Angela Bassett is blessed beyond measure. She’s enjoyed a long and successful marriage to her best friend and fellow actor Courtney B. Vance. They recently celebrated their twin’s second birthday.  Earlier this week, she received a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  And if all that were not enough, her new film, “Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns” opens in theaters nationwide today!   In the film, Bassett stars as a single mother of three in Chicago struggling to make ends meet before heading south to meet her long lost family, the Browns!

Born in New York and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Bassett attended Yale where she graduated with a Masters degree in drama. Her breakthrough film role came portraying Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” for which she received a Golden Globe Award, NAACP Image Award and an Oscar nomination. Some of her other film credits include:  “Akeelah and the Bee”,  “Waiting To Exhale”, “How Stella Got Her Groove Back”, “Malcolm X”, and “The Sunshine State.”

We caught up with the busy actress and mother of two to discuss the roles she picks and what attracted her to “Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns.”

What attracted you to this character?

Playing a single mother.  It’s such a difficult existence across the board.  You need help.  It’s a struggle… a fight.  You want to see them win because you know a single mom plays both mama and daddy and there are going to be mistakes.  I have a heart for people trying to do their best and being a mother just intensified that feeling for me.

You always choose characters with dignity.  What traits do your roles have to have? 

I like to see them persevere and triumph over insurmountable odds.  Even if they make despicable choices, hopefully they’ll redeem themselves. 

How important is friendship in marriage?

Fresh new love, kissing on the curb, that’s exciting!  But it shifts.  So it’s good to have that friendship as a foundation because it gives you understanding.

What’s your advice for women who are alone and wish to be partnered?

Work on you.  Because when you’re your best you – whole and healthy and well – when you’re pleased with who you are, then you can discern what’s best for a whole and healthy relationship and you’ll have it.

Describe your faith in action?

My faith allows me to accept people for who they are – what’s both wonderful and fallible about them.  It also allows me to understand that God sees us more completely than we see ourselves.   The challenge for each of us is to hopefully see ourselves clearly the way God sees us and to live that out day to day.

Describe yourself in three adjectives?

Resilient.  Joyful.  Determined.

Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns opens nationwide Friday, March 21st Other cast include former NBA champion Rick Fox, , David and Tamela Mann, Jenifer Lewis, Irma P. Hall, Margaret Avery, Sophia Vergara, Lamman Rucker, Lance Gross and Tyler Perry as Madea.