Angela Bassett Reflects on Her 2023 Oscar Loss and Honorable Recognition

Angela Bassett is opening up about her feelings on missing out on the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2023 for her powerful performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In a candid interview with Town & Country for their March issue, the legendary actress shared her thoughts on the moment and the emotions that came with it.

"I found it interesting ... that I wouldn’t be allowed to be disappointed at an outcome where I thought I was deserving," Bassett, 66, admitted. While she holds no ill will toward Jamie Lee Curtis—who won the award for Everything Everywhere All at Once—she acknowledged that the loss stung at the time.

"I love applauding people. But in that moment ... I have put in: put in the time, put in good work over time. I didn’t think that was a gift. I thought it was a given."

Bassett’s disappointment was understandable. It was her second Oscar nomination, following a Best Actress nod nearly 30 years earlier for her unforgettable portrayal of Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It. However, in 2024, the Academy finally gave Bassett a long-overdue honor—an Honorary Oscar for her immense contributions to the film industry.

During her acceptance speech, she paid tribute to the Black actresses who paved the way for her, including Ruby Dee, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson, and Rosalind Cash.

"They were my North Star, my guiding light, proof that while the road may not be without curves and bumps, there was a way to fulfill what I believed deep in my soul was my destiny," she said.

Bassett went on to express gratitude for their resilience, acknowledging that their struggles made her own career possible. "Because had it not been for their resilience, continuing to fight through their fears and the uncertainty and their willingness as they fought for every role, I would not have had a representation of what was possible for me."

More than just a personal achievement, Bassett hopes her Honorary Oscar is a step toward lasting change in the industry. "What I hope this moment means is that we are taking the necessary steps toward a future in which it is the norm, not the exception, to see and embrace one another’s full humanity, stories, and perspectives."

Reflecting on her early days in Hollywood, Bassett recalled the struggles of finding roles that gave her a chance to shine. "You’re just trying to find little pieces where you are, little moments of daylight to be able to do this. So no matter how small it was, it was just a joy and a blessing."

That passion has never wavered. "I wonder if that’s why, when I get the opportunity, whatever opportunity it is, to perform or to be in front of an audience, to me it’s daylight. It’s really ... you don’t take it for granted."