Angela Bassett On Tuesday morning, she made Marvel history as the first star (and woman of color) in a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie and was nominated for an Oscar for her comic book. She’s been nominated before — she had a starring role in Tina Turner’s biopic What’s Love Got to Do With It nearly 30 years ago — but she’s humble and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
“I’m very excited because I know it’s been 30 years,” Bassett said. “So these coveted he’s not easy to land in just five slots.”
Throughout the season, Bassett has been given credit for his work on the film. NAACP Image Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and BAFTA Award.
As Queen Ramonda, who became sovereign of the Kingdom of Wakanda after the death of her son, King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), she is tasked with protecting the Afrofuturist nation from outside threats from neighboring nations and nations. Undersea Nation Tarokhanled by the demigod Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejia).
While the comic book did not receive Best Picture nominations like 2018’s Black Panther, it was nominated for Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Original Songs, and Visual Effects.
In a video interview from her home in Los Angeles, Bassett discussed the death of Chadwick Boseman, the death of her own character, and the jubilation she felt at her second Academy Award nomination. Excerpt.
Where were you when you heard about the nominations?
You knew Super Tuesday was coming up, so I set my alarm for 5:25 am. I woke up around 11pm and I think I woke up at 3:45pm. The tap turned on the adrenaline and flooded me.
When he can’t sleep, he gets out of bed and walks around in the dark. So I was like, “But what time is it?” and looked at the clock.it’s 5:25 am [a few minutes before the nominations would be announced on the West Coast]I tried to turn on the TV, but it didn’t work. I thought i was going to miss it. I didn’t know how to turn on the TV. But finally I started doing it and when it started I was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s the first category! I’m glad you came on time.
The film has an unmistakable female energy, from the moment it references the nation of Wakanda by pronoun “her” to the introduction of female prodigy Lili Williams, played by Dominic Thorne. How does this movie empower young black girls?
I am very proud that this film is focused and led by black women.It’s not the first time, but “Waiting to Exhale” is the same. [1995], It was the first and was led by four black women. I think I have been in this position before. So I’m happy with it, I’m excited about it, and I hope it tells Black girls, we’re winning.
The movie and its creative team lost Chadwick Boseman, the leader of Wakanda, who got cancer in 2020. How did you handle his death and bring your grief onto screen? What would Chadwick think of the film?
I treated it with great pride and love and respect for who he was and who he was. , was to use all the feelings we felt for him, all the memories we have of him and put it into work and hopefully make it. Special. That’s what he would have done and what he wanted for us.
Your character drowns during an attack led by Namor. What was it like shooting that scene?
That scene, thankfully, the water was warm.There were girls Lupita [Nyong’o]Danai [Gurira]Of course I was ready for the day. It wasn’t as sad as the day I thought it would happen. That’s for sure.
Looking at your lifelong acting career, how do you feel about this being your second nomination?
I’m into it, but part of it would argue that you have to keep your feet firmly on the ground, the earth, the earth. Saying yes to work and personal excitement will always be the case.
These awards are a wonderful gift from your peers in your community, and this is certainly the pinnacle of that. Working. That’s why I can’t sit around heaven all day long.
