Since 1993, according to Angela Bassett, she has carried a bit of Tina Turner in her spirit.
Turner, a famed musician who first gained notoriety in the 1960s, passed away on May 24 at the age of 83 in her home in Switzerland, according to her publicist. In the 1993 biopic “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” Bassett played Turner, which led to her first Academy Award nomination.
Bassett remarked in a statement provided to NBC News by her representative that “it’s impossible to say goodbye to someone who was as impactful as Turner.”
She questioned, “How do we say goodbye to a woman who owned her pain and trauma and used it to help change the world?”
Tina Turner “showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion, and freedom should look like through her courage in telling her story, her commitment to stay the course in her life, no matter the sacrifice, and her determination to carve out a space in rock and roll for herself and for others who look like her.”
Turner’s final remarks to her were also revealed by her.
“You never imitated me, were her parting words to me, spoken for me. Instead, you dug deep within yourself until you discovered your inner Tina and displayed her to the world. For the rest of my days, I will keep these words close to my heart, she reflected.
Turner penned an essay for TIME in April in honor of Bassett, who was listed as one of the year’s 100 most influential individuals by the publication. Turner claimed there that she was initially dubious of the Bassett-starring biography because she questioned whether anyone could sing and dance as well as her.
Turner remembers thinking, “She’s perfect,” upon first seeing Bassett. You have never imitated me. Instead, you dug deep within yourself until you discovered your inner Tina and presented her to the world.
In her statement, Bassett urged people to connect with their “inner Tina.”
Therefore, she gave us more than we could have ever hoped for, she said, adding that even though we mourn the loss of her legendary voice and presence today. She dedicated her entire self to us. Additionally, Tina Turner is a gift that is undeniably “the best.” Queen, let the angels lead thee to thy slumber.
