In her long and highly-valued career, Angela Bassett has played the role of many women who know a thing or two about love. From Coretta Scott King, to rock music icon Tina Turner, to the infamous Stella Payne of How Stella Got Her Groove Back—each woman has endured their own love testimonies. Additionally, Auntie Angela has a storied romance of her own, as she has been famously married to her husband, actor Courtney B. Vance, for over 20 years.
And because we can never get enough of long-term, Hollywood-esque romances, it was her recent response to an interview question with Closer Weekly that made us swoon. When asked what advice would she give to her younger self, she responded with:
"Keep falling in love. Keep wonder and passion alive. It's important to always keep that spirit of optimism. Everyone has something beautiful to share. Don't mistake your presence for the event. Everyone has something to bring to the moment."
Bassett and Vance met while students at the Yale School of Drama, but the timing didn't line up. Courtney had a girlfriend at the time, and he's since admitted he doesn't really remember Auntie Angela (say what?!) when there.
She made more of a lasting impression 14 years later after their paths crossed in Los Angeles.
"I was single, he was single. And I had such an appreciation for him over those years—of his consistency, how he treated other people, of what a supporter he is, what a connector of people and ideas he is, how passionate he is."
So, they gave it a shot in 1994. And although her relationship with Vance wasn't necessarily the stable, loving, and decades-long relationship that we know and love today (each of them said in an appearance on TheOprah Winfrey Show, that neither of them were impressed. Angela straight-up said the date wasn't "memorable" and that she wasn't going to give the Tony-winner "a second thought," while Courtney agreed it "wasn't good"), once they married, they have notoriously managed to always fall in love and represent their hard work to do so, loud and true.
Now, the Hollywood couple is raising twins, still dominating our screens, and maintaining their status as goal GOATS (something they rocked well before 'goals' was even a thing).
"I want what I want, he wants what he wants and sometimes they're not the same, but we've learned how to negotiate to make each other happy and fulfill our dreams and desires. He makes me a better person. He lets me be me and do me. He is a great support person for anyone."
So, ladies, no matter what stage you're in in life, keep falling in love. Keep falling in love when you're single and dating (give love a shot), keep falling in love when you're in a relationship (find new ways to love your partner), and keep falling in love when you're married (every day—and never stop).
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Featured image via Quinn Jeffrey / Shutterstock.com