Angela Bassett kicked off her 2023 with a bang. At the 80th annual Golden Globe Awards held on January 10, she became the first ever actor to win a major award for a role in a Marvel film. This recognition was for “Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture,” following her star turn as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Bassett followed up this achievement with yet another win — in the same category — at the Critics' Choice Awards about five days later. Having turned 64 in August 2022, this was a level of consistent recognition that most in the industry feel has been long overdue for the New York-born star.
Bassett rose to prominence in 1993 when she played Rock 'n' Roll queen Tina Turner in the biopic titled What’s Love Got to Do With It, which in fact earned her her very first Golden Globe Award. Despite these early feats, the actress’ path to sustained success was a very winding one.
RELATED: Angela Bassett's Brutally Honest Thoughts About Black Panther 2's Biggest Twist
One of the biggest challenges that Bassett faced in her quest for career growth was a dearth of leading roles befitting her talents and worldview.
Angela Bassett Was Offered The Lead Role In The Movie Monster’s Ball
One of the opportunities that came Angela Bassett’s way and she turned away was the lead role in the 2001 drama film Monster’s Ball. She was reportedly offered the chance to play the character called Musgrove, but she said no, despite the fact that she would have done with an important part in a top film at that point in time.
Monster’s Ball was directed by Marc Forster and starred Billy Bob Thornton as Hank Grotowski, a prison guard who is struggling to come to terms with the recent death of his son and the end of his marriage. He becomes fixated on the execution of death row inmate Lawrence Musgrove, played by Sean “Diddy” Combs, and begins to develop a relationship with Musgrove's wife Leticia.
On her part, Leticia is also struggling with the loss of her husband and the burden of raising her young son alone in poverty. As she and Hank begin to connect, they both begin to confront their own prejudices and biases, and begin to see the world in a new light.
Why Did Angela Bassett Refuse To Star In Monster’s Ball?
Angela Bassett was interviewed by Newsweek in June 2002, and she spoke about the reason why she refused to star in Monster’s Ball.
“It's about character, darling,” she said, referring to the part of Leticia Musgrove, and particularly, an NSFW scene that happens in the movie between her and Billy Bob Thornton’s Hank Grotowski.
The scene in question takes place after Hank and Leticia have a candid conversation about their pasts and their feelings towards each other. They kiss and engage in a raw and emotional encounter. The scene was shot in a way that is both sensual and realistic.
While the scene was praised for its realism and its ability to convey the emotions of the characters, it was also criticized in other quarters for its graphic and arguably gratuitous nature. The arguments from within this camp asserted that the encounter was in fact unrealistic, and that it trivialized the characters’ relationship.
“I wasn't going to be a prostitute on film,” Bassett insisted in the Newsweek interview. “I couldn't do that because it's such a stereotype about black women and sexuality.”
The Part Was Also Offered To Vanessa Williams
Angela Bassett was not the only actress to be offered — and to turn down — the role of Leticia Musgrove in Monster’s Ball. Actress and musician Vanessa Williams was also approached to play the character. Although she also said no to the offer, her reasons differed slightly to those of Bassett.
“I saw [Halle] win the Academy Award, I was happy for her, but given a different set of circumstances, I might have done that role,” said Williams.
Bassett followed up this achievement with yet another win — in the same category — at the Critics' Choice Awards about five days later. Having turned 64 in August 2022, this was a level of consistent recognition that most in the industry feel has been long overdue for the New York-born star.
Bassett rose to prominence in 1993 when she played Rock 'n' Roll queen Tina Turner in the biopic titled What’s Love Got to Do With It, which in fact earned her her very first Golden Globe Award. Despite these early feats, the actress’ path to sustained success was a very winding one.
RELATED: Angela Bassett's Brutally Honest Thoughts About Black Panther 2's Biggest Twist
One of the biggest challenges that Bassett faced in her quest for career growth was a dearth of leading roles befitting her talents and worldview.
Angela Bassett Was Offered The Lead Role In The Movie Monster’s Ball
One of the opportunities that came Angela Bassett’s way and she turned away was the lead role in the 2001 drama film Monster’s Ball. She was reportedly offered the chance to play the character called Musgrove, but she said no, despite the fact that she would have done with an important part in a top film at that point in time.
Monster’s Ball was directed by Marc Forster and starred Billy Bob Thornton as Hank Grotowski, a prison guard who is struggling to come to terms with the recent death of his son and the end of his marriage. He becomes fixated on the execution of death row inmate Lawrence Musgrove, played by Sean “Diddy” Combs, and begins to develop a relationship with Musgrove's wife Leticia.
On her part, Leticia is also struggling with the loss of her husband and the burden of raising her young son alone in poverty. As she and Hank begin to connect, they both begin to confront their own prejudices and biases, and begin to see the world in a new light.
Why Did Angela Bassett Refuse To Star In Monster’s Ball?
Angela Bassett was interviewed by Newsweek in June 2002, and she spoke about the reason why she refused to star in Monster’s Ball.
“It's about character, darling,” she said, referring to the part of Leticia Musgrove, and particularly, an NSFW scene that happens in the movie between her and Billy Bob Thornton’s Hank Grotowski.
The scene in question takes place after Hank and Leticia have a candid conversation about their pasts and their feelings towards each other. They kiss and engage in a raw and emotional encounter. The scene was shot in a way that is both sensual and realistic.
While the scene was praised for its realism and its ability to convey the emotions of the characters, it was also criticized in other quarters for its graphic and arguably gratuitous nature. The arguments from within this camp asserted that the encounter was in fact unrealistic, and that it trivialized the characters’ relationship.
“I wasn't going to be a prostitute on film,” Bassett insisted in the Newsweek interview. “I couldn't do that because it's such a stereotype about black women and sexuality.”
The Part Was Also Offered To Vanessa Williams
Angela Bassett was not the only actress to be offered — and to turn down — the role of Leticia Musgrove in Monster’s Ball. Actress and musician Vanessa Williams was also approached to play the character. Although she also said no to the offer, her reasons differed slightly to those of Bassett.
Williams and Bassett’s refusal to take on the role opened the door for Halle Berry to play Leticia Musgrove, in a performance that would actually win her an Academy Award. This did not change Bassett’s stance on playing the character, but for Williams, it was simply a case of the right opportunity at the wrong time.
“I saw [Halle] win the Academy Award, I was happy for her, but given a different set of circumstances, I might have done that role,” said Williams.
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