Angela Bassett Reveals the Dream Role She Still Wants to Play

Angela Bassett has already played some of the most powerful women on screen, but she still has one dream role she hasn’t landed yet.

When asked by Coveteur about a character she would love to play, she didn’t hesitate. “The legend of her power, intellect, and beauty really draws me to her story, and I would love to explore that on the screen,” she said, naming Queen Nefertiti of Egypt’s 18th dynasty.

Nefertiti was a queen of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty and the wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten. She and Akhenaten are known for promoting Atenism, an early form of monotheism focused on the sun disc, and ruling during one of Egypt’s wealthiest periods.

Some scholars believe she briefly ruled as pharaoh under the name Neferneferuaten before Tutankhamun, though this is debated. She may have overseen the fall of Amarna and the return of the capital to Thebes.

Nefertiti became famous in modern times for her iconic bust, now in Berlin’s Neues Museum, created by the sculptor Thutmose and discovered in his studio in the early 20th century. It is one of the most reproduced works of ancient Egyptian art.

Even though her history is incomplete, Nefertiti has become an important symbol in modern Black culture for some reason. She represents beauty, strength, and legacy. Stars like Beyoncé and Rihanna have drawn on her image, channeling her as a symbol of defiance and power.

On screen, though, Nefertiti has barely been touched. The only real movie made about her was Queen of the Nile in 1961, with actress Jeanne Crain playing the role.

Speaking to Coveteur, Bassett explained why these roles matter. “My hope is that Hollywood will continue to shine a light on these important women who have shaped history,” she said.

Bassett has already shown she can bring history to life on the big screen. She won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in 1994 for What’s Love Got to Do with It, proving that audiences want to see strong and complex women at the center of powerful stories. Taking on Nefertiti would be another step in reclaiming a history that has too often been silenced or rewritten.

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