In the films ‘Black Panther’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,’ Bassett played Queen Ramonda. She was seen as the likely winner for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2023 due to her performance in the second film.
However, even after winning both the Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award, the Oscar went to Jamie Lee Curtis for her performance in ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once.’ Bassett reflected on the moment, saying:
“I was gobsmacked! I was. I thought I handled it very well. That was my intention, to handle it very well. It was, of course, a supreme disappointment and disappointment is human. So I thought, yes, I was disappointed and I handled it like a human being.”
She Handled The Disappointment Well
For Bassett, maintaining dignity and grace after the Oscar loss was crucial, especially ‘for myself and for my children who were there with me.’ She commented:
“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.”
This Wasn’t Her First Rodeo
Before her nomination for ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,’ Bassett was nominated for an Oscar in 1994 for her role as Tina Turner in ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It,’ which also earned her a Golden Globe. Holly Hunter won that year’s award for ‘The Piano.’
Following her recent Oscar experience, Bassett received an Academy Honorary Award for her contributions to cinema. Meanwhile, her last appearance in the 2023 film made her the first to be nominated for an Oscar for a Marvel movie.
