Angela Bassett Says Tina Turner Was The Toughest Role She’s Ever Played: Absolutely Nothing Has Been As Difficult

Angela Bassett, Tina Turner

Angela Bassett Says Tina Turner Was The Toughest Role She’s Ever Played: Absolutely Nothing Has Been As Difficult

Angela Bassett embodied all things Tina Turner in the classic film What’s Love Got To Do With It?

Now, 37 years after the movie was released, Angela Bassett has said it was the toughest role she’s ever played in her lengthy career.

She recalled while on PEOPLE Every Day, 

“Definitely nothing has been as difficult as Tina Turner. Nothing as difficult physically, emotionally, spiritually, vocally. Nothing, absolutely nothing.”

She added that while going on several auditions, she knew if she got the role it would be a gamechanger for her career.

“I thought that if I were to get [the part], it would be one of those movies that would […] cement my face with my name because I was always that actor that was struggling going to auditions or doing guest spots on weekend television shows.”

She said she told herself,

“Whatever happens, whether it works or whether it doesn’t, you’ve got to be memorable.”

And memorable it was. Angela Bassett ultimately won a Golden Globe for Best Actress – Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy in 1994. She also won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress In A Motion Picture.

She added that her children haven’t seen the movie but “really enjoyed” her latest movie Soul. 

“Let them discover it. Let their friends discover it […] maybe [then] I’d get some more respect around here! […] I tell them, you don’t know what I got up my sleeve.”

What do you think about what Angel Bassett had to say? Comment and let us know.