Kermode & Mayo’s Take Now and Ben: Angela Bassett on Zero Day, Strange Days and The Simpsons
Feb 21, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Angela Bassett, a celebrated actress known for her powerful roles over four decades, discusses her portrayal of President Evelyn Mitchell in the Netflix series Zero Day. She shares insights about the challenges of playing strong female characters and reflects on her inspiring real-life figures. The conversation takes a fun turn as she recalls her experience voicing Michelle Obama on The Simpsons and reunites with Robert De Niro. Bassett also emphasizes the importance of diverse representation in cinema and the evolution of Black stories on screen.
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Reuniting with De Niro
- Angela Bassett was thrilled to reunite with Robert De Niro on Zero Day after working together on The Score (2002).
- She describes the experience of working with De Niro and Marlon Brando as "mind-blowing."
Embracing Nervousness
- Having some nervousness while acting can be beneficial.
- Bassett believes it motivates her to be as prepared as possible.
Director's Influence
- Zero Day's director, Leslie Glatter (Homeland, The Walking Dead), brought valuable experience to the political thriller genre.
- Having the same director across the limited series provided consistency and understanding of the complex narrative.