|
Comedian Mel Brooks also received a golden statuette at the
annual Governors Awards in front of a crowd of top stars
including Leonardo DiCaprio, Bradley Cooper and Natalie Portman.
On stage accepting her trophy, Bassett paid tribute to the 10
Black women who have won Academy Awards - naming each one - and
said she hoped the film industry would provide more
opportunities for people of color.
"My prayer is that we leave this industry more enriched,
forward-thinking and inclusive than we found it," Bassett, 65,
said. "At the end of the day, we all just want to have the
opportunity to do great, meaningful work."
Bassett was nominated for two competitive Oscars. The first was
for her breakout role as Turner in 1993's "What's Love Got to Do
with It," and the second for playing Queen Ramonda in 2022's
"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."
Bassett and other honorees were selected by the board of
governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the
group that will hand out this year's Oscars in March.
Writer, director and actor Brooks, now 97, began his career
writing comedy routines for Sid Caesar's TV shows in the 1950s
before making films such as "Blazing Saddles" and "Young
Frankenstein."
He won an Oscar for writing the screenplay for 1967 film "The
Producers," which later became a hit Broadway play.
After a musical introduction by "The Producers" stars Nathan
Lane and Matthew Broderick, Brooks joked that he appreciated his
new Oscar statuette because he had sold his previous trophy.
"I won't sell this one, I swear to God," he said.
The academy also honored film editor Carol Littleton and
Sundance Film Festival executive Michelle Satter.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Christina Fincher)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
