According to producer Maggie Wilde, Angela Bassett was choices 1 through 10 for the role of Mo. Director Charles Stone III confirms their desire for Bassett to take on the challenge of starring opposite Bernie Mac. “We always felt Angela was an essential part of the vision for this film. She has all those qualities we need in Mo: beautiful but tough as nails, elegant yet a force to reckon with. She possesses a deep well of emotions to draw on and most of all, she has a fierce chemistry with Bernie Mac,” explains Stone.
INTERVIEW WITH ANGELA BASSETT (‘Mo’):
Do you think playing in a movie like this, more light-hearted, is easier or more difficult than doing the intense roles you’ve done in the past?
This was much easier. This was a walk in the park. It was pretty easy compared to some of the roles I’ve done that call for so much emotion or physicality.
Bernie Mac’s an actor and a stand-up comedian. Is there any really difference working opposite a comedian like Mac than working opposite someone like Laurence Fishburne?
I can’t really say that there was a drastic difference between the two. They’re both highly professional and extraordinarily talented. Both of them are my favorites. I had a great time with Laurence. We worked very well together. And I just loved working with Bernie.
Sometimes I find with some comedians, that when they’re on, that’s what we’re used to seeing but when they’re not on, then they’re more serious and don’t joke. When you think about it, I’ve worked with some comedians – Eddie Murphy, Whoopi Goldberg - and I’ve thought of them as actors/comedians or comedians/actors. I mean, Whoopi is incredible and the same whether she’s on or off. I found with Eddie, he wasn’t a joke a minute. When he got the jokes going or playing the piano, or otherwise, he was kind of quiet. With Bernie, he’s just easy. He loves to have folk and family around, he loves to take care of people, he loves to make sure you’re happy. He doesn’t like to have any injustice on the set – anyone mistreated. He’s got a big heart.
Working with so many comedians, were there any embarrassing moments?
No, not with any of those guys.
How about adlibbing? Is that a little nerve wracking?
Maybe a little nervous because they’re off the cuff. I like doing a little bit of it, but I don’t like to do a lot of it because I don’t want to stray too far from the text, and the goal of the text. You might be funny in the moment but when you put it all together with everything else, it’s like, “Eww! That’s kind of like a sore thumb sticking out.”
If it’s written well, then let’s stay in that boundary but play it anyway you want to play it. There was one particular scene where I really tell him off and go at it. I remember Charles calling me over and telling me to really lay into him. And I thought what are people going to think when I’m really laying into a guy? So I just let it go and Bernie’s like…. You’re trying to shock him and I’m thinking what can I do to shock someone who’s been on the road 364 days a year?
Do you follow any particular sports teams?
No. I like them all. I like the nice guys. I like when they show the stories, the human element behind it all.
So becoming a fictitious TV sportscaster must have been quite a leap for you then?
Yeah.
How did you find the character? Did you base it on anyone?
No, nobody in particular. Charles had a lot of tapes of women sportscasters that I looked at.
Have you ever dated an athlete?
No.
Who do you think has bigger egos – actors or athletes?
Hmmm (laughing). That might be neck and neck. I don’t know about that one. That’s a pretty tough one. Maybe actors.
