Sophia Michaels
Angela Bassett made history on Jan. 24 when she became the first Marvel star to be nominated for an Oscar. The 64-year-old icon was nominated for best supporting actress for her role as Queen Ramonda in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and is up against Hong Chau (“The Whale”), Kerry Condon (“The Banshees of Inisherin”), Jamie Lee Curtis (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), and Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”).
Bassett expressed her gratitude for the nomination, saying in a statement to POPSUGAR, “What has drawn me to each of the women I’ve portrayed throughout my career is their strength, compassion, resilience, and power. ‘Wakanda Forever’s Queen Ramonda is a character that touched my spirit because she is a mother and a leader who must care for her grieving nation as much as she cares for her family in mourning. Ramonda is a love letter that reflects and acknowledges what we women do everyday. . . . I’m thankful to the Academy for including me amongst a wonderful group of actresses.”
This marks Bassett’s second Oscar nomination, following her 1994 lead actress nod for playing Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” She has been sweeping award season this year, winning big at the Golden Globes, the Critics Choice Awards, and the NAACP Image Awards, and earning nominations at the SAG Awards and BAFTAs.
The Black Panther franchise has also been recognized by the Academy, with seven nominations in 2019, including best picture, and wins for costume design, original score, and production design. Other notable 2023 Oscar front-runners include first-time nominees Michelle Yeoh, Austin Butler, Rihanna, and Brendan Fraser. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” received the most nods with 11, while “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “The Banshees of Inisherin” tied for the second most with nine.
If Bassett does win the best supporting actress trophy at the ceremony on March 12, we already know her acceptance speech will be one for the books.
