Angela Bassett Reflects on Disappointment After 2023 Oscar Loss

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Angela Bassett recently opened up about her feelings surrounding her loss at the 2023 Academy Awards, where she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” In an interview, Bassett expressed her belief that she was “deserving” of the honor, drawing significant attention after her visibly disappointed reaction when Jamie Lee Curtis was announced as the winner for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

“I found it interesting that I wouldn’t be allowed to be disappointed at an outcome where I thought I was deserving,” Bassett said. Her words resonated with many as a reflection of the pressures often faced by award nominees, particularly in high-stakes environments like the Oscars. Bassett’s reaction immediately went viral, prompting discussions about the human aspect of competing for awards.

Having garnered critical acclaim for portraying Queen Ramonda, Bassett made history as the first actor to receive an Academy Award nomination from a Marvel film. Prior to the Oscars, she had already earned accolades at the Golden Globes and Critics' Choice Awards, signaling her strong presence in the awards circuit. However, the ultimate recognition proved elusive after she lost to Curtis, who also won the Screen Actors Guild Award and later triumphed at the BAFTAs for her performance.

“I love applauding people,” Bassett stated, but she noted the disappointment she felt personally about the outcome. “I have put in: put in the time, put in good work over time. I didn’t think that was a gift. I thought it was a given.” Her determination reflects the hard work and dedication she has demonstrated throughout her nearly 40-year career in the film industry.

Following the Oscars, Bassett elaborated on her feelings of disappointment, describing the moment as one filled with human emotion. “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 shared.

Her perspective on disappointment also extends to her role as a mother. During her acceptance speech for an Honorary Oscar in 2024, she emphasized the importance of grace in handling life’s disappointments for both herself and her children. “There are going to be these moments of disappointment that you’ll experience, but how do you handle yourself in the midst of them?” she asked, emphasizing resilience.

Bassett’s Oscar nomination was her second in a long and storied career, having previously been nominated for Best Actress in 1994 for her portrayal of Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” Although she lost that award to Holly Hunter, Bassett’s body of work has continued to earn her respect and recognition in the industry.

In addition to her Oscar nomination and subsequent honorary award, Bassett has successfully continued her career with exciting roles. She is set to reprise her character Erika Sloane in the upcoming film “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” which is scheduled for release on May 23, 2025, alongside stars like Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell.