Emmys 2017: 15 movie stars who stole the small screen this year

Angela Bassett and Lena Waithe in Master of None.

14. Angela Bassett

The project: Netflix’s Master of None

The character: Catherine, mother of Denise (Lena Waithe). Catherine is very close to her daughter and obviously loves her very much, but is initially uncomfortable with the fact that Denise is a lesbian.

How she stole the small screen: Bassett appears in one episode of Master of None, “Thanksgiving.” Throughout the half-hour we get to see Catherine and Denise host the holiday over the span of 25 years or so. Although Waithe has received plenty of attention for co-writing and portraying Denise’s extended coming out story, Bassett goes through quite an evolution herself. Catherine is never hateful about her daughter’s sexual orientation, but she’s not overly supportive either. Before Denise officially tells Catherine she’s gay, Catherine mostly appears to be willfully ignorant about who her daughter is. When she is forced to hear the truth in 2006, she is mostly upset because she’s worried about how the world will treat Denise.

“It is hard enough being a black woman in this world,” Catherine says. “Now you want to add something else to that?” she asks before Denise reminds her that being gay isn’t a choice.

Catherine does eventually come to embrace Denise for who she is, but it takes her awhile to get there. But no matter which Thanksgiving we see Catherine, we never doubt that Denise will always be part of her life.

Her past TV experience: Bassett has become a fixture on American Horror Story since making her debut as Marie Laveau in 2013’s Coven. Since then she has also had stints on BoJack Horseman, Close to the Enemy, and Underground. Her last TV gig before joining the AHS universe was as Cate Banfield on ER in 2008-2009.

Awards recognition: Bassett’s performance in “Thanksgiving” landed her a nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series at this year’s Emmys.