‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’ at 30: Angela Bassett Remembers Becoming Tina Turner and How Laurence Fishburne Advocated for Her
variety.comSophia Scorziello editor In the opening of Tina and Ike Turner’s rendition of Creedance Clearwater’s “Proud Mary,” Tina gives a disclaimer to the audience: “Every now and then I think you might like to hear something from us nice and easy, but there’s just one thing, you see: we never ever do nothing nice and easy.” When Angela Bassett took on the task of portraying Turner in 1993 for “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” she took that to heart.
In the 30 days between landing the role and the first day of shooting, Bassett worked 16-hour days, exercising each morning before learning dance numbers with Turner and choreographer Michael Peters.
Bassett also worked with her co-star Laurence Fishburne to act scenes depicting the violence and domestic abuse that Tina endured through her marriage.
It was anything but nice and easy. Bassett spoke with Variety for the 30th anniversary of “What’s Love Got to Do With It” to reflect on her time with the production, her collaboration with Turner herself and the film’s enduring legacy since the iconic singer’s passing. I was listening to an interview you did right after the movie’s initial release where you talked about the time you met Tina before the screen tests.
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