Santa Barbara International Film Festival honored actress Angela Bassett on her career with the Montecito Award.

Black Panther director Ryan Coogler presented the award to the actress.

SBIFF executive director Roger Durling summarized her astonishing career with a video clip to a sold-out crowd.

“She paved the way for newer generations to see themselves represented on stage,” said Durling.

Bassett recalled her decision to relocate to Los Angeles from New York—leaving a theater career that grew into a film and television career.

Some of her more famous earlier works included Boyz n the Hood and Malcolm X.

On Malcolm X, she told the audience that sometimes she acted from the script and other times followed her own instincts and interpretations. Also, she mentioned that the costumes helped her as a reference on how to play her character.

SBIFF then played the next clips with The Jacksons: An American Dream, What’s Love Got to Do with It, Strange Days, Vampire in Brooklyn, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and Boesman and Lena.

She revealed that she felt empowered for choosing her own on-screen partner in How Stella Got Her Groove Back.

Next, they played a clip with Music of the Heart and Akeelah and the Bee. With Akeelah and the Bee, she reaffirmed her support for education as a priority. Also, she praised Keke Palmer’s performance in this film as an “amazing child performer.

Finally, they closed out with her latest work with Black Panther and Wakanda Forever.

“She’s a woman protecting her own,” said Bassett on Queen Ramonda. She drew the famous, powerful speech in Wakanda Forever from her family as the inspiration for her performance.

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LRM Online’s Gig Patta was on the red carpet to briefly talk to actress Angela Bassett and presenter Ryan Coogler before the event. Also, we spoke with some of the filmmakers from the film festival.

Watch the exclusive interviews below. Let us know what you think of the interviews.

Source: LRM Online Exclusive, SBIFF