Angela Bassett Shares Insight on New Docuseries QUEENS
In an interview with BET, Angela Bassett recently discussed the new docuseries QUEENS, which celebrates the different queens in the animal world.
“The series sends a powerful message about the importance of cooperation, sacrifice, and the indomitable spirit that defines female leadership across species,” Bassett, the film’s narrator, states. “It’s a celebration of the untold stories of queens who navigate challenges with grace and power. I hope viewers leave feeling empowered and even more proud of their own womanhood.”
The docuseries premiered March 4 on National Geographic and follows the matriarchs of the animal kingdom and their experiences as mothers and leaders. The stories of six worlds within the animal “QUEENdom” are told including the stories of two lioness sisters fighting against a hyena queen in the first episode titled “AFRICAN QUEENS.”
The following episodes are “RAINFOREST QUEENS” which is the coming-of-age story of a young female bonobo, and “JUNGLE QUEENS,” which portrays the journey of an ant queen and a queen bee building their empires.
“SAVANNA QUEENS” depicts the birth of an elephant and the struggles her family faces protecting her. In “MOUNTAIN QUEENS” a gelada monkey and an Ethiopian wolf fight to protect their families and legacies. The stories of a bear and orca queen are also portrayed in “COASTAL QUEENS” as they fight to protect their families.
While working on the film, the Golden Globe Award-winning actress was compelled by the resilience of the females in the animal kingdom. “From the bears to the elephants and even the bees, I realized these narratives mirrored my own experiences in portraying strong and empowered characters throughout my acting career. The one thing we all have in common is the ability to overcome challenges,” Bassett stated.
Moreover, the final episode, “BEHIND THE QUEENS,” celebrates the formidable female filmmakers and conservationists who contributed to the QUEENS docuseries. These women included Faith Musembi, the producer and director, and Chloe Sarosh, the writer and showrunner. Vanessa Berlowitz and Pamela Caragol were executive producers while Sophie Darlington and Justine Evans were directors of photography. In addition, Alewya was the series’ songwriter and she performed the main title track, “Umi.”
Furthermore, Bassett explained her experience working with a female-led production team stating, “I believe this approach sets a new standard for the portrayal of female leadership in media, steering away from clichéd narratives. Working with this amazing group of women truly reinforced the idea that real leadership is multifaceted and draws strength from various qualities, many of which are traditionally associated with femininity.”
You can stream QUEENS on Disney+ and Hulu.
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