Angela Bassett

I need this woman more in my life. In need her doing more Shakespeare in my life. I'm just going to leave this juicy clip here. Enjoy!

In this interview, Ms. Bassett is asked to perform 2 or 3 lines from a role she once played, and lo and behold, she gives us Lady Macbeth. Out of all the lines and roles she's played - this glorious monologue comes to mind.

Apparently Angela played this role in 1998, in a production by the Public Theater, co-starring Alec Baldwin for the title role.

How strong was her connection to this piece that she was able to recite it almost verbatim 18 years later!

Angela Bassett, if you ever read this, can you please do Shakespeare again? And can I work with you? I can be the Emilia to your Desdemona. Pleeeease!

For your enjoyment, here's that Lady Macbeth monologue:

LADY MACBETH

Was the hope drunk

Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?

And wakes it now, to look so green and pale

At what it did so freely? From this time

Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard

To be the same in thine own act and valor

As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that

Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life,

And live a coward in thine own esteem,

Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would, ”

Like the poor cat i' th' adage?

MACBETH

Prithee, peace:

I dare do all that may become a man;

Who dares do more is none.

LADY MACBETH

What beast was ’t, then,

That made you break this enterprise to me?

When you durst do it, then you were a man;

And to be more than what you were, you would

Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place

Did then adhere, and yet you would make both.

They have made themselves, and that their fitness now

Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know

How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me.

I would, while it was smiling in my face,

Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums

And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you

Have done to this.