Kermode & Mayo’s Take - Now and Ben: Angela Bassett on Zero Day, Strange Days and The Simpsons

Episode Date: February 21, 2025

We’ve got a bona fide icon for you in today’s Now & Ben—a movie star of four decades known for tackling tough female characters in films like ‘Boyz n the Hood’, ‘Malcolm X’, ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It?’ and ‘Black Panther’. She is the one and only Angela Bassett. This time, she plays US president Evelyn Mitchell in ‘Zero Day’, the new Netflix thriller series in which America is struck by a cyber attack. Managing the crisis, Bassett’s president re-enlists beloved ex-President Geroge Mullen (Robert De Niro) to help still the public panic and discover the mysterious perpetrators. Angela talks to Ben about the role and her longstanding talent for playing powerful women onscreen—including Michelle Obama in ‘The Simpsons’, of course. She tells Ben about the real women who have inspired her, plus we get the lowdown on working with De Niro—and fans of Kathryn Bigelow’s undersung millennium tech thriller ‘Strange Days’, listen up: we’ve got a treat for you... Listen out for more of Ben’s conversations with cinema’s most exciting creative talents dropping into the feed every ‘Now and Ben’. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey Simon, there's a bit of an international theme to the Oscars this year, wouldn't you say? Explain? Well, you've got Avian Brody emigrating to America, you've got Rape Finds in the Vatican, you've got Zoe Saldana hunting singing gangsters in Mexico. I know what you're going to say. Here we go, you're going to mention the substance again somehow. Exactly, a French-British-American body horror co-production. Wherever those international titles are taking me or wherever I'm tuning in from, NordVPN can help me unlock

geo restricted films and enhanced streaming. It keeps my online activity safe with encryption and threat protection. And it's the fastest on the market providing smooth streams with no lagging. What's more it's available in 111 countries. How many Oscar contenders does that cover? I think every single one of them probably. Unwrap a huge discount on NordVPN by heading to NordVPN.com slash take plus with our link, you'll get an extra four months free on the two year plan. And it's risk free with Nord's 30 day money back guarantee. Check the link in the description. I know I will. Hello and welcome to another episode of Now

and Ben. In these nuggets of movie geek goodness, our super sub Ben Bailey-Smith brings extra guests to the take feed who we just had to call while they were in town. In this episode, Ben sits down with an actress whose four-decade career in films from Malcolm X to What's Love Got to Do With It to Black Panther has made her Hollywood royalty. She is Angela Bassett. Gonna talk Zero Day, the new Netflix thriller in which America is struck by a cyber attack and Bassett is the president managing the crisis. Well, there are a lot of things in Zero Day that I'm glad are fiction, but I wish that bit wasn't. Look out for more of Ben's conversations with film and TV talents

dropping into the take feed every now and then. Angela, I've literally just finished watching episode two of Zero Day and the nerves are sort of jangling a little bit, man. It's like it's entertaining, it's exciting, it's tense, but it also feels like it's an important story to tell right now somehow. I was just wondering, was that one of the elements that made you want to take this on or was it the cast, the director, the role itself or all of the above? I have to admit, it was definitely the cast, the journey, the script, which was just a very different one at this point in my life to come across my desk.

So it had a lot of elements that made it intriguing and interesting for me to want to say yes to. You know, from the director, Leslie Glatter, to, of course, De Niro, legendary. Opportunity to be reunited with him, worked with him. Yeah, the score in 2001, he and Marlon Brando, I was like sort of pretty mind blown that day, as I can remember, you know, with that opportunity. And then for it to, I mean, in this lifetime to come around again, which I know is not a foregone conclusion of happening.

Of course. Yeah. What was it like reuniting after all that time? I mean, 20 plus years. No, it's not a foregone conclusion of happening. Of course. Yeah. What was it like reuniting after all that time? I mean, 20 plus years. Oh my gosh. Wonderful, actually, you know, as president and former president. So yeah, it's a different kind of couple, right?

In a way. Exactly. On this sort of equal footing in this sort of rarefied air, a little small club of presidents, you know. But it was it was just as lovely, probably more so because, you know, you have this little back history. So those sort of initial butterflies with like, hello, you know, you still get those. I have those. Yeah. Yeah.

And I don't mind it. Does it add a little something, having that slight nervousness, that uncertainty? Yeah. It's like you've really got to show up. If it's enough to make you a little bit nervous, then it's enough to keep you up, being to get as prepared as you possibly can. The writers of this series, so as you say, here you are in episode two and your nerves are jangling.

It's like, and that no small measure is, I think, due to our writers who have spent a lot of time in this space in DC, in that world, actually, in their other part of their lives. And they've brought it to, they've brought that information, that knowledge, that awareness, you know, that experience to this in a very, it's not something heard of, they had to go to search, but they have actually decades and decades of knowing this world and these players and what goes on behind the, you know, the seat of justice. So it was like, oh, okay. Yeah, it's a lot to take on. And I think you can feel that intelligence and that real world knowledge within the writing. But you know, like so many people will know you've in recent times from things like American Horror Story when it comes to TV. But this

for me was my American Horror Story. It's such a terrifying concept. It feels so possible. No, that well said talking about nerves, bringing nerves to set, but like, there's a level of tension here. You know, when you watch a horror and you watch the act and you think, how the hell are you able to ramp up wherever it might be fear panic for 90 minutes? Plus, you know, this has that similar feeling of dread and tension running throughout. So how do you go about bringing that? Oh my gosh, but I hope you're also enjoying it.

What's up, Mark? All's well. How about you? Well, I've been thinking about that cushion that we gave away at our live show. Yeah. That and the pencil case. Imagine if we had a load more that we needed to shift. Imagine the riches.

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support your success every step of the way. Sign up for a £1 per month trial period at Shopify.co.uk slash curmode. This episode is brought to you by MUBI, a curated streaming service dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI is the place to discover ambitious films by visionary filmmakers, all carefully handpicked, so you can explore the best of cinema streaming anytime, anywhere. Mark, what is streaming on MUBI this month? It's not just what's streaming, it's what's streaming and back in cinemas, and there is only one answer.

Is it Mary Poppins? It's The Substance, the currently Farzhanant movie which I absolutely love and I've been trying to get you to see. It's brilliant body horror, up for five Academy Awards, fantastic performance by Demi Moore, brilliant direction and writing by Coralie Fargeant who made Revenge. It was my favourite film of last year and I keep saying to you, you need to see it. Well, now Simon, you have the choice of seeing it on MUBI streaming or back in the cinema. You could try MUBI free for 30 days at MUBI.com slash Kermit and Mayo. That's MUBI.com slash Kermit and Mayo for a whole month of great cinema for free.

That's what makes it so thrilling to me. Like I say, monsters don't necessarily scare me. Yeah. Real life monsters like this. Right, right, right unseen things that could definitely happen. Freak me out. Well, I'm going to give some of that equal credit to our to our director Leslie Glatter, Lincoln Glatter. And it was it was really a, you know, quite wonderful to have for since it's a six part limited series, to really have the same director, you know, across the entire landscape of it.

And she's so familiar with this world and, you know, and all the layers of it. And, you know, if you ever saw Homeland, or if you're audience, I was just gonna say, that's where I knew her from. Yeah, absolutely. So she comes, you know, she comes with that that arsenal. And she also did The Wolf King Ted, which is pretty terrifying.

Yes, yes. But this whole genre of political thriller, you know, that's really, oh, she's really smart about it. Up her alley, she's such a fun person to be around, you know, like in real life and then but she can she certainly knows her stuff in terms of as you say turning up that that tension and that maybe and going just parsing it out, you know, along the way. So many times, you know, in a production sense, you're shooting out of outside of story days, it's not necessarily all in order. So to have someone who's like, this is where you're at, this is where intention needs to be. So yes, yes, yes. And no shame, I would certainly ask, you know, because it was zero day plus five,

plus 19 plus 16, she wouldn't know where we were at at any given moment it's like is this before during after you know we're shooting a couple episodes in the day so you get a little uh a little turned around but uh she was always right on it not only for you but for every character that is amazingly supportive and helpful from an actor's point of view. And just to have that authority, you really welcome it. And I was thinking about authority in parts that I've seen you play over the years, you know, especially real life authority or authoritative figures, you know, Betty Shabazz, Tina Turner, Coretta Scott King. I'm pretty sure you played Michelle Obama

on The Simpsons. I am in The Simpsons, yes. So like, what would you draw on to create like that fictional authority in someone like Evelyn Mitchell, a president here? Well, I think, yeah, all those characters, all that opportunity, all those women with, you know, all the resilience

and the vulnerability that they possessed, that played a great part in who I am and how far I've come, what audience have come to know me and trust me for. I think maybe that's a great part of it as well. But also had the opportunity to see in, you know, in today's time, you know, Kamala Harris as Vice President of the U.S. and take from her position and her leadership some inspiration, as well as Stacey Abrams and Barbara Jordan and Shirley Chisholm, who really just boldly and confidently and, you know, try to go about being, you know,

being seen as viable in as anyone, as any male figure in that space. So, you know, you have all these angels and ancestors around you, you know, Sojourner truth. Rosa Parks. Rosa Parks, whether they are bold and vocal or whether they are thought spoken and emboldened, you know. Yeah, that's a great way of putting it.

When it comes to like making a decision about taking a role on, this in particular, but in general, what are the principle elements that you're looking for? Or do you just go with your gut and think, you know what, I'm gonna bring something to this, I can make this work? A lot of times, yes, go with my gut.

All the parts that go into who I am, the history of who I am, who I was raised by, you know, the community I was raised in, the time that I, the times that I was reared in, what was going on in history, all that goes into making of who I am and the types of roles, you know, wanting to as a little black girl in Florida roles to it was, and it was about being seen, you know, coming up in time when you're in second grade and you're you know, shot who shot now you know, Martin, this, you know, I mean, 68. Wow. Yeah, the voices so it was, you know, the lessons that your parents and great grandparents, I fortunate to grow up with taught you, you know, you just can't don't show up and be 100% give 100% is like always give more percent you're gonna,

you know, work hard show up be prepared, do you know, so when I would see roles, if they were, that was at a time where, well, still, representation matter. You want to see yourself. And you had seen images of yourself or your people in maybe a certain light, but it's like, okay, this one I would accept, you know, we have to balance that. I didn't feel like I had the luxury at the time to, well, when roles were getting, I mean, I came up in an era where it was black exploitation. Of course. Yeah. And I love seeing those movies just go to the movies and see ourselves on the

screen. But to be here, the player or the pimp or the, you know, or lady of the evening or whatever. It's like, okay, that's been done. Now, I always imagine or would say until it actually happened, I want to see us as queen. You know, I want to see all those images and maybe when we see an array, then I can, I can play that bad girl with who's misguided or, you know, in a certain way or like, but just personally, whatever is exciting and different, you know, for me to play. And this, this role certainly was certainly fit that bill. Hi there, Mark. Do you know why hiring the right people quickly is so important? Well, the world of weekly film podcasts is so breakneck that when a vacancy comes up,

we need to fill it fast. Good thing that there's Indeed Sponsored Jobs then when it comes to hiring. Indeed is all you need. Stop struggling to get your job post seen on other job sites. Indeed Sponsored Jobs helps you stand out and hire fast. With Sponsored Jobs, your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates so you can reach the people you want faster. According to Indeed data, sponsored jobs posted directly on Indeed have 45% more applications

than non-sponsored jobs, so it makes a huge difference. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed and listeners of this show will get a £100 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com slash Kermode Mayo. Just go to indeed.com slash Kermode Mayo right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Hiring Indeed is all you need. You know, it's so great to hear that, you know, the black experience is the human experience. It's a human experience, which means it is in a myriad of forms. And to see as many of those represented as possible

is the thing that brings me so much joy. Yeah, especially in this day and time where, you know, it was, you know, we remember a moment not too long ago when we make a film or a piece of art here and you couldn't see it across the world, you know, in UK and Australia and Africa and beyond till a year later. But now, you know, as we make it, we travel around

the world. I mean, coming up in this industry is like, no, we can't put you in that because, you know, your image, we don't sell it, but Wakanda to come and it to make a billion dollars. Well, it's not just happening in the United States, on the East Coast and the West Coast. It's our images are traveling and people are recognizing themselves, enjoying the entertainment, recognizing themselves, seeing their struggles in these stories, seeing their humanity through these characters.

So it's a different and beautiful time. So I'm glad I'm able to see it and be a part of it. See, now I actually want you to be my Madam President. That is such IRL. What a great way to finish. Thank you, Angela, so much for your time. It's an amazing series. I've actually just bought the blu-ray of Strange Days from from zero day to to Strange Days. I cannot wait to watch it. Love so much of what you've done but that is that's my that's my little my keepsake. Oh I'm so glad to hear that. For it's time. My god. Big time. Underappreciated. I'm gonna go back and meet you in the 90s, but for now, thank you so much for your time. So much stuff I wanna talk to you about, 15 minutes is just not enough, but them is the

rules.