After years of fans championing for Angela Bassett to get an Oscar for her many award-deserving roles, she finally received one! During the 14th Governors Awards, she received an Honorary Oscar for her contributions to the film industry.
Her acceptance speech was full of gems and insight. At one point she touched on how there has only been a small number of Black women who have won a Best Actress Oscar .
“To my fellow Black actresses, fill your hearts with courage and strength, because regardless of what you may think or see or feel, your contributions do matter,” she said in her speech. “Take comfort knowing that your performances have given hope, offered a different perspective and, for others, just pure joy in a time of need. Never allow fear, frustration or disappointment to get in the way of blessings that are divinely and deservedly yours. Remember who you are and who our ancestors intended you to be — us to be.”
She also took a moment to give flowers to the Black actresses who came before her.
“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 gushed.
Although she has never won an Oscar before this year’s Governor’s Awards, she has been nominated twice before. She was first nominated for Best Actress in 1993 for her role of Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do with It. Her next nomination came in 2022 for herrole as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.