Keke Palmer - The Next Angela Bassett?

Forgive me if you find what I'm about to put forth presumptuous. It is my opinion that Keke Plamer is the up and coming Angela Bassett. I have the utmost respect for Angela and is in no way suggesting that she could ever be replaced because Bassett is undoubtedly irreplaceable.


What I'm professing is that Miss Palmer is cut from the same cloth so to speak. She's got the makings of the likes of Basett, Lynn Whitfield, Cicely Tyson and so many other actresses of color. She's unequivocally cut from the same cloth.


I find her acting skills remarkable. Keke seems mature beyond her 14 young years (she'll be 15 come August 26). The roles she has taken on thus far in her career speak volumes. As long as she continues in this vein, she's sure to be successful.


The fact that she has already acted alongside veterans Samuel L. Jackson, Laurence Fishburne and the stalwart herself - Angela B speaks volumes of the potential that this young lady holds. Not only has she acted opposite these greats but she has held her own doing so. This budding star has also worked with William H. Macy, Queen Latifah, Cedrick The Entertainer. Her up-coming films will have her working with Robin Williams, Ice Cube, Kevin Spacey, Vivica A. Fox and Keshia Knight Pulliam.


I was truly impressed with her role in Cleaner opposite Jackson. If you haven't seen the movie, I strongly recommend it. Her appearances throughout the film weren't many. But the scenes that she was in; she nailed them all! That she did. She has built up a reputation for stealing scenes and she's damn good at it.


She started her career at the tender age of 9 in Barbershop 2 - Back in Business in 2004 and has been making a name for herself ever since. And if you think that I'm just a fan tooting Keke's horn, then think again for this rising star's talent and accomplishments speak for themselves. The fact that she's won 5 awards and been nominated for 7 others is proof positive that she's not a fly-by-night sensation.


In 2006 she won 2 awards and in 2007 she won 3 awards for her role in Akeelah and the Bee:
Black Movie Award - Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (2006)
ShoWest Convention, USA - Special Award - Rising Star of the Year
Young Artist Award - Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress
NAACP Image Award - Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Black Reel Award - Best Actress
Other nominations include Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, Chicago Film Critics Association Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards.


From 2004 to now she has made 14 appearances both in film and on television. Her television appearances include stints in ER, Law & Order: SVU, Strong Medicine, Cold Case and House of Payne. Movie credits include The Wool Cap, Akeelah and the Bee and Madea's Family Reunion. She's got 6 additional movies in the making: The Longshots which she just completed and will be released 22 August, Unstable Fables: Tortise vs. Hare (voice post-production - 2008), Madea Goes to Jail (Feb. 2009), Shrink (2009 - currently filming), True Jackson (Nov. 2008) and Vapors (2008).


I am absolutely pleased with the choices that Palmer has made so far in her career and her performance is certainly above par. I'm looking forward to watching her build a solid, admirable, respectable, worthwhile, inspiring and praise-worthy career. It warms my heart more than I can express at the thought of being present to witness her talents unfold. The fact that most new actors take on 'given' roles; roles that are not substantial makes me even more impressed with Palmer. All of her roles thus far have been very substantial and meaningful roles. And the way I see, if she's started out in this vein, it gives her that much more leverage to continue choosing such roles.


Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer is also a singer. She released her debut album So Uncool on September 18, 2007 and have singles on a number of movie soundtracks including Akeelah and the Bee, Night at the Museum, and Disney Mania 5 and 6.


Keke I've got my eyes on you and know that you're destined for great things. I wish you the very best in your career and hope that you'll stay grounded and committed to what you do. I'm very proud of you.


Keep up the good work.

p.s. Is it my eyes or does she bear a resemblance to Angie?

Angela Bassett: Simply Amazing

Let me just start this off by declaring Angela Evelyn Bassett will be 50 years old come August 16. Yes read it again, 50 gorgeous awe-inspiring years old. She shares a birthday with the 'Material Girl' Madonna.


Let me get this off my chest as well, the woman is phenomenal! She is awesome. Angela Bassett is quite simply - amazing!


She's a strong, intelligent, proud, extremely talented woman of color. She has lead an exemplary life. A life that's inspiring, uplifting, challenging, demanding and worhtwhile. I admire her to the fullest. She has blazed her own trail, she has paved the way for many a women of color to follow. She's has lived a life full of integrity. She has unshakable character.


The IMDB describes her as being captivating, gifted, and sensational, Angela Bassett's presence has been felt in theaters, stages, and television screens throughout the world. I could not agree more. Angela is all that and so much more.


The woman has a body to die for. How the hell does she do it? Beats the hell outta me. I'll I ask is that she just keeps on doing it and doing it well. I don't care to know. I just care about the end results and her end rocks! Hard!


One of the most admirable characteristic about Angela is the roles that she chooses to play in movies. She has a reputation for choosing roles that depict women as being strong, independent, self-sufficient and pioneers. The woman is truly powerful and charismatic.




Such roles include Tina Turner in What's Love Got To Do With It (1993), Betty Shabazz (Malcolm X's wife) in Malcolm X (1992) and she reprised the same role in Mario Van Peeble's Panther (1995) and Rosa Parks in The Rosa Parks Story (1992). She also auditioned for the role of Dorothy Dandridge for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (2002) a role which she lost to Halle Berry.


I saw her in Music of the Heart and her performance was outstanding! Seriously why don't they make movies like that anymore. It was sheer genius and a total delight to sit and watch three of my favorite actresses in the same movie. All of whom gave award worthy performances.


Seriously, Meryl Streep, Cloris Leachman and Angela Bassett in the same movie! I'm taking the casting director out to dinner! Bless the day! And Gloria Estefan (what a bonus, this woman belongs on the screen) - Oh Happy Day indeed! The kids were all so earnest and cute, they all deserved an award of some kind.


I recently saw her in Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns and the woman is still at the top of her game. She brings every character to life. She gets into the character and becomes said character. It's a true joy and pleasure to watch her work.




To date she has made 60 appearances in movies and television since beginning her career in 1985 and is probably best known for her roles in How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Waiting to Exhale and Akeela and the Bee. An additional 3 will be added to the list since she's will be appearing in Nothing But Truth (set for release December 2008), Notorious (16 January 2009) and Toussaint (2009).




In Notorious she stars opposite Derek Luke in this depiction of the life and death of Notorious B.I.G.(Christopher Wallace). The cast of Toussaint include Don Cheadle, Mos Def and Jonathan Rhys Meyers.


Bassett is also moving into the movie production business. She was the producer of Ruby's Buck of Blood (2001) and will produce Phuck (2008 which is in post-production phase). She was executive producer of Our America and The Rosa Parks Story.


Angela received and academic scholarship and attended Yale Universtiy where she received a B.A. in African-American studies in 1980. In 1983 she earned her Masters of Fine Arts from Yale School of Drama.


Her accomplishments are many. In 2005 she became the first and only African American to receive a Golden Glove award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her portrayal of Tina Turn in What's Love Got to Do with It.


She falls into an elite group of (7 in total so far) exceptionally talented African American actress who have received Best Actress Oscar nominations. The other 6 are Dorothy Dandridge, Diana Ross, Cicely Tyson, Diahann Carroll, Whoopi Goldberg and Halle Berry. This is proof positive that I'm not exaggerating about her acting skills.




On January 27, 2006 she and her husband Courtney B. Vance became proud parents of twins Bronwyn Golden and Slater Josiah through a surrogate after Bassett endured a long battle with infertility. The are such a beautiful adorable family.








Awards
1993 - Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy - What's Love Got to do With It


1994 - Golden Apple Award for Female Discovery of the Year


1995 - Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture - What's Love Got to do With It
1995 - Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture - Malcolm X


1996 - Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture - Waiting to Exhale
1996 - Saturn Award for Actress - Strange Days


1999 - Black Film Award for Best Actress - How Stella Got her Groove Back
1999 - Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture - How Stella Got her Groove Back (not to worry love, I'll keep your secret)


2000 - Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture - Music of the Heart


2002 - Black Reel Award for Best Actress in a Network/Cable Film - The Rosa Parks Story
2002 - Black Reel Award for Best Actress - Sunshine State
2002 - Black Reel Award for Best Actress - Ruby's Bucket of Blood


2002 - Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special - Ruby's Bucket of Blood
2002 - Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture - The Score


2003 - Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture - Sunshine State
2003 - Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Mini-Series/Television Movie - The Rosa Parks Story


2006 - Black Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress - Akeela and the Bee


On 20 March 2008, Angela received a well earned star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.






She is UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the United States and is an ardent and avid support of programs for Arts and many other programs that support children.




The fantastic thing is that she has done all this while keeping her private life private and maintaining a well balanced and fulfilled life. So it's like I started off saying and still maintain, Angela Bassett is simply amazing.


She is utterly sophisticated.




She's hardworking.


A gem to be treasured.


She's enriching. This world is a better place because she's in it.


She is a woman I consider myself to be fortunate and privileged to exist in the same time and space with. She's all woman. Yeah.


She's a bad mamma jamma who you definitely don't wanna mess with or piss off in anyway. She might just burn all your clothes in the new car then sell everything else for $1 :). I love this lady, she's definitely my kinda girl, I mean woman.


p.s. Let the records show that Angela could effortlessly have been published on this blog as a Timeless Thursday or Hottie Friday candidate. She's just that versatile, definitely worthy and qualifies for both.