Marvel Cinematic Universe fans were eager for the second installment of the Black Panther franchise. Anxious to see how the film would handle the tragic and untimely death of Chadwick Boseman, who starred as the titular Black Panther, King T'Challa. Needless to say, the film was still in good hands with director Ryan Coogler and the returning main cast.
Of all these cast members, however, one performance stood out the most, and that was Angela Bassett's performance as Queen Ramonda: A woman scorned by too many deaths, far too soon in her family. Forced to take on the mantle left by T’Challa’s death, Bassett's performance was nothing less than Queen status.
You’re listening to Remarkable Receptions—a podcast about popular and critical responses to African American novels and more.
Angela Bassett first starred as Queen Ramonda in 2018’s Black Panther. She returned in 2021, offering her voice to the same character in the Disney+ series, What If?. But it wasn't until 2022's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever that Bassett turned in a performance that won her a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. She was awarded for good reason.
With several major roles under her belt, Angela Bassett was a well-established performer long before Black Panther. She soared in leading roles in films such as What's Love Got to Do with It, Waiting to Exhale, The Rosa Parks Story, Akeelah and the Bee, and various other movies and television programs.
As Queen Ramonda, Bassett’s very demeanor invokes strength, power, and respect from the moment she appears on screen. Her ability to portray the hurt of a woman who's lost both her husband and her son, her ability to channel that hurt yet still maintain her sense of strength and authority - that emotive power commands every scene.
Queen Ramonda leads the most powerful nation in the world, and nearly her entire family is gone. Bassett gave her all to that role. Her reception from audiences and her receipt of a Golden Globe Award corroborate the idea that Angela Bassett's performance was nothing less than remarkable.
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This episode of Remarkable Receptions was written by Terrance Wellmaker. The episode was edited by Elizabeth Cali and Howard Rambsy.
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This podcast, Remarkable Receptions, is part of the Black Literature Network, a joint project from African American literary studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the History of Black Writing at the University of Kansas. The project was made possible by the generous support of the Mellon Foundation. For more information, visit blacklitnetwork.org.