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Get a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s perfect pairs.

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The Greatest Character Actors of All Time

IMDb celebrates the cinematic contributions of Asians and Pacific Islanders with a list of some iconic films, new classics, and hidden gems to add to your Watchlist.

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Angela Bassett, Janet McTeer, Nick Offerman, Charles Parnell, and Setarosa Tuitasi-Ledoux in Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (2025)

Robert De Niro and Angela Bassett in Zero Day (2025)

Angela Bassett and Ray Winstone in Damsel (2024)

Angela Bassett in American Horror Story (2011)

Angela Bassett and Eddie Murphy in Vampire in Brooklyn (1995)

Angela Bassett in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Angela Bassett and Danai Gurira in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Angela Bassett, Isaach De Bankolé, Florence Kasumba, Danai Gurira, and Dorothy Steel in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Angela Bassett and Moses Gunn in Snoops (1989)

Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, and Carla Gugino in Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

Angela Bassett and Jim Gaffigan in Angela Bassett/Jim Gaffigan (2019)

Patricia Arquette, Angela Bassett, and Felicity Huffman in Otherhood (2019)

Angela Bassett and Mark Elias in 9-1-1 (2018)

Angela Bassett, Justin Theroux, Glynn Turman, and John Cena in Bumblebee (2018)

Angela Bassett, John Ortiz, Justin Theroux, and John Cena in Bumblebee (2018)

Angela Bassett, Megyn Price, and Lenny Jacobson in Bumblebee (2018)

Tom Cruise, Angela Bassett, and Henry Cavill in The IMDb Show (2017)

Angela Bassett and Justin Theroux in Bumblebee (2018)

Angela Bassett, Justin Theroux, and John Cena in Bumblebee (2018)

Angela Bassett, Hailee Steinfeld, and Dylan O'Brien in Bumblebee (2018)

Angela Bassett and Bernie Mac in The Bernie Mac Show (2001)

Tom Cruise and Angela Bassett in The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015)

Angela Bassett and Henry Cavill in Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

Angela Bassett and Stephen Colbert in The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015)

Angela Bassett and Aisha Hinds in 9-1-1 (2018)

Angela Bassett and Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther (2018)

Angela Bassett, Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, and Marie Mouroum in Black Panther (2018)

Angela Bassett, Connie Chiume, Isaach De Bankolé, Michael B. Jordan, Florence Kasumba, Danny Sapani, Chadwick Boseman, Danai Gurira, Sydelle Noel, Daniel Kaluuya, Jénel Stevens, Janeshia Adams-Ginyard, Letitia Wright, Marie Mouroum, Marija Juliette Abney, Maria Hippolyte, Zola Williams, and Dorothy Steel in Black Panther (2018)

Angela Bassett, Connie Chiume, Michael B. Jordan, Chadwick Boseman, and Danai Gurira in Black Panther (2018)

Angela Bassett, Florence Kasumba, and Letitia Wright in Black Panther (2018)

Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Connie Chiume, Isaach De Bankolé, Michael B. Jordan, Florence Kasumba, Danny Sapani, Chadwick Boseman, Danai Gurira, Sydelle Noel, Lupita Nyong'o, Daniel Kaluuya, Jénel Stevens, Janeshia Adams-Ginyard, Letitia Wright, Marie Mouroum, Marija Juliette Abney, Maria Hippolyte, Zola Williams, and Dorothy Steel in Black Panther (2018)

Angela Bassett and Letitia Wright in Black Panther (2018)

Angela Bassett, Connie Chiume, Isaach De Bankolé, Michael B. Jordan, Florence Kasumba, Danny Sapani, Chadwick Boseman, Sydelle Noel, Daniel Kaluuya, Jénel Stevens, Janeshia Adams-Ginyard, Letitia Wright, Marie Mouroum, Marija Juliette Abney, Maria Hippolyte, Zola Williams, and Dorothy Steel in Black Panther (2018)

Captivating, gifted, and sensational, Angela Bassett's presence has been felt in theaters and on stages and television screens throughout the world. Angela Evelyn Bassett was born on August 16, 1958 in New York City, to Betty Jane (Gilbert), a social worker, and Daniel Benjamin Bassett, a preacher's son. Bassett and her sister D'nette grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida with their mother. As a single mother, Betty stressed the importance of education for her children. With the assistance of an academic scholarship, Bassett matriculated into Yale University. In 1980, she received her B.A. in African-American studies from Yale University. In 1983, she earned a Master of Fine Arts Degree from the Yale School of Drama. It was at Yale that Bassett met her husband, Courtney B. Vance, a 1986 graduate of the Drama School.

Bassett first appeared in small roles on The Cosby Show (1984) and Spenser: For Hire (1985), but it was not until 1990 that a spate of television roles brought her notice. Her breakthrough role, though, was playing Tina Turner, whom she had never seen perform before taking the role, in What's Love Got to Do with It (1993). Bassett's performance earned her an Academy Award nomination and a Golded Globe Award for Best Actress.

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Angela Bassett

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