Angela Bassett (left) portrayed Tina Turner (right) in the 1993 biopic ‘What’s Love Got to Do With it?'.Photo:Emma McIntyre/Getty; Ross Marino/GettyAngela BassettsaysTina Turnerwaited for years to give her feedback on how the actress fared as the late singer inWhat’s Love Got to Do with It.While speaking withVarietyto celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 1993 biopic centered around Turner, whodied at 83 in May, Bassett, 64, recalled how the legendary singer took her time to offer a response to the movie, even though she was heavily involved in its production.“Early on she did not see the film. I remember when we went to Italy, she claimed that she did not see the film,” the actress said, when asked of Turner’s reaction to the movie. “Maybe 20 years ago, we were together and she took me aside and said, ‘You played me so well. Thank you.’ ““But even though she did not see the film early on, she was there every step of the way,” Bassett continued. “She was there at the rehearsals. She was at Neiman’s buying me blouses for ‘I Might Have Been Queen.’ Going into her storage and getting the red ‘Disco Inferno’ costume and allowing me to use that in the film.“Bassett was recognized with anAcademy Awardnomination for her starring role as Turner in the movie at the66th Oscars, though Holly Hunter ultimately won the award for Best Actress for her performance inThe Piano. The movie also starredLaurence FishburneasIke Turner.Angela Bassett performing as Tina Turner in the 1993 biopic ‘What’s Love Got to Do With it?'.Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock"And she was always calling to find out how I was doing. Always telling me that I was perfect, just perfect,” Bassett added to the outlet of Turner’s support during production on the film. “And you’re just praying and working every day to serve her story.“Turner’s publicist Bernard Doherty confirmed in May that she died at her home near Zurich in Switzerland after a long illness.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“I knew that she wasn’t doing well physically for a while. That part was just impossible to even believe because she had so much vitality for so long,” Bassett told the outlet of her own reaction to news of Turner’s death. “I reckoned with the fact that it would happen one day, I didn’t know when it would. I tried to reckon with my heart that this is a part of life.““And as gracefully as she showed us how to live, she would show us how to transition. And then she did,” she added.Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne in 1993’s ‘What’s Love Got To Do With it’.Touchstone/Kobal/ShutterstockBassetthonored Turner in a tributeshared onInstagramafter her death in May, writing in a caption to her post that the rock ‘n roll icon “showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion and freedom should look like.““Her final words to me — for me — were, ‘You never mimicked me. Instead, you reached deep into your soul, found your inner Tina, and showed her to the world.’ I shall hold these words close to my heart for the rest of my days. I am honored to have known Tina Turner,” Bassett wrote at the time.
Angela Bassett (left) portrayed Tina Turner (right) in the 1993 biopic ‘What’s Love Got to Do With it?'.Photo:Emma McIntyre/Getty; Ross Marino/Getty
Emma McIntyre/Getty; Ross Marino/Getty
Angela BassettsaysTina Turnerwaited for years to give her feedback on how the actress fared as the late singer inWhat’s Love Got to Do with It.While speaking withVarietyto celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 1993 biopic centered around Turner, whodied at 83 in May, Bassett, 64, recalled how the legendary singer took her time to offer a response to the movie, even though she was heavily involved in its production.“Early on she did not see the film. I remember when we went to Italy, she claimed that she did not see the film,” the actress said, when asked of Turner’s reaction to the movie. “Maybe 20 years ago, we were together and she took me aside and said, ‘You played me so well. Thank you.’ ““But even though she did not see the film early on, she was there every step of the way,” Bassett continued. “She was there at the rehearsals. She was at Neiman’s buying me blouses for ‘I Might Have Been Queen.’ Going into her storage and getting the red ‘Disco Inferno’ costume and allowing me to use that in the film.“Bassett was recognized with anAcademy Awardnomination for her starring role as Turner in the movie at the66th Oscars, though Holly Hunter ultimately won the award for Best Actress for her performance inThe Piano. The movie also starredLaurence FishburneasIke Turner.Angela Bassett performing as Tina Turner in the 1993 biopic ‘What’s Love Got to Do With it?'.Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock"And she was always calling to find out how I was doing. Always telling me that I was perfect, just perfect,” Bassett added to the outlet of Turner’s support during production on the film. “And you’re just praying and working every day to serve her story.“Turner’s publicist Bernard Doherty confirmed in May that she died at her home near Zurich in Switzerland after a long illness.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“I knew that she wasn’t doing well physically for a while. That part was just impossible to even believe because she had so much vitality for so long,” Bassett told the outlet of her own reaction to news of Turner’s death. “I reckoned with the fact that it would happen one day, I didn’t know when it would. I tried to reckon with my heart that this is a part of life.““And as gracefully as she showed us how to live, she would show us how to transition. And then she did,” she added.Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne in 1993’s ‘What’s Love Got To Do With it’.Touchstone/Kobal/ShutterstockBassetthonored Turner in a tributeshared onInstagramafter her death in May, writing in a caption to her post that the rock ‘n roll icon “showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion and freedom should look like.““Her final words to me — for me — were, ‘You never mimicked me. Instead, you reached deep into your soul, found your inner Tina, and showed her to the world.’ I shall hold these words close to my heart for the rest of my days. I am honored to have known Tina Turner,” Bassett wrote at the time.
Angela BassettsaysTina Turnerwaited for years to give her feedback on how the actress fared as the late singer inWhat’s Love Got to Do with It.
While speaking withVarietyto celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 1993 biopic centered around Turner, whodied at 83 in May, Bassett, 64, recalled how the legendary singer took her time to offer a response to the movie, even though she was heavily involved in its production.
“Early on she did not see the film. I remember when we went to Italy, she claimed that she did not see the film,” the actress said, when asked of Turner’s reaction to the movie. “Maybe 20 years ago, we were together and she took me aside and said, ‘You played me so well. Thank you.’ "
“But even though she did not see the film early on, she was there every step of the way,” Bassett continued. “She was there at the rehearsals. She was at Neiman’s buying me blouses for ‘I Might Have Been Queen.’ Going into her storage and getting the red ‘Disco Inferno’ costume and allowing me to use that in the film.”
Bassett was recognized with anAcademy Awardnomination for her starring role as Turner in the movie at the66th Oscars, though Holly Hunter ultimately won the award for Best Actress for her performance inThe Piano. The movie also starredLaurence FishburneasIke Turner.
Angela Bassett performing as Tina Turner in the 1993 biopic ‘What’s Love Got to Do With it?'.Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock
Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock
“And she was always calling to find out how I was doing. Always telling me that I was perfect, just perfect,” Bassett added to the outlet of Turner’s support during production on the film. “And you’re just praying and working every day to serve her story.”
Turner’s publicist Bernard Doherty confirmed in May that she died at her home near Zurich in Switzerland after a long illness.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“I knew that she wasn’t doing well physically for a while. That part was just impossible to even believe because she had so much vitality for so long,” Bassett told the outlet of her own reaction to news of Turner’s death. “I reckoned with the fact that it would happen one day, I didn’t know when it would. I tried to reckon with my heart that this is a part of life.”
“And as gracefully as she showed us how to live, she would show us how to transition. And then she did,” she added.
Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne in 1993’s ‘What’s Love Got To Do With it’.Touchstone/Kobal/Shutterstock
Bassetthonored Turner in a tributeshared onInstagramafter her death in May, writing in a caption to her post that the rock ‘n roll icon “showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion and freedom should look like.”
“Her final words to me — for me — were, ‘You never mimicked me. Instead, you reached deep into your soul, found your inner Tina, and showed her to the world.’ I shall hold these words close to my heart for the rest of my days. I am honored to have known Tina Turner,” Bassett wrote at the time.
source: people.com
