Angela Bassett Biography

Angela Bassett, actress

Birthdate: August 16th, 1958

Birthplace: New York, NY

Sign: Leo

Angela Evelyn Bassett, a respected actress of the stage, screen and television, who starred in hit films like "Waiting to Exhale" and "How Stella Got Her Groove Back", was born in New York, NY and shortly after relocated to St.Petersburg, FL with her mother Betty Bassett. She graduated from Boca Ciega High School where she was involved in the debate team, choir, student government and drama club. Bassett then attended Yale University and received her B.A. in African-American studies in 1980. In 1983, she also earned a Master of Fine Arts Degree from the Yale School of Drama. After graduation, she soon looked for acting work in the New York Theater and in 1985 had her first performance in J.E Franklin's "Black Girl."

Bassett landed small TV appearances in shows like "227", "Thirtysomething", and "The Cosby Show". She started to receive critical acclaim for her roles in John Singleton's 1991 drama "Boyz in The Hood" and Spike Lee's 1992 biopic Malcolm X, where she played Betty Shabazz. Later that year, she won what would become her breakthrough role playing Tina Turner in the feature film "What's Love Got to Do with It". The film earning her a Golden Globe, NAACP Image Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Bassett was the first African-American to win a Golden Globe for a Musical or Comedy. She then went on to star in hits like "Waiting To Exhale" and "Contact", but also some flops like "Supernova" and "Vampire In Brooklyn".

She recently starred in Tyler Perry's family drama "Meet The Browns". She can currently be seen as Chief Resident Dr. Catherine Banifield on medical drama ER's final season. She will also portray Voletta Wallace, mother of slain rapper Notorious B.I.G., in the upcoming movie, "Notorious".