Angela Bassett revealed the lack of roles she received after her iconic portrayal of Tina Turner.
Appearing on All Access on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis, Bassett opened up about her lack of opportunities following What’s Love Got to Do With It.
“Remember, it was during a period of time where, I guess, roles were few and far between for a woman of color — you know, of a certain hue,” she said.
On top of systemic industry barriers, Bassett wrestled with the high-stakes decision of how to follow up such a high-profile role.
“Are you going to make a lateral move? Are you going to go upward?” Bassett recalled asking herself. “You know, what’s the trajectory after something like [that], after you’ve reached the ceiling?”
Now, Bassett shared how the landscape has “improved tremendously” for Black actresses.
“You have a phone in your hand, you can make your own movie and content, and it can be very successful,” she said. “So things have changed.”
A Yale School of Drama graduate, she established herself with early breakout roles in Boyz n the Hood (1991) and Malcolm X (1992) before delivering a career-defining turn as Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It. She also starred in Waiting to Exhale (1995) and How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998).
Bassett remains a powerhouse across television and film, anchoring major franchise projects while taking on high-profile streaming and feature roles. On the small screen, she leads and executive produces ABC’s hit procedural drama 9-1-1 as LAPD Patrol Sergeant Athena Grant.
Following her Oscar-nominated performance as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), Bassett’s recent cinematic slate includes playing Lady Bayford in Netflix’s fantasy action film Damsel (2024), starring alongside Robert De Niro in Netflix’s political thriller limited series Zero Day (2025), and lending her voice as a giant eagle in LAIKA’s animated dark fantasy feature Wildwood (2026).