Bassett was born on August 16, 1958, in New York City, although she spent much of her growing-up years in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her mother and sister. After her graduation from Boca Ciega High School, Bassett took African-American studies at Yale University, where she earned a BA, and later achieved a master’s degree in fine arts at Yale School of Drama, where she also met her future husband, Courtney B Vance, whom she married in 1997.
After working as a beauty salon receptionist and photo researcher, Bassett got started with her acting career in New York Theater, after which she landed her first role—as a prostitute—in the 1985 TV movie Doubletake, starring Richard Crenna and Beverly D’Angelo. The following year she landed her first official film role as a TV reporter in F/X. However, it wasn’t until the early 1990s that Bassett was truly recognized for the talented actress that she is, with her roles in 1991’s Boyz n the Hood, alongside Laurence Fishburne, Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, and Nia Long; and in Malcolm X in 1992, in which she played the leading lady (Dr. Betty Shabazz) opposite Denzel Washington.
What is considered by some as her breakthrough role on film occurred in 1993 with her stellar, critically acclaimed, and bang-on portrayal of music legend Tina Turner in the feature What’s Love Got to Do With It. Bassett actually beat out Halle Berry for the role, which earned Bassett a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, in addition to an Academy Award nomination.
After playing Tina, Bassett moved on to play a variety of characters in films such as Vampire in Brooklyn, opposite Eddie Murphy; Strange Days, with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Lewis; and Waiting to Exhale, with Whitney Houston; all three movies of which were released in 1995.
Then in 1998, Bassett impressed everyone with her role as Stella Payne (what others consider her breakthrough or most famous role) in How Stella Got Her Groove Back. She played a forty-something professional who falls in love with a twenty-something Jamaican. Her co-stars were Taye Diggs, Whoopi Goldberg, and Regina King.
After Stella, Bassett appeared and starred in films such as Sunshine State in 2002; The Lazarus Child in 2004, with Andy Garcia and Frances O’Connor; Mr. 3000 in 2004, with Bernie Mac; and Akeelah and the Bee in 2006. She also landed a guest-starring role on the TV series Alias, starring Jennifer Garner, in 2005.
There are other interesting facts about Bassett besides just her acting career. She is known as a fairly private and religious individual, and attends the same church as Denzel Washington. She also has two children (twins) with her husband Courtney B Vance, but had a surrogate mother carry them, since she has struggled with infertility. She also actively supports many arts and youth programs, including UNICEF and the Royal Theater Boys & Girls Club. In addition, she has seven Image Awards under her belt, mostly for outstanding actress.
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