Angela Bassett says she 'literally wailed' for 16 hours on the set of Tina Turner's 1993 biopic 'What's Love Got to Do with It'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Angela Bassett delved into the process of portraying music legend Tina Turner for the 1993 biopic 'What's Love Got to Do with It.'

Reflecting on the emotional and physical toll of embodying the late music icon's tumultuous life, Bassett said, "It's not playtime or acting. You assess a part of your spirit in the portrayal when you really connect."

Angela Bassett recalls filming a harrowing scene for the 1993 Tina Turner biopic

In the Biran Gibson-directed film, the 65-year-old actress starred as Turner who died at the age of 83 in 2023.

She played the role alongside Laurence Fishburne who played Turner's longtime musical partner Ike Turner who died of a cocaine overdose in December 2007.

Turner's abusive relationship with Ike ended 16 years after they tied the knot in 1962. 

Following their separation, the singer publicly spoke about the years of abuse she suffered during her marriage with Ike.

Bassett shared that co-star Fishburne provided support and advocacy during the filming process, particularly violent scenes that sometimes took 16 hours a day.

"I was newbie on the scene, I don't have so much influence or say," the actress recalled, according to People.

"But I had an advocate who would join me by my side and we would say, in a firm and delicate way, 'We got it,'" she added.

Among the shots taken, the scene where Ike "knocked" Turner over the back of a couch left Bassett "literally" wailing as she "cried for 16 hours, whether I was on-screen or off-screen for my co-stars."

"I probably wouldn't do that today. But during that time we were just so committed through the fire," she said.

Tina Turner's biopic earned Angela Bassett her first Oscars nomination

Despite the grueling nature of filming the 1993 biopic 'What's Love Got to Do with It', the project earned Bassett her first Oscars nomination, marking a turning point in her career.

Reflecting on the film's impact, she described it as "a real watershed moment in my life."

"And I knew in the making of it that it had the possibility of changing my life and it could change the trajectory of my career," she added.

In January, Bassett, who has been cementing her status as one of Hollywood's most revered actresses, was awarded an honorary Oscars for her stellar performance in 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' which earned her second Academy Award nomination.