Angela Bassett (67) Serves Timeless Glamour in a Purple Gown in This Oscars Throwback
Angela Bassett has always been known for her strong presence on the red carpet, and one of her most memorable moments came at the 95th Academy Awards in 2023. When the actress stepped onto the champagne-colored carpet, she immediately stood out in a bold purple gown by Moschino.
The look quickly became one of the most talked-about fashion moments of the night. The gown had a sculpted design that highlighted Bassett’s elegant style. It featured large bow-like details at the top, along with draped fabric that shaped her waist.
The dress followed a mermaid silhouette and flowed into a long train behind her. The rich purple color added to the dramatic effect and showed her confidence when it comes to red carpet fashion.
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
She completed the look with jewelry from Bulgari. Bassett wore a sparkling serpent necklace along with diamond stud earrings. She also carried a small black sequined circular bag that added a playful touch to the glamorous outfit.
At the time, Bassett attended the ceremony as a Best Supporting Actress nominee for her role as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Her performance in the Marvel film received strong praise from critics and audiences.
During the awards season, she spoke openly about how emotional the role was, especially after the loss of her co-star Chadwick Boseman. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bassett reflected on the experience and said, “We go through hard things in life, but you’re an artist.
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.” She explained that returning to the Marvel world without Boseman was difficult.
Many scenes required her to connect with real feelings of loss. Bassett said her performance was meant to express the depth of a mother’s emotions. She described it as showing “a mother’s grief, and a mother’s love, and a mother’s loss, a mother’s fierceness, and a mother’s tenacity.”
Angela Bassett at the 2023 Oscars 🪻🪻 pic.twitter.com/QusjSVb3Ij
— Da Homiee🎥🎬🏆 (@Da_Homiee_) June 4, 2025
Since that awards season, Bassett has continued to stay busy in Hollywood. She remains a major part of the television drama 9-1-1, where she plays Sergeant Athena Grant-Nash. Along with acting in the series, she also works as an executive producer on the show.
Earlier this year, she was recognized for her long career in the industry. In February, the American Black Film Festival Honors presented her with the Excellence in the Arts Award. According to the organization, the honor celebrated her decades of work as an actress, director, and producer.
Fans will also see her in a new film later this year. Bassett is part of the voice cast of the upcoming stop-motion animated movie Wildwood from Laika Studios. The film is scheduled to arrive in theaters in October and already has strong interest from audiences and critics.
Even years after that purple gown moment at the Oscars, Bassett continues to prove why she is seen as one of Hollywood’s most respected and enduring stars. Her work across film, television, and production shows that her influence in the industry is still going strong.
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