The Top 10 Angela Bassett Films of All time
A journey that started in a small role in the TV film Doubletake in 1985 that ultimately lead to leading the United States against a malevolent artificial intelligence in Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, the career of Angela Bassett is one that has garnered immense acclaim over its course of 40 years. Her work goes beyond film too, as she is a noteworthy actor in both television and theater.
Bassett’s work has made her one of the most decorated actresses of her generation, having won two Golden Globes, 17 NAACP Image Awards, and five Black Reel Awards, and she has been nominated for two Academy Awards and eight Emmy Awards. In January of 2024, Bassett was presented with an Academy Honorary Award for her exceptional work.
Deciding which of Bassett’s performances are her very best is a difficult task given the sheer amount and variety of her roles. Each one showcases Bassett’s many facets as a performer, displaying strength, passion, and nuance in every character. For this list of 10, there will be a focus on her leading roles in film.
10. Boesman and Lena
Year: 2000 | Genre: Drama
Premise: Directed by John Berry and adapted from Athol Fugard’s play of the same name, the film follows the couple Boesman, played by Danny Glover, and Lena, played by Bassett, as they must scavenge during the apartheid era after having been driven from their shanty by the White man.
Performance: While this is a performance found in a film, the role itself allows Bassett to be as theatrical as she pleases in her acting style. Bassett plays this role as if she herself was on a stage, as she brings Lena to life with larger-than-life expressions, body language, and emotions. Furthermore, her performance contrasts with that of Glover’s Boesman, who is relatively subdued by comparison, and so the burden is on Bassett to bring the emotion where it matters most.
She does this effortlessly. From the very first scene, Bassett’s expressions highlight Lena’s dissatisfaction with her husband and her own life, feeling unfulfilled. The following monologue further highlights these feelings, with Bassett’s delivery perfectly encapsulating all of this. These facets are all maintained throughout the film, leaving this performance as a shining example of Bassett’s ability as a theatrical actress.
For her performance, she was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture.
9. Akeelah and the Bee
Year: 2006 | Genre: Drama
Premise: Written and directed by Doug Atchison, the film tells the story of 11-year-old Akeelah Anderson, played by Keke Palmer. She decides to enter into the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition despite her classmates’ derision and her mother’s antipathy. Due to efforts from her teacher, Dr. Larabee, played by Laurence Fishburne, Akeelah makes it to the finals where she gets to know her fellow competitors.
Performance: In this film, Bassett plays Akeelah’s mother, Tanya Anderson, who is a widow. While coming across as a typical, controlling single parent who ultimately wants the best for Akeelah, Bassett imbues the role with strength, dignity, and heaps of compassion. Throughout the film, Tanya keeps Akeelah grounded, highlighting the real struggle of their family.
Bassett’s performance very much shines in scenes alongside Palmer’s Akeelah, with Bassett bringing the power and strength in scenes where Tanya chastises her daughter. Yet there is always an underlying layer of compassion in Bassett’s tone of voice, showing that no matter what, she loves her daughter wholeheartedly.
For her performance, Bassett was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.
8. Jumping the Broom
Year: 2011 | Genre: Comedy Drama
Premise: Directed by Salim Akil, this film follows Sabrina Watson, played by Paula Patton, who comes from an old-money family. She falls in love with Jason Taylor, played by Laz Alonso, and agrees to marry him. A class conflict arises as Sabrina’s aristocratic parents meet Jason’s postal-worker mother.
Performance: In this film, Bassett plays the mother of Sabrina, Claudine Watson. She initially comes across as a stubborn, stuck-up, and snobbish rich person who, while caring and loving towards her daughter, stands in complete contrast to Jason and his mother. Yet throughout the film, Claudine holds a secret regarding her daughter that, once revealed, explains her nature and why she holds her daughter so close to her.
While this film is largely comedic, there are certainly moments of potent drama, and Bassett finds herself at the center of both. She effortlessly balances these facets of her character, leaving the audience chuckling at some of Claudine’s comedic deliveries, in-shock at some of her snobbish remarks, and in awe when Bassett has to bring the heavy emotion.
7. How Stella Got Her Groove Back
Year: 1998 | Genre: Romantic Comedy
Premise: Directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan and based on Terry McMillan’s 1996 novel of the same name, the film follows successful stockbroker Stella Payne, played by Bassett, who is also a single parent raising her 11-year-old son Quincy, played by Michael J. Pagan. Stella jets to Jamaica with her friend Delilah, played by Whoopi Goldberg, where she has an island fling with a man in his twenties named Winston, played by Taye Diggs. However, Stella begins to develop real feelings for the man.
Performance: This is yet another performance that requires Bassett to balance both comedic and dramatic elements. Stella and her friend Delilah have electric chemistry from their first scene, with Bassett perfectly embodying Stella’s excitement and mischief at the thought of having various flings with men on a beautiful island.
Yet, the moments where Stella has to grapple with her feelings for Winston and her own struggles in life are where Bassett’s performance really shines. Her ability to showcase Stella’s shifting feelings and thoughts is perfectly done, and the moment she finally says yes to Winston is delivered so excellently that it fully instills the audience with a sense of relief and catharsis.
For her performance, Bassett won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture.
6. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Year: 2022 | Genre: Superhero Action
Premise: Directed by Ryan Coogler and based on Marvel Comics, this Marvel Studios blockbuster is a sequel to 2018’s Black Panther. Following the death of T’Challa, Queen Ramonda, played by Bassett, her daughter Shuri, played by Letitia Wright and Okoye, played by Danai Gurira must work to protect Wakanda from the rest of the world. Trouble comes when they come into conflict with another vibranium wielding nation, Talokan, which is based underwater and led by Namor, played by Tenoch Huerta.
Performance: This is perhaps Bassett’s strongest performance of this decade and possibly even of the 21st century. Due to the death of her son, Ramonda is the de-facto ruler of Wakanda. She must face mounting pressure from the United Nations in regards to Wakanda’s role in the world, contend with issues within her inner circle, prepare for a potential war with another powerful nation and on top of all that, grapple with her grief.
These are all elements Bassett masterfully balances, leading to one of the best performances of the decade so far. Her shining moment is when she tears into Okoye and her surrounding council about how she has lost her family and given everything for Wakanda. Despite these warring emotions, Bassett continues to imbue Ramonda with dignity and power. She steals every scene she is in and is the standout performance in this film.
Bassett garnered much acclaim for this role, winning the Golden Globe, NAACP Image Award, and Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress, in addition to receiving the first acting nomination for a Marvel Studios production when she was nominated for the corresponding Academy Award.
5. Black Panther
Year: 2018 | Genre: Superhero Action
Premise: Also directed by Ryan Coogler, this film follows on from Marvel Studios’ 2016 film Captain America: Civil War. The story follows T’Challa, having recently been crowned king of Wakanda following his father’s death, grappling with Wakanda’s place in the world as he comes into conflict with arms dealer Ulysses Klaue, played by Andy Serkis, and his associate Erik Killmonger, played by Michael B. Jordan, who plan to end Wakanda’s isolationist policies and start a revolution.
Performance: Compared to her powerhouse performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Bassett’s performance in the preceding film is more subdued and calmer as she serves more as a wise advisor to Boseman’s T’Challa. Regardless, she grieves for the death of her husband and later shows a far more powerful form of grief mixed with a desire for vengeance when it seems her son was killed.
Bassett really shines in the second half of the film, when T’Challa is seemingly killed by the antagonist Killmonger. In this moment, her grief and despair are raw, and Bassett’s performance makes the moment T’Challa falls hit hard for audiences. Later on in the film, in front of M’Baku, Bassett perfectly portrays a newfound determination for justice and vengeance in Ramonda, which is thankfully quelled at the reveal that her son is alive. Her relief is palpable in that moment, all thanks to Bassett’s performance.
For her performance, Bassett was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Black Reel Awards.
4. The Rosa Parks Story
Year: 2002 | Genre: Historical Drama
Premise: Directed by Julie Dash, this TV film is an account of the life of Rosa Parks, played by Bassett.
Performance: Biopics are often vehicles in which actors show their ability to truly embody other people, and this is very much the case here. Bassett not only must match the mannerisms and personality of Rosa Parks in her performance, but must also inject the role with her own specialties and facets to truly make it her own.
Bassett perfectly embodies Rosa Parks in every aspect. She brilliantly showcases Parks’ strength, dignity, and determination. Without a doubt the highlight is the moment on the bus. Not a word is spoken by Bassett; everything comes through in her performance, perfectly portraying this moment of defiance in a way that can only inspire those that see it.
For this performance, Bassett won the NAACP Image Award for Best Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.
3. Malcolm X
Year: 1992 | Genre: Biographical Drama
Premise: Directed and co-written by Spike Lee, this film follows the life of African-American activist Malcolm X, played by Denzel Washington.
Performance: Yet another role where Bassett must play a major historical figure, she plays Betty Shabazz, a nurse who later marries Malcolm. Throughout the film, she must not only love and support Malcolm in his endeavors, but she also contends with him and must force him to contend with truths that he may otherwise turn away from.
All that was said about Bassett’s performance in The Rosa Parks Story applies here, with her not only portraying Betty accurately but also in a way that makes the role unique to Bassett. She effortlessly matches the intensity of Denzel Washington, which is an incredible feat. In their arguments, they go blow for blow, and yet despite this drama, Bassett nonetheless delivers the emotion and raw grief by the film’s conclusion when Malcolm is killed.
For her performance, Bassett won the NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress.
2. Waiting to Exhale
Year: 1995 | Genre: Romantic Comedy
Premise: Directed by Forest Whitaker in his feature film directorial debut and adapted from the 1992 novel of the same name by Terry McMillan, the film follows four young women who lean on each other for support in the face of bad relationships with men.
Performance: Bassett plays Bernadine “Bernie” Harris in this film. She is a mother of two children with her husband John. She had dreams of running a catering business, which she abandoned to support her husband and children, but things go south when her husband reveals he is divorcing her. What unfolds is a rampage of anger as Bernie burns her husband’s things.
Bassett beautifully portrays this cocktail of shock, resentment, and explosive anger. This is another prime showcase of Bassett utilizing large expressions and strong body language to convey her character’s emotions. Upon burning her husband’s things in his car, Bernie walks away with the fire in the background. Bassett, through her facial expressions and body language, showcases her character’s catharsis, and as a result, the audience feels it too.
For this performance, Bassett received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture.
1. What’s Love Got to Do with It
Year: 1993 | Genre: Biographical Drama
Premise: Directed by Brian Gibson, this film follows the life of singer-songwriter Tina Turner, played by Bassett, based upon the autobiography I, Tina.
Performance: Finally, this is arguably considered Bassett’s breakthrough performance. Musical biopics are one of the greatest challenges an actor undertakes since they must not only embody the figure themselves, but they must learn to sing, dance, and act like them whilst also bringing their own unique flair to the role. All of which Bassett pulls off flawlessly.
Bassett worked tirelessly to learn how to move, talk, and dance like Turner, and her effort is clear as day on-screen. She completely disappears into the role, embodying this film’s depiction of Turner fully. Bassett masterfully portrays the complex emotions and thoughts even in moments that aren’t musical spectacle. A scene of Turner talking to a hotel manager is rife with emotion all thanks to Bassett’s performance. From start to finish, Bassett never once slips, leading to a portrayal that is utterly mesmerizing.
Bassett garnered great acclaim for this performance, for she received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She also won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture.