Angela Bassett, 67, Talks Aging and Finding Her Power: ‘I Can Finally Look Back at All the Experiences That Made Me Stronger’ (Exclusive)
The star also dishes on family, her sources of inspiration and the health cause close to her heart
Key Takeaways
- Angela Bassett, 67, is on the cover of the latest issue of Woman's World.
- The actress shares her perspective on family, aging, inspiration and more.
- The '9-1-1' star has partnered with GSK to promote their 'Sideline RSV' campaign.
As an award-winning actress in films like What’s Love Got to Do With It, Malcolm X, Waiting to Exhale and Black Panther, Angela Bassett is beloved for her powerful, self-assured screen presence. The star, who currently plays officer Athena Grant on the hit procedural series 9-1-1, is just as compelling off screen as she is on it, and at 67, she’s embraced the wisdom of aging.
“In my 60s, I can finally look back at all the experiences that made me stronger,” Angela tells Woman’s World as our newest cover star (get your copy here). “I’ve grown from my mistakes. Now, I’m better equipped to advocate for myself and others. I’ve also learned to exercise the power of ‘no’ and prioritize my health and wellbeing—it’s not selfish. It’s being real.”
Over the course of her four-decade career, Angela has played trailblazing Black women from Rosa Parks to Tina Turner, and she keeps their lessons close at heart. “With the women I’ve had the privilege of playing, I’ve seen their vulnerability and resilience. They were taken advantage of and underestimated, but there’s great humanity and complexity in who they were. They didn’t put on any big airs. They were simply women, but their lives made an impact on others, and that’s stuck with me.”
Angela, who recently partnered with biopharma company GSK for their Sideline RSV campaign to raise awareness about the incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in older adults, sat down with us to share how she stays strong and finds power and purpose in every day.
Woman’s World: Who are some of the women in your life that most inspire you?
AB: My mother is at the top of the list. She inspired me to become the woman that I am today. She was a very strong character, and she encouraged me to follow my dream. She had very high standards. Sometimes they could seem a little too high, but parents listen and see the potential in you. My kids probably say I’m just like my mom.
I’m also inspired by my aunt. I always felt her support completely, even though she was always concerned, like, “You want to be an actor? Is that the most practical thing to do?” because she was an educator. She loved me, but she didn’t think this acting thing would pan out. Whenever I had any little bit of success, it was always like, “Watch me, auntie!” and she was always so proud and pleased.
As an actor, I was fortunate to meet women who became friends, like Cicely Tyson, who played my mother in The Rosa Parks Story, and who I’d been watching since high school. I had a very special relationship with her, Ruby Dee and Rosalind Cash. They were all phenomenal actresses whose work I looked up to. They all supported me, and you could feel the camaraderie. In turn, I try to give that same support to the younger generation.
WW: How did you become involved with this campaign to raise awareness of RSV, and what does the cause mean to you?
AB: As we mature, proactive healthcare can be a lifesaver. My late mother battled heart disease, diabetes and COPD, and when I saw her going through all that, it became apparent that health and prevention should be a priority. When I was approached by GSK to partner with them, I thought of my mother and my loved ones.
I also learned that it’s not just babies that can contract RSV. The elderly population is just as vulnerable. When I heard that 177,000 people 65 years or older were hospitalized each year with severe RSV, and of that number, an estimated 14,000 died, it touched my heart. There’s a pretty simple solution, which is raising awareness if you fall into that age category and speaking to your doctor or pharmacist about your risk and getting vaccinated.
WW: You’ve been married to Courtney B. Vance for nearly 30 years. How have you kept your bond so strong in the face of challenges that might arise from both being in the entertainment industry?
AB: We’re both pretty even-keeled, solid folks. He’s a very nice guy, and he loves to support people. I always tell him that he’s a connector, because he loves to put this person with that person and when he connects people, great things happen. I appreciate that he cares about others and wants to make sure that they’re comfortable and happy and engaging with the conversation. I also let him be him, and I really appreciate that he lets me be me. If I want to go and do things, we can have a conversation about what we’ve been up to and the experiences we’ve had, and we’re always going to support one another.
WW: You and Courtney have a production company, Bassett Vance Productions, and you’ve directed TV projects as well as being an executive producer for movies and shows you act in. What has it been like to take more control behind the scenes?
AB: It’s been great to have all these opportunities. My husband and I are trying to find new voices and talents and amplify new stories. It can be a challenge to get something financed and developed, and the process can take years, but you have to be patient for the long game. Courtney, thankfully, is very patient and he’s good at finding stories and getting the lay of the land. I’m looking at a couple scripts now, and they have to go into development, and we’re thinking about how to tell stories differently.
The opportunities that I’ve had to direct have been wonderful, because I love to champion people and help actors dig into their characters and express themselves. I like getting all the juice out of a scene. As a director, everything takes twice as long, but I love it. I love the editing process and the opportunity to shape a story with a little bit of magic and imagination, and I really appreciate the opportunity to be creative.
WW: What changes have you seen in the industry since you first started out as an actress?
AB: I see more people who look like me, and there are so many outlets for storytelling now, which gives more opportunities to actors. I’ve had the chance to move between theater, film, television, documentaries, animation, and being a spokesperson, and it’s great, because when I started out people tended to pigeonhole you into one space. I love the element of surprise and never knowing where I might show up. I like to show up in different spaces.
WW: You’ve been in over 100 episodes of ‘9-1-1’ since the show started in 2018. What is it like developing a character on this type of series?
AB: It keeps me on my feet. Television is a writer’s medium, and it’s not like I know the end, whereas when you read the script for a play or film, you can see where the end is. In this television game it goes on and on, and sometimes I’m going down this road like, “Oh, we made a turn! Oh, I don’t have a husband anymore!”—and that happened after I just told someone I could never see us parting! It’s exciting, and the new storylines surprise me. I didn’t become an actress to do the same thing every day.
I’ve had a busy few years and right now, the show has my focus—and it just got renewed for season 10! I don’t think that many people realize just how much it takes to do a one-hour network drama, especially one that involves big action like our show. I’ve integrated other recent projects into my full-time 9-1-1 schedule, which is a lot, but I’m really so grateful for all of the opportunities.
WW: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
AB: Lloyd Richards, who was the dean of the Yale School of Drama when I was a student, would say, “Angela, don’t wave the rubber chicken.” I was used to being bigger than life in stage acting, because you use your body and your voice to hit the back of the theater. That’s too much for the screen, because it’s more intimate. Going to a conservatory and getting theater training, I learned a lot about sitting back and watching and learning from others.
I also had a driver who became a good friend, and we were talking about sports and he said a team “Wasn’t committed to winning.” I liked the way he put that. It’s not just about sports. Whatever you’re doing, you have to be committed to winning and make up your mind. Sometimes you can look at someone and see they aren’t committed to winning, and they’re just playing around.
WW: What’s your one piece of advice you’d give your younger self?
AB: Never stop learning and never stop being curious.
WW: What do you like to do for self-care?
AB: I love to go to an infrared sauna. I’m a Florida girl, so I love when it’s hot, and it feels so good to sweat things out. I don’t like sitting out in the sun, but I like to get into the sauna where it’s even hotter, but it’s good for you. I also enjoy Pilates and boxing. I love to travel and see new places. And spending time with friends who can make you laugh and who appreciate you and give you good counsel is always important.
WW: What’s one misconception about aging that you’re very happy to prove wrong?
AB: That life slows down. Not only am I just as physically active as ever, but I’m still getting to do what I love every day, embracing moments with family, and following my passions.
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