Angela Bassett (67) Looks Like True Red Carpet Royalty in Stunning Purple Oscars Throwback Look
Angela Bassett has long been a fixture of Hollywood royalty, but few moments in recent memory captured her essence quite like her appearance at the 95th Academy Awards. Stepping onto the champagne-colored carpet in 2023, the legendary actress commanded the spotlight in a vibrant, royal purple Moschino gown that felt both sculptural and regal.
The piece featured dramatic, bow-like architectural details at the bodice, diagonal draping that cinched her waist, and a flowing train that added a sense of timeless elegance to her mermaid silhouette.
Her choice of such a bold, saturated hue underscored her reputation for taking calculated risks that always pay off. She accessorized the gown with a suite of glittering Bulgari diamonds—including a unique serpent necklace and stud earrings—and carried a playful, sequined black circular bag.
We're still waiting to exhale after Angela Bassett took our breath away at the 2023 #Oscars #Glambot. 💜 pic.twitter.com/IJV2HBLB3q
— E! News (@enews) March 15, 2026
The look was a masterclass in balance, pairing the structural intensity of the Moschino design with the polished grace that has become her red-carpet signature. At the time, Bassett was attending the ceremony as a Best Supporting Actress nominee for her powerhouse performance as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
She spoke candidly during that awards season about the emotional weight of stepping back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe following the tragic loss of her co-star, Chadwick Boseman. We go through hard things in life, but you’re an artist, she reflected in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Angela Bassett at the 2023 Oscars 🪻🪻 pic.twitter.com/QusjSVb3Ij
— Da Homiee🎥🎬🏆 (@Da_Homiee_) June 4, 2025
And if you have an opportunity to use it, you make that pain good for something, for some illumination, for audiences who sit in the dark and watch it later. That nomination marked a career high point for Bassett, who channeled her personal grief into a portrayal of motherhood that felt both fierce and deeply vulnerable.
She noted that the experience was physically and emotionally demanding, requiring her to tap into genuine sorrow while filming scenes on the same sets she once shared with Boseman.
She described her process as a way to express a mother’s grief, and a mother’s love, and a mother’s loss, a mother’s fierceness, and a mother’s tenacity. All those. Since that iconic 2023 red-carpet appearance, Bassett’s career has only continued to flourish.
She remains a powerhouse on the television drama 9-1-1, where she not only stars as the resilient Sergeant Athena Grant-Nash but also serves as an executive producer. Earlier this year, in February, she was honored with the Excellence in the Arts Award at the American Black Film Festival Honors, recognizing her four-decade journey as an actress, director, and producer.
Looking ahead, fans can anticipate her return to the big screen in the highly anticipated Laika stop-motion animated film Wildwood, which is scheduled for release in October this year.
The film features an expansive ensemble cast and is already being hailed as one of the studio’s most ambitious projects to date. Between her ongoing production work and her status as a cultural icon, Bassett shows no signs of slowing down, proving that her reign in Hollywood is far from over.
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