How Angela Bassett Is Leading The Conversation On Aging In Hollywood

Angela Bassett has spent four decades redefining what strength, elegance, and longevity look like in Hollywood. From her electrifying breakout as Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do with It” to her Oscar-nominated turn as Queen Ramonda in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Bassett has built a career rooted in power, grace, and emotional depth, the kind that makes her one of the industry’s most respected performers. Her portrayals of real-life icons such as Betty Shabazz, Katherine Jackson, and Rosa Parks further cemented her reputation as an artist who can channel both fire and vulnerability in a single breath. And today, at 66, the “9-1-1” star continues to lead conversations around representation and longevity, proving that her influence only grows stronger with time. So it’s no surprise she tops this year’s list of Hollywood’s most inspiring women over 50, and in true Angela Bassett fashion, she accepted the honor with humility and a message that radiates optimism.

“Half the time, I forget how old I am!” Bassett told AARP Movies for Grownups with a laugh. “Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, keep embracing life, and know that the best is yet to come.”

Long praised for her “innate strength, diamond-sharp beauty, and depth of feeling,” as The New Yorker once put it, Bassett brings a sense of emotional voltage to every performance. But behind the accolades and gravitas, she carries herself lightly, never letting a number define what she’s capable of.

Her “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” director, Ryan Coogler, says her brilliance is universally recognized among those who work with her.

“Everybody loves Angela.… She’s a national treasure, know what I mean? She’s so incredible that sometimes you forget.… Her work ethic is insane,” Coogler stated.

That work ethic helped turn her volcanic portrayal of Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do With It” into a cultural milestone, earning her a Golden Globe, an Oscar nomination, and a permanent place in the pop-culture canon.

She went on to bring powerful resonance to roles such as Betty Shabazz in “Malcolm X,” Katherine Jackson in “The Jacksons: An American Dream,” and the iconic civil rights heroine in “The Rosa Parks Story.” “If you’re lucky,” she tells AARP Movies for Grownups, “your work touches others, and you can make an impact.”

In 2023, Bassett made history as the first actor ever nominated for an Oscar for a Marvel film, thanks to her commanding performance as Queen Ramonda. Today, she channels that same intensity into her role as Athena Grant on FOX’s hit series “9-1-1,” now entering its ninth season.

Coming in second on AARP Movies for Grownups’ list is Naomi Watts, who is admired not just for her award-winning performances in films like Mulholland Drive and 21 Grams, but also for her honesty about aging, menopause, and female empowerment. “I love being in my 50s,” she said. “We get to know ourselves better … and we can stop the people-pleasing. There’s no need to give a f-ck what everyone else thinks. We can let go of the coulda, shoulda, wouldas and go after what we want, unapologetically.”

Off-screen, Watts is building community and sparking conversations through Stripes, her skin-care and wellness brand dedicated to supporting women through midlife changes. She brings that same message of sisterhood to her new Hulu series “All’s Fair,” starring alongside Glenn Close, Sarah Paulson, and Kim Kardashian as a group of fierce female divorce attorneys forging their own path.

“I feel especially grateful now for the deep friendships I have with remarkable women,” Watts said. “We’ve grown up together, through thick and thin. Community is everything.”