Angela Bassett secured another accolade at the 14th Governors Awards, where she was honored with an Oscar for her significant contributions to the film industry.
During her acceptance speech, the 65-year-old actress acknowledged "trailblazing" Black actresses who paved the way before her, such as Ruby Dee, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson, and Rosalind Cash. Reflecting on their influence, she described them as her North Star, guiding light, and proof that, despite challenges, she could fulfill her deep-seated destiny.
Last year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that Bassett, alongside Mel Brooks and Carol Littleton, would receive Honorary Oscars at the originally scheduled Nov. 18 ceremony. Academy President Janet Yang highlighted Bassett's decades-long career, praising her for delivering transcendent performances that set new standards in acting.
While previously earning two Oscar nominations, in 1993 for Best Actress in "What’s Love Got to Do with It" and in 2022 for Best Supporting Actress in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," Bassett has left an indelible mark in roles like Tina Turner in "What’s Love Got to Do with It" and Bernadine in the 1995 romantic drama "Waiting to Exhale."
