The Oscars are finally recognizing that Angela Bassett did the thing!
It was announced Monday that the beloved on-screen legend will receive an Honorary Academy Award at this Governor’s Awards ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 18 in Los Angeles. In addition to Bassett, other recipients will include actor Mel Brooks, Carol Littleton and Sundance’s Michelle Satter.
Bassett received her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress in 1993 for her acclaimed portrayal of music legend Tina Turner in the biopic What’s Love Got to Do With It?. This year, Bassett made history as the first actor from a Marvel Studios film and the first woman from a superhero movie to be nominated for an Oscar, receiving a Best Supporting Actress nod for her portrayal of Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Deemed by many to be the clear frontrunner, Bassett lost the award to Jamie Lee Curtis in what many outlets deemed to be a snub.
“The Academy’s Board of Governors is thrilled to honor four trailblazers who have transformed the film industry and inspired generations of filmmakers and movie fans,” said Academy President Janet Yang. “Across her decades-long career, Angela Bassett has continued to deliver transcendent performances that set new standards in acting. Mel Brooks lights up our hearts with his humor, and his legacy has made a lasting impact on every facet of entertainment. Carol Littleton’s career in film editing serves as a model for those who come after her. A pillar of the independent film community, Michelle Satter has played a vital role in the careers of countless filmmakers around the world.”
Throughout her career, Bassett has delivered acclaimed performances in films such as Malcolm X, The Jacksons: An American Dream, Waiting To Exhale, Strange Days and How Stella Got Her Groove Back. On the TV side, the Yale School of Drama alum has starred in series such as 9-1-1 and American Horror Story.