Personal/Candid Angela B Interview

Its only once in a blue moon when I get to read an Angela Bassett interview that really leaves me a little bit wiser about the acting Queen. Angie's always got something profound and enlightening to say, but its hard to find an interviewer who asks the right questions that really get "the queen to speak."


Chris Yandek is one of those interviewers that are seemingly born inquisitive. He is a journalist way too young to be so good at what he does and way too talented not be on some Entertainment show informing us of the latest celebrity news. When I read his recent interview with our girl, Ang, I was more than awed by his ability to pose questions that not only made her think but were questions that us BassettHounds would love to know. From her new Star, to her new movie, from politics to plastic surgery. I've never heard an AB interview quite like this one. So of course I was happy to chat with Chris about the interview that he says he'll never forget with a woman who we all can admire. Here is his commentary on how the interview came to be:

Chris Yandek on Preparing for Angie B!

I am 22 years old and have been interviewing people since I was 15. It's been 7.5 years and over 500 interviews by now, but Angela Bassett left me something I will never forget.

On Thursday March 20th I was sitting at a computer in one of my classes at the University of Florida. I am a junior majoring in Telecommunications of course. I had received an email from one of my favorite publicists. She told me tomorrow she was running a media tour with Angela Bassett for her latest movie Meet The Browns and asked me if I'd like one of the interview times. I wrote back and said absolutely. Trying hard not to cheer I left my class and thought about the interview.

The evening before the interview I prepared and thought about the social issues I could talk about with her the following morning. I had never been scared or intimidated to ask somebody about anything. I knew I had to include talk of black churches in America, talk about Obama's campaign, and talked about her aging gracefully. As I tell her in the interview, she looks damn good and way younger than her age of 49. Finally at around midnight I did a news search and found out she had just gotten her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I had my interview direction and knew I would make the most of my time.

The next morning I sat up as I always do and waited for the call. She arrived early and asked again where the interview was going. I promised I'd get it out there and she accepted that. We did a quick sound check and the interview started at around 10:20 AM EST my time and 7:20 AM PST her time. The difference between this and other interviews is that it felt more personal. I felt like she was a friend I knew and someone I respected. I could also tell she valued my originality and my ability to not ask the same things she's heard over and over again. It was more a conversation with a friend and I wasn't afraid of her and she was very comfortable with me.

I think it's important to talk about a star's movie, project, but they also enjoy talking about personal and social issues as well. I always have believed it's important to get some things that are new and real out of every interview subject. It's how I try to stand out as a media personality besides being compelling.

As the interview ended I said my goodbye and I was shaking a little bit. The legends of the business leave you with something you never forget. I encourage anyone who is a fan of hers or entertainment in general to check it out. There aren't many like her. I look forward to the day when I can meet my fellow Floridian in person and tell her thanks for an amazing interview and story that I will carry with me the rest of my life. If only every interview could be as personal, inspiring, and real as that one, but I give my all in everything I do.

Chris

You can listen to the entire interview via Chris's site [CYInterview.com]

Angela Receives Her Star

The Bassetthounds are always boasting of Angela's radiance on and off screen. Therefore we were more than proud on March 20th as Angela's star shined through when she received the 2,358th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

"Who would have thought that a little girl in pigtails from St. Petersburg, Florida, would grow up to find herself gazing at a star with her name on it, on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? This day is so, so special to me."

Along with this being a well deserved honor, the praise she received from Forest Whitaker, Rick Fox and Laurence Fishburne (who opened with a leap of happiness) caused Angela to become emotional on her big day. “Do you ever have one of those days? When you wake up and the sun wasn't quite shining but then it bursts through the clouds and its glorious. When you smile out at people and every face you see smiles back at you? All you can say is hallelujah!"

Forest Whitaker described Angela as "a powerful artist, a beautiful person, a mother, a wife, a friend who illuminates my life".

The twins were in attendance on their Mom's big day and nearly stole the show!

Giving thanks to fans, artists, friends and family including Courtney, Bronwyn and Slater who were there to share the unveiling, Angela expressed how honored and humbled she was. "I would like to thank all of you fans who have supported me in a steadfast, loving and respectful manner always. I am a fan of you."

We at Angie B News can only echo what was expressed by Laurence Fishburne, "Thanks for sharing your gift with the world."

Congratulations Angela!

TV Appearances

Angela and Rick Fox will be counting down videos and doing interviews while promoting “Meet The Browns” this week. They will be making appearances on BET's 106 & Park, hosting VH1's Top 20 Video Countdown, and tomorrow Angela will be on ABC's The View, promoting her newest film.

• BET's 106 & Park- Monday, March 17th, 6PM PST (re airs 11AM PST)
• The View- Tuesday, March 18th, 10AM PST
• VH1's Top 20 Video Countdown- Saturday, March 22nd

Check local listings for times (TVGuide.com) and set those VCR's and DVR's!

Angela: Living Legend

Alongside Sheryl Lee Ralph, Della Reese and Alfre Woodard, Angela was honored at an annual community event which was held at the El Segundo Branch of Los Angeles Public Library System. This is the 29th Annual African-American Living Legends event where organizers pay tribute to African-American individuals and groups whose work have contributed to America’s culture and to the African-American community.

Pete Allman with a Living Legend

Pete Allman of News Blaze had the opportunity to speak to the ladies honored and had this to say of Angela.

After the ceremony, I spoke with Angela Bassett, a truly talented, warm and giving person.

"God surprisingly empowered my conscience that points me in a ...decent direction, every step of the way. God gives us our own free will. It's up to us to be passionate about learning through His words. He knows our complete potential... man will be disruptive. It is the 'I Am' that gives us the power."

Bassett paid homage to the library system and the power of books in her life "...I was able to travel, daydream and imagine," she told the audience. "I know we have the Internet, but I'm a tactile person. I like to touch and hold a book."

With a solemn pause, she added, "Being in the library also taught me how to sit down somewhere and be quiet."

Meet The Browns Premiere

Angela looked gorgeous walking down the red carpet at the premiere of “Meet The Browns” which was held at the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles.

Angela Talks With Tavis Smiley

Angela was recently a guest on the Tavis Smiley show discussing how being raised by a single mother helped her relate to her character in “Meet the Browns,” how motherhood has changed her acting choices, and even her upcoming role as Voletta Wallace. Below you can read parts of the interview, but you can check out the full transcript, a video clip and listen to the interview at the Tavis Smiley website.

Tavis: To the point that you made earlier, so many of your fans know you first and foremost as an actor who can pull off a serious role of drama in anything you do. Is that a good thing? 

Bassett: Yeah, sometimes, especially in straight life where my friends say, "You have to do a comedy." They think I'm awfully funny. But it's like it's so - it's difficult. It's easier, I think, to make people cry than it is to make them laugh. 

Tavis: Do you think so? Why do you say that? 

Bassett: I don't know. I get so - what's funny to one, certain things that pull the heart. A child that doesn't eat, or going through a difficult time, or a mother who loses a son, or whatever the case might be. A father dreams for his son and they don't pan out, that sort of thing. That's universal. But what's funny to you and what's funny to me? It can be very different.

Tavis: Has being a mother in any way changed your acting, changed your acting choices, changed your priorities about acting...

Bassett: It hasn't changed my choices, because I've always been picky or discerning or choosy or whatever the case may be. I'm always looking for what's the message, what's the point, what's the purpose, what's the greater good, what's the (makes noise). That sort of thing. Even whether it's comedy or whether it's drama, just there's got to be a reason for it.

Tavis: You had a list a moment ago, Angela, of four or five things right quick, you ran this list of things that you are looking for when you're trying to figure out whether or not it's the right role for you to play. That's a pretty heady list. I raise that only because I wonder whether or not you don't see stuff often enough that matches up with what you're trying to find.

Bassett: It comes along. For an actor, it don't come along as often as we would like it to, but then at times it does. For instance, this past year it's been just a slate of things coming one after the other, which has been really nice. And this movie, the last, and now going to do "Notorious B.I.G." playing Voletta Wallace, the mother of Biggie Smalls. So it comes, it makes its way to me, yeah.

Tavis: We were having a conversation here on the set the other day between tapings talking about the number of African Americans who have either won or been nominated for Academy Awards and really what the trajectory of their career was after the win or after the nomination. Has your career thought it was going to go after receiving one of those heady nominations? 

Bassett: Well I always try to look back to the beginning of the career, when there was nothing, when there was no one to guide me through it or whatever, so the entire career has been more than I ever dreamt of or ever imagined, so that's the great thing. And of course early on, before they could put your face and your name together, your face and name recognition, you just go in and work back to back to back. But once you ascend and you have more recognition, greater parts, bigger everything, then it has - it's not as - it doesn't come as back-to-back as it did. 

Tavis: Exactly. Especially now with two babies.

Bassett: Yeah. And as I said, actors, we're never satisfied. You're always going "When is the next job?" 

Tavis: Yeah, you still love it, though. 

Bassett: Unless you're winding up in every other picture. Then it's too much of you. 

Tavis: Angela Bassett is overexposed.

Bassett: So as long as it's good, as long as it's good work, I think. 

Tavis: Speaking of good work, it's hard to find an actor in this town better than Angela Bassett, and she stars in "Meet the Browns," Tyler Perry's new project, at a theater near you, as they say. Angela, nice to see you. 

Bassett: Thank you, you too.