Angela Bassett Is 65: Celebrate Her Birthday With Photos From Her Young Days To Now

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August 16, 2023 11:14AM EDT

Angela Bassett just turned 65 & you can celebrate the ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ star’s birthday by checking out photos of her from throughout her career.

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Angela Bassett: Then & Now

Angela Bassett: Then & Now — Angela Bassett has been one of the most celebrated actresses for over 30 years! She began making TV appearances as a very young actress as early as 1975 in a TV movie ‘Ryan’s Hope,’ and she regularly made appearances on TV throughout the 80s.

Her career made a major shift in the 90s, when she appeared in the classics ‘Boyz n the Hood’ and ‘Malcolm X.’ She received her first and only Oscar nomination in 1994 for playing Tina Turner in the biopic ‘What’s Love Got To Do With it.’ Ever since then, she’s been one of the most celebrated actresses of the 90s up until now.

Through the 2000s, she took on a bunch of different movie and TV roles. In more recent years, she’s appeared in a number of critically acclaimed television series, including ‘American Horror Story’ and ‘BoJack Horseman.’ In 2018, she also entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing Ramoda in the beloved ‘Black Panther.’ She reprised her role in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ and is expected to return in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.’

As the actress celebrates her 64th birthday, check out photos of her from throughout her career.

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‘Malcolm X’ (1992)

‘Malcolm X’ (1992) — One of Angela Bassett’s earliest celebrated roles was playing Betty Shabazz in the biopic ‘Malcolm X.’ The actress played the titular civil rights leader’s wife in the hit movie.

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‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ (1993)

‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ (1993) — Another biopic, Angela Bassett played Tina Turner in the widely popular movie about her life. The performance netted Angela her lone Oscar nomination.

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‘Whitney’ (2015)

‘Whitney’ (2015) — Angela Bassett made her directorial debut in 2015 with the TV biopic ‘Whitney.’ The movie featured Yaya DaCosta playing late singer Whitney Houston.

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‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ (1993)

‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ (1993) — Angela Bassett starred alongside Laurence Fishburne in ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It.’ He played Tina’s infamous husband Ike Turner.

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‘Vampire In Brooklyn’ (1995)

‘Vampire In Brooklyn’ (1995) — A very versatile actress, Angela Bassett showed off her comedy abilities with ‘Vampire In Brooklyn.’ She starred alongside Eddie Murphy for the horror-comedy.

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‘Waiting To Exhale’ (1995)

‘Waiting To Exhale’ (1995) — Angela Bassett was part of the ensemble for the popular comedy ‘Waiting to Exhale’ in 1995. She joined the cast including Loretta Devine and Whitney Houston, who she’d later direct a biopic of.

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Angela Bassett At The 1996 Golden Globes

Angela Bassett At The 1996 Golden Globes — Angela Bassett posed alongside Kelly Preston at the 1996 Golden Globes. Two years prior, Angela won her first and only Golden Globe for ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It.’

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‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’ (1998)

‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’ (1998) — Angela Bassett played the title character in the 1998 romantic comedy ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back.’ She starred alongside Whoopi Goldberg and Taye Diggs, as a working woman taking time off in Jamaica.

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Angela Bassett At The 2002 Emmys

Angela Bassett At The 2002 Emmys — Angela Bassett arrived in a sunny, flowery dress for the 2002 Primetime Emmy Awards. She had received her first nomination for playing Rosa Parks in a TV biopic about the civil rights icon.

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Angela Bassett At The 2005 NAACP Image Awards

Angela Bassett At The 2005 NAACP Image Awards — Angela Bassett stunned in an open-backed, shimmering silver dress for the NAACP Image Awards in 2005. She had been nominated for her leading role in ‘Mr. 3000.’

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Angela Bassett Walks The Runway in 2007

Angela Bassett Walks The Runway in 2007 — Angela Bassett looked beautiful as part of the Heart Truth Red Dress Collection show during New York Fashion Week in 2007. She flashed a smile as she arrived at the end of the catwalk.

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‘American Horror Story’ (2011)

‘American Horror Story’ (2011) — Angela Bassett was a staple of the horror anthology series for six seasons. She joined during the show’s third season, and made her most recent appearance in 2018. Given that the show is still running though, she may always make a return.

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‘Whitney’ (2015)

‘Whitney’ (2015) — While much of Angela Bassett’s work has been in front of the camera, her directorial debut focused on Whitney Houston. Since then, she’s gone behind the camera for episodes of the docuseries ‘Breakthrough’ and ‘American Horror Story.’

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Angela Bassett At The 2017 Golden Globes

Angela Bassett At The 2017 Golden Globes — Angela Bassett arrived in style for the 74th Annual Golden Globes. She sported a flowing pink gown for the occasion.

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Angela Bassett At The 2019 SAG Awards With Lupita Nyong’o & Danai Gurira

Angela Bassett At The 2019 SAG Awards With Lupita Nyong’o & Danai Gurira — Angela Basset celebrated ‘Black Panther’ winning outstanding performance by a cast at the 25th annual Screen Actors Guild awards in 2019. She tapped awards with her co-stars Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira.

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Angela Bassett At The 2021 Oscars

Angela Bassett At The 2021 Oscars — Angela Bassett looked like royalty at the 2021 Academy Awards. She showed up in a bright red strapless gown, with puffy shoulders.

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Angela Bassett At The 2021 Emmy Awards

Angela Bassett At The 2021 Emmy Awards — Angela Bassett wore a black and pink gown to the 2021 Primetime Emmys. She’s been nominated for seven different Emmys over the years, but has yet to win one.

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Angela Bassett In 2021

Angela Bassett In 2021 — Angela Bassett smiled while attending a gala in Los Angeles. She sported a black, sheer jumpsuit for the special evening.

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Angela Bassett In 2021

Angela Bassett In 2021 — Angela Bassett showed off her style at the 2021 Los Angeles Philharmonic Homecoming concert. She rocked a sparkling black suit for the evening.

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Angela Bassett at 95th Annual Academy Awards

Angela Bassett at 95th Annual Academy Awards — Angela Bassett looked stunning in this fitted purple gown with a diamond necklace at the 95th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles on March 12, 2023.

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Angela Bassett at the 2023 TIME100 Gala

Angela Bassett at the 2023 TIME100 Gala — Angela Bassett rocked this black & gold sequin suit with a plunging corset underneath at the 2023 Time100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 26, 2023.

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