Angela Bassett reflects on disappointing 2023 Oscars loss to Jamie Lee Curtis: ‘I was deserving’

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Angela Bassett is getting candid about losing the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award in 2023 for her work in 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'.

In her cover story for Town & Country’s March issue, the 66-year-old actress said she "found it interesting ... that I wouldn’t be allowed to be disappointed at an outcome where I thought I was deserving".

Angela Bassett reflects on 2023 Oscars loss

Angela Bassett was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Queen Ramonda in 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'. However, the Academy Award went to Jamie Lee Curtis.

Although she was disappointed at missing out on an Academy Award, it does not mean she was not happy for Jamie Lee Curtis, who won her first-ever Oscar for her performance in 'Everything Everywhere All at Once'. But Bassett admitted that the loss stung at the time.

"I love applauding people. But in that moment ..." she continued.

"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," Bassett shared.

Angela Bassett honors 'trailblazing' Black actresses' legacy

Although Angela Bassett did not take home the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award in 2023, which marked her second Oscar nomination following a Best Actress nod nearly 30 years earlier for her portrayal of Tina Turner in 1993’s 'What’s Love Got to Do with It', she did receive an honorary Oscar for her contributions to the film industry in 2024.

As she accepted the award onstage, Bassett acknowledged "trailblazing" Black actresses who paved the way for her, including Ruby Dee, Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson, and Rosalind Cash, according to People.

"They were my North Star, my guiding light, proof that while the road may not be without curves and bumps, there was a way to fulfill what I believed deep in my soul was my destiny," she said.

Expressing gratitude, Bassett continued, "It was standing on their strong, spiritually fortified shoulders that I often was sustained, and I thank them for every sacrifice, every doubt, every disappointment, every rejection, every triumph that I know they experienced along the way."

"Because had it not been for their resilience, continuing to fight through their fears and the uncertainty and their willingness as they fought for every role, I would not have had a representation of what was possible for me," she added.

Angela Bassett feels thankful for all the roles she has landed

Angela Bassett emphasized that her recognition went beyond personal achievement.

"But this honor isn’t just for or about me," she said.

"What I hope this moment means is that we are taking the necessary steps toward a future in which it is the norm, not the exception, to see and embrace one another’s full humanity, stories, and perspectives," she shared.

Reflecting on her early days in the industry, Bassett recalled the challenges of finding meaningful roles.

"You’re just trying to find little pieces where you are, little moments of daylight to be able to do this. So no matter how small it was, it was just a joy and a blessing," she told Town & Country.

"I wonder if that’s why, when I get the opportunity, whatever opportunity it is, to perform or to be in front of an audience, to me it’s daylight. It’s really ... you don’t take it for granted," Bassett added.