them,” he said 9-1-1 said star. “I rejoice in their successes. I applaud the brand they make and every effort they make. We are a reflection of each other. I have always been the actor who is happy to see other actors for auditions. Because you many times can find yourself as the only black woman, or one of the few. “
Looking at Bassett’s resume, it’s hard to believe that at some point in her life she experienced a serious cheat syndrome while attending the Yale School of Drama (where she met her husband, actress Courtney B. Vance).
“I would literally stand in front of my mirror and give myself a good talk,” she said of the time. “I would say, ‘How long will you be overwhelmed? Will 10 minutes serve? Fifteen?’ And I would answer, ‘Yeah, okay. Well, hold your pity party, but then after that, wash your face, ride your hair and go and do what you have to do.’ And that was probably my way of treating myself at that moment. “
Bassett’s timeless beauty is also something she is known for, which can also add pressure. But despite mockery of her looks, she hates it when people say, “You look good for your age.”
“I think when we take care of ourselves, we look good in relation to our age, no matter what age it is, you know?” she argued, adding about her routine: “I do not really use makeup if I do not have to. I just try to keep a healthy skin that I do not have to cover. Of course I have things that I deal with, such as hormonal changes and melasma. But I feel that so much of who we are is inside. So if you’re stressed, it shows up, and it shows up in your skin. “
Whatever she does, it obviously works. But for the actress, whose “true love” is the theater, it was never the goal to be the highest paid something.
“It’s so much more than I ever dreamed of,” she reflected on her career, which now includes a production company, Bassett Vance Productions, which she started with her husband.
For Bassett, her happiness lies in the journey. Not the destination.
“There is a part of you that recognizes that you are being held up in a position to inspire,” she said. “It’s wonderful to be in a position to provide opportunities for the marketplace and the screen, big and small. We both started out as just actors, but as you go on and become stronger with experience, you take the opportunities and you are grateful. ”
