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.
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."
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.
Here is the new extended Meet The Browns trailer that is set to Mary J. Blige “Come To Me.” The more they give us, the more excited we are for this film to come out. It has been a while since our drama queen has been the leading lady, and Meet The Browns does not look like it is going to disappoint. March 21st can't get here fast enough!
Angela presented outstanding actor at the 39th NAACP Image Awards alongside costar of the upcoming film "Meet the Browns", Rick Fox.
Angela was looking gorgeous as always, which maybe the reason D.L. Hughley decided to confess his love for her. Check out the video.
More Angie B Videos
Interview:
Angie celebrated her MLK day in Cleveland!
Angela and Courtney B. Vance on Morris Cerullo's Helpline!
What the BassettHounds Have to Say:
"I'm more of a Tupac fan myself but this'll be worth seeing just to hear Angela speaking with Voletta's Jamaican accent! I trust Angela and her choices. If she signed on to this project then it must have something going for it." -Simonique
"Why not? After Katherine, Betty, Tina, and Rosa, let's just add Voletta to the list. I don't think [Angela] is going to have a problem with the accent. I am just glad to see she is constantly working now. Although, the twins do need their momma around." -Amanda
"I can see why they would cast [Angela] as Big's mom because it follows a pattern of women that she has played in the past. I think she can definitely convey all the many emotions that his mother has felt - the love, tenderness, hurt, pain and anger of it all." -Natacia
This is the "teaser poster" for Meet the Browns via Lionsgate.com The movie trailer will be coming soon so keep checking back!
Angie snagging up the trendiest toys for her two kiddies at the celebrity giveaway hotspot, "The Boom Boom Room"! Go visit Mommy Needs a Cocktail to see more pictures of Angie shopping for the twins.
*Ever since I've seen these pictures I've been trying to get that wavy haired look Angie's got in this movie. But my version isnt as well done. Anybody know the secret to Angela's waves? Email me!*
Tyler Perry disclosed (via his email updates at tylerperry.com) that he'll be releasing the movie trailer for "Meet the Browns" very soon. So I'll be posting the trailer as soon as its available.
Heres a radio interview Angela did just last month in Memphis while filming "Nothing But the Truth"
