US actress Angela Bassett had been nominated for 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'. Photo: AFP
Angela Bassett is sharing how she really felt about losing the 2023 Best Supporting Actress Oscar to Jamie Lee Curtis.
Bassett had been nominated for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but Curtis ended up taking home the gold for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Understandably disappointed by the loss, the 9-1-1 star found herself at the centre of a viral whirlwind about her facial expression when Curtis was announced as the winner at the awards ceremony.
Reflecting on the moment, Bassett says she found the criticism to her reaction “interesting.”
“Interesting that I wouldn’t be allowed to be disappointed at an outcome where I thought I was deserving,” Bassett told Town & Country.
“I love applauding people. But in that moment, I have put in the time, put in good work over time. I didn’t think that was a gift. I thought it was a given.”
The 66-year-old actress also explained her reaction in an interview with Oprah Winfrey last March.
“It was – of course – a supreme disappointment. And disappointment is human,” she admitted.
“There are going to be these moments of disappointment that you’ll experience, but how do you handle yourself in the midst of them? We’re going to smile, we’re going to be gracious, we’re going to be kind, we’re going to party anyway.”
Bassett went on to receive the honorary Academy Award at the 2024 Oscars ceremony for her four decades of work in Hollywood.
In her acceptance speech, the Waiting To Exhale star noted that Halle Berry is still the only Black woman to win Best Actress.
“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,” Bassett said onstage.
“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 the blessings that are divinely and deservedly yours.”
“This honour isn’t just for or about me,” she continued, “What I hope this moment means is that we are taking the necessary steps toward a future in which it is the norm, not the exception, to see and embrace one another’s full humanity, stories, and perspectives. This must be our goal.” – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
