Angela Bassett Hounds Halle Berry For 'Slutty' Role-Accuses Oscar Winner of Prostituting Herself

NY Post, MSNBC.com and Newsweek ^ | June 23, 2002 | Bill Hoffman

[codebreaker]

Angela Bassett has come out swinging against Halle Berry and her Oscar winning performance in 'Monsters Ball'-saying that iit demeaning for black actresses to play sluts.

Bassett tells Newsweek she turned down a chance to play the lead because 'I wasn't going to be a prositute on film.'

'I couldn't do that because it's such a sterotype about black women and sexuality.'

Berry made history as the first black woman to win a Best Actress Academy Award, as a waitress who has a tortured affair with the racist, death row prision guard who executed her cop killer husband.

[Illbay]

Nope. See my earlier reply. She had a pretty good thing goin' onscreen with James Spader.

[GSWarrior]

Catchy headline.

[Dr. Frank fan]

I enjoyed The Score quite a bit. Bassett was completely forgettable in it in a pointless role and could have been replaced by almost anyone. But, bravo to her for getting her mug into at least one non-stinker (someone else mentioned Supernova...)

[Rebelbase]

Sour Grapes.

[resistance]

I agree it sounds like whining...but I'm confused. Is hollywood guilty of perpetuating the plight of the American Black women by continuously providing stereotypical roles on TV and movies or are they to be hailed for recognizing and creating roles that describe the plight of the American Black woman. I can't keep up.

[Gumlegs]

Actaully Halle didn't get the female supporting part in the John Travolta summer blockbuster 'Broken Arrow' because the producers didn't think she was believable as a forest ranger.

Well ... maybe that's what they said, but I have to tell you, believability in a role only rarely enters into the question. (Think Michelle Pfeiffer in "Frankie and Johnny." I'm reminded of the reason the producers of the "Charlie's Angels" tv show gave for firing one of the actresses late in the show's run. The official reason was "She doesn't seem smart enough to be one of Charlie's Angels. A friend of mine snorted, "Right. That's like being told you're not handsome enough to play Quasimodo").

Your observation regarding box office is on target. Usually (but not always), that's what drives these decisions.

[codebreaker]

As long as Halle keeps doing X-Men and James Bond, I'll be happy.

[blackie]

Right-on MH, you covered it perfectly !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Molon Labe !!

[codebreaker]

The Page Six headline editors were on their 'A' game last night.

[codebreaker]

And the film may have been pre-'Boomerang' before Halle was a bankable star.

[NYCVirago]

Well ... maybe that's what they said, but I have to tell you, believability in a role only rarely enters into the question. (Think Michelle Pfeiffer in "Frankie and Johnny."

Yeah, didn't Kathy Bates play that role on Broadway, and Pheiffer got the movie role?

[Gumlegs]

Yeah, didn't Kathy Bates play that role on Broadway, and Pheiffer got the movie role?

I think that's right. That the role is supposed to be someone unattractive (by Hollywood standards), was the point. Naturally, Hollywood missed it. Or maybe they thought Michelle could act less attractive that Bates. LOL!

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

This pisses me off! Why the heck should the race matter in this case? This was a starring role in a film - it wasn't portraying every single black woman in the history of time as a prostitute - just as "Pretty Woman" did NOT represent every single white woman.......... this statement by Angela Bassett is way off base to me........

[Argh]

Like I said to W back in class, I think it's more sour grapes than anything, but it's certainly irksome she took that tack.

[codebreaker]

Why gets me is Halle's character wasn't even close to being a prostitute unless Anglea Bassett thinks every unmarried woman having sex is a hooker.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Argh, you may be right - but I do have to say I hate when someone says that "blacks shouldn't fight with other blacks" as if they all have to like each other....... and Codebreaker - I haven't seen the movie but based on your description, I certainly wouldn't refer to Halle's character as a prostitute........ geez..........

[codebreaker]

Yup, Angela Bassett is going way overboard here.

[Gumlegs]

Yer killin' me!

... if my wife doesn't get to me first.