It was her badass ‘queendom’ that launched her career with a show-stopping performance as Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do With It” and in the 30 years since then, she has portrayed an impressive line-up of real-life characters from Rosa Parks to Betty Shabazz.
The same passion she brought to these portrayals is the same that she has brought brings to her slew of fictional roles. I mean, that burn baby burn scence in Waiting To Exhale where she pours gasoline on a car full of her ex’s clothes and watches it all burn while inhaling a cigarette is stamped in our minds as one of the best pieces of acting. Ever.
The Yale graduate and mother of 12-year-old twins is now 60 years old. Yeah! We’re asking how is that possible too? But part of her beauty is that she owns her decades and is determined to act like it. “I want people to see this is what 60 can look like, what 60 can do.”
We figure it’s plenty.
When we put together this list of fierce quotes from the woman born a queen, all our suspicions were confirmed.
Here are some of our favourite Angela Bassett quotes that screams: “This girl is on fire!” Happy Monday everyone.
The three things I said when I came out of school were I want to work consistently, I want to do good work and I want to be paid fairly, and that’s happened. But I didn’t become an actress for the money. I do it for other reasons.
At this stage of life, I have more patience, understanding, wisdom, resources – and a husband. I didn’t get him until I was 39. But I got a good one.
When I got married, I was all in love, but then came life intruding in, and sometimes it’s difficult … I would look at my husband and ask, ‘did we do it too quickly?’ ..But my husband was strong in his resolve. He kept reminding me that people go through this, and that we were going to be ok.
When you realize that every breath is a gift from God. When you realize how small you are, but how much he loved you. That he, Jesus, would die, the son of God himself on earth, then you…you just weep.
I am content that the work that I’ve done is wonderful.
You’re looking for places where you can grow, in some way, whether it’s a large way or a small way. I want to grow as an artist, as a person and as a woman. I want to enjoy myself and my life and the company that I’m keeping. I want to bring something to the table that’s different than anything else would bring, but that has its place and value, and then keep moving.
Acting is my calling, not my career.
I remembered that throughout my growing up and education and pursuing my dreams and desires, going into acting, and, of course, getting through Yale University and on and on and on, that being average, being mediocre was not an option that you should be proud of.
I would have to say honestly I was very pleased to be in a movie whether it was good or bad with De Niro, Norton and Brando even if I don’t have any scenes with them I thought it was pretty good company to keep.
I love vegan choices, raw food choices, and I’ll eat whatever I have to in order to get into whatever shape I need to get into for any one particular role.
