Angela Bassett thanked her fans for their “decades and decades” of support as she accepted an honorary Oscar.
The actor — who first received wide acclaim playing music superstar Tina Turner in the 1993 biopic What’s Love Got To Do With It? — received the accolade on Jan. 9 when she confessed to feeling “humbled” by the recognition.
“It’s been decades, right? Decades and decades, roles and roles, and blessings upon blessings,” Bassett said after collecting her award. “To the fans who’ve gone to see the movie and support it — I felt the love. I’m getting chills now, but I felt the love all these years. I mean, they have prayed, they have fussed, they have written, they have had my back. So it feels really satisfying to receive this. I’m humbled.”
The Emmy-winning star — who has twins Bronwyn and Slater with her husband Courtney B. Vance — also thanked her family for their constant support. She admitted that her family has played an instrumental role in her success.
“The people who love being there, they’re there, [and] they’re there holding me up. You can’t do it alone,” she told “Entertainment Tonight.”
The Governors Awards are hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Before the ceremony, Academy President Janet Yang explained that the Strange Days star had been chosen for the honor because of her reputation for delivering “transcendent performances that set new standards in acting.”
“Across her decades-long career, Angela Bassett has continued to deliver transcendent performances that set new standards in acting,” Yang said.
