As the world mourns the loss of Tina Turner, actress Angela Bassett is honoring her legacy. Bassett delivered a Golden Globe Award-winning and Oscar-nominated performance as Turner in the 1993 Turner biopic What’s Love Got to Do with It. Based on Turner’s autobiography I, Tina, the film showed her rise to stardom and tumultuous relationship with Ike Turner (portrayed by Laurence Fishburne in the film). In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Bassett shared:
“How do we say farewell to a woman who owned her pain and trauma and used it as a means to help change the world? Through her courage in telling her story, her commitment to stay the course in her life, no matter the sacrifice, and her determination to carve out a space in rock and roll for herself and for others who look like her, Tina Turner showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion, and freedom should look like.”
Bassett continued:
“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. I am humbled to have helped show her to the world. So on today, while we mourn the loss of this iconic voice and presence, she gave us more than we could have ever asked. She gave us her whole self. And Tina Turner is a gift that will always be “simply the best.” Angels, sing thee to thy rest…Queen.”
Tina Turner’s Last Words to Angela Bassett
Turner’s final words to Bassett came through a written statement by Turner for Time Magazine. Last month, the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actress was named one of The 100 Most Influential People of 2023 by the publication. Turner said:
“Someone’s going to play me in What’s Love Got to Do With It? I was a little bit skeptical when work began on the 1993 film. First of all, who are they going to find to sing, dance, and act like me? Then, I looked up, saw Angela, and immediately started to smile. Angela, the first time we met, you didn’t look, sound, or move like me—that came later after you worked so hard to make it happen. But even then, I could see that the young woman standing before me had strength, determination, and big, big dreams, just like me.”
Through her illustrious musical career, which spanned over six decades, Turner sold over 100 million records worldwide and became known as the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. She earned 12 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Hall of Fame twice, in 1991 with Ike Turner in 1991 and again in 2021 as a solo artist. She also made her way onto the big screen for multiple features including Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, and Last Action Hero. In 2021, she appeared in Tina, a documentary about her life.
News of Turner’s death was confirmed by her manager today, who shared that Turner had passed in her home in Switzerland after a long illness. She was 83.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
