Angela Bassett’s Disney Legend Speech At D23

It seemed like just yesterday when my heart dropped after Ariana DeBose didn’t call Angela’s name at the 2023 Academy Awards, but now it’s her time, and she represented on the stage with elegance and wisdom as a true queen should.

Angela received the honor of becoming a Disney Legend at the 2024 D23 Expo, one of the “highest honors” awarded to creatives who impacted the Disney legacy.

Angela’s incredible career with Disney blew up with her iconic Golden Globe Award-winning performance as Tina Turner in 1993’s What’s Love Got to Do with It, a Touchstone Pictures production.

But she’s been dabbling in Disney since taking on one of her very first roles on the ABC daytime drama Ryan’s Hope in 1987.

Over the years, she’s lent her recognizably soothing voice to many Disney projects, including Mildred in the 2007 animated feature film Meet the Robinsons.

She voiced Dorothea Williams in Pixar’s 2020 film Soul.

She voiced Groove in Whispers: An Elephant’s Tale.

However, Angela made history as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the sequel to the 2018 film Black Panther.

At the 2023 Academy Awards, Angela became the first actor to have a Marvel Cinematic Universe role nominated for an Academy Award, and now she’s being honored as a Disney Legend.

While introducing the honoree at D23, Black Panther director Ryan Coogler recalled being inspired by Angela’s career as he prepared her to receive her award. “To see her and what she does is truly a gift,” he said. “She’s incredible. She’s been incredible for decades.”

After the Dora Milaje appeared, Ryan presented to Angela. She followed the introduction with a riveting speech that commanded the room’s attention and revealed that she has queen energy even outside of the MCU. “From day one in my pursuit of a career as an actress, I have understood that I am a part of something greater than myself,” she said.

“I offer my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported me on this journey — cast members and crew, creatives who make what we do and what you see possible; casting directors, studio execs, costume designers, directors, producers — thank you. I share this honor with all of you.”

“I am forever proud to be your wife, your mother, your sister, and your auntie, your friend.”

“And to the fans, you are the magic,” Angela continued. “There are not enough words to let you know how much I appreciate you…how much I love you. I stand here today because you have bought the tickets…you have watched the television shows. You have cheered me on my best days, and lifted me up on the more difficult ones. Thank you, always.”

Angela was honored alongside Miley Cyrus, James Cameron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Harrison Ford, Frank Oz, Kelly Ripa, composer John Williams, James L. Brooks, costume designer Colleen Atwood, Disney Parks cast member Martha Blanding, Marvel comic artist Steve Ditko, animator Mark Henn, and Imagineer Joe Rohde.

All hail, thee Angela Bassett!