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Sanaa Lathan

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Sanaa Lathan
Lathan at the 2010San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Sanaa McCoy Lathan

(1971-09-19)September 19, 1971(age 53)
New York City,U.S.
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley(BA)
Yale University(MFA)
OccupationActress
Years active1996–present
Parent(s)Stan Lathan
Eleanor McCoy

Sanaa McCoy Lathan[1](/səˈnɑːˈleɪθən/;[2]born September 19, 1971)[1]is an American actress. She is the daughter of actress Eleanor McCoy and film directorStan Lathan.Her career began after she appeared in the showsIn the House,Family Matters,NYPD Blue,andMoesha.Lathan later garnered further prominence after starring in the 1998 superhero filmBlade,which followed with film roles inThe Best Man(1999),Love & Basketball(2000),Disappearing Acts(2000), andBrown Sugar(2002).

In 2004, Lathan's performance in theBroadwayrevival ofA Raisin in the Sun,earned her a nomination at theTony AwardsforBest Featured Actress in a Play.Following this, she played the role ofAlexa "Lex" Woodsin the filmAlien vs. Predator.In 2008, she landed a leading role in filmThe Family That PreysbyTyler Perry.Lathan returned to theatre work in 2010, starring in the all-black performance ofCat on a Hot Tin Roofat theNovello Theatrein London.[3]She reprised her role as Robyn in the Christmas-themed sequel ofThe Best Man,inThe Best Man Holiday(2013). In 2022, she received a nomination for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series,for her work on the television seriesSuccession.[4]

As avoice actress,from (2009 to 2013), she voicedDonna TubbsinThe Cleveland Showand in all concurrent and subsequentFamily Guyappearances, as well asCatwomanonHarley Quinn.Her other notable film credits includeOut of Time(2003),Something New(2006),Wonderful World(2009),Contagion(2011),Repentance(2013),The Perfect Guy(2015), andNow You See Me 2(2016). Lathan also made her directorial debut with the filmOn the Come Upin 2022.

Early life

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Lathan was born in New York City.[1]Her mother, Eleanor McCoy, was also an actress and dancer[1]who performed onBroadwaywithEartha Kitt.Her father,Stan Lathan,worked behind the scenes in television forPBS,as well as a producer on shows such asSanford & SonandRussell Simmons'Def Comedy Jam[Beat Street]. Her brother is Tendaji Lathan, a well known DJ. She attendedManhattan Center for Science and Mathematicsas well asBeverly Hills High School.

Lathan's adolescence was a tough period. She has stated she was alatchkey kidwhose parents weren't around much. As a result, she was left with relatives who happened to suffer from drug abuse. However, she went on to develop a solid relationship with her parents in the ensuing years.[5]

She graduated from theUniversity of California, Berkeley,with a bachelor's degree in English. She then attendedYale Universityand earned a master's degree in drama.[6]

Career

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Following her training at Yale, where she studied withEarle R. Gisterand performed in a number ofShakespeareplays, Lathan earned acclaim bothoff-Broadwayand on the Los Angeles stage. Encouraged by her father to make Los Angeles her professional base, she found early television roles in episodes of such shows asIn the House,Family Matters,NYPD Blue,andMoesha.[1]

Lathan at the 2009Tribeca Film Festivalpremiere ofWonderful World

In 1998, Lathan earned a degree of recognition with her role as the mother ofWesley Snipes' title character inBlade.[7]The following year she appeared inLifewithMartin LawrenceandEddie Murphyand did back-to-back turns inThe Best ManandThe Wood.The Best Man,a comedy-dramaensemblefilm starringTaye Diggs,Nia Long,Harold Perrineau Jr.andMorris Chestnut,[8]was one of the top ten highest-grossing African American films in history, and Lathan received an NAACP Image Award nomination for her performance.The Wood,another ensemble film starring Diggs andOmar Epps,cast her as Epps' love interest.[7]

Lathan and Epps were reunited onscreen inGina Prince-Bythewood'sLove & Basketball,this time as a couple as passionate about basketball as they are about each other.[9]Her performance earned Lathan the 2001NAACP Image Awardfor Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, anIndependent Spirit Awardnomination for Best Actress, and aBET Award.In 2000, she appeared in the Off-Broadway production ofThe Vagina MonologueswithTeri GarrandJulianna Margulies.[10]

In 2001, Lathan earned acclaim for her work in the multicultural comedy filmCatfish in Black Bean Sauce.[11]Next was her second collaboration with Prince-Bythewood,Disappearing Acts,based on a novel byTerry McMillan.[12]In theHBOfilm, she played an aspiring singer/songwriter in love with a carpenter, played by herBladeco-star Wesley Snipes. For her work in the film, she earned anEssence Awardfor Best Actress. That year, she was named byEbonymagazine as one of its55 Most Beautiful Peopleand was honoured byEssencemagazine andBlack Entertainment Television.In 2002, Lathan starred in the romantic comedy film,Brown SugarwithDiggs,Queen LatifahandMos Def.[13]Lathan's performance earned an NAACP Image Award Nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. The film also received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Motion Picture. In 2003 she co-starred withDenzel WashingtoninOut of Time.[14]

In 2004, Lathan starred on Broadway inA Raisin in the SunwithSean Combs,Audra McDonald,andPhylicia Rashad,and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress for her portrayal of Beneatha Younger. She reprised the role in ABC Network's2008 film adaptation.[15]

Lathan at the 2010San Diego Comic-Con

The same year, she was given the lead role inAlien vs. Predator.[16]It was a major success, grossing over $171 million worldwide.[17]With this role she held onto a 15-year record for biggest opening weekend for a film starring a Black woman, debuting with $38.2 million.[18]

In 2006, she co-starred withSimon Bakerin the romantic comedySomething New,[19]and as Michelle Landau, the much younger wife of a Texas businessman (Larry Hagman) in thefourth seasonof the television seriesNip/Tuck.[20]She played Andrea inTyler Perry'sThe Family That Preys,also startingAlfre WoodardandKathy Bates,released in the U.S. on September 12, 2008.[21]

In 2009, Lathan co-starred withMatthew Broderickin the dramaWonderful World.[22]From 2009 to 2013, she voiced the characterDonna TubbsonThe Cleveland Show.[23]In 2011, Lathan co-starred in theSteven SoderberghthrillerContagionwithMatt Damon,Jude Law,Marion Cotillard,Kate Winslet,Gwyneth Paltrow,Bryan Cranston,andLaurence Fishburne.In 2011, she starred withAnthony MackieandForest WhitakerinRepentance,a psychological thriller directed by Phillipe Caland.[24]She played series regular Mona Fredricks in the second season ofStarz' original seriesBoss,starringKelsey Grammer.

In 2013, Lathan reprised her role inThe Best Man′s sequel,The Best Man Holiday.[25]In 2016, she was cast in the ensemble of the sequel ofNow You See Me,entitledNow You See Me 2,which was a box-office success; and in the science fiction filmApproaching the Unknown.In 2017, she returned to TV in a lead role in the seriesShots Fired,and also appeared in the filmAmerican Assassin.She was then added to the main cast ofThe Affair,appearing in its fourth and fifth seasons, and starred in theNetflixfilmNappily Ever After.

In January 2021, it was announced that she was cast in season 3 ofSuccessionas a Lisa Arthur, a high profile, well-connected New York lawyer earning her anPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

In 2021, Lathan directed the film adaptation ofAngie Thomas's novelOn the Come Up.[26]The film premiered at the2022 Toronto International Film Festival.[27]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 Drive Carolyn Brody
1998 Blade Vanessa Brooks
1999 Life Daisy
Catfish in Black Bean Sauce Nina
The Wood Alicia
The Best Man Robyn
2000 Love & Basketball Monica Wright
The Smoker Roxanne Short
2002 Brown Sugar Sidney "Sid" Shaw
2003 Out of Time Ann Merai Harrison
2004 Alien vs. Predator Alexa "Lex" Woods
2005 The Golden Blaze Monica (voice) Video
2006 Something New Kenya Denise McQueen
2008 The Family That Preys Andrea Pratt-Bennett
2009 Wonderful World Khadi
Powder Blue Diana
2011 Contagion Aubrey Cheever
2013 Repentance Maggie Carter
The Best Man Holiday Robyn Stewart
2015 The Perfect Guy Leah Vaughn Also executive producer
2016 Now You See Me 2 FBI Deputy Director Natalie Austin
Approaching the Unknown Emily Maddox
2017 American Assassin CIA Deputy Director Irene Kennedy
2018 Nappily Ever After Violet Jones Also producer
2019 Native Son Trudy Thomas
2021 With/In: Volume 1 Segment: "Leap"; also director
2022 On The Come Up Jayda "Jay" Jackson Also director
2023 Young. Wild. Free. Janice Huffman Also executive producer
2024 The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat Barbara Jean

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1996 In the House Charese Episode: "The Curse of Hill House"
Moesha Ebony Episode: "A Concerted Effort"
1997 Family Matters Allison Episode: "Revenge of the Nerd"
Built to Last Linda Episode: "Pilot"
Miracle in the Woods Young Lilly Television film
1998 NYPD Blue Shirley Barish Episode: "You're Under a Rasta"
1998–1999 LateLine Briana Gilliam Main cast
2000 Disappearing Acts Zora Banks Television film
2006 Nip/Tuck Michelle Landau Recurring cast (season 4)
2008 A Raisin in the Sun Beneatha Younger Television film
2009–2013 The Cleveland Show Donna Tubbs(voice) Main cast
2010–present Family Guy Donna Tubbs(voice) Recurring cast (season 8–)
2011 Tilda Sasha Litt Television film
2012 Boss Mona Fredricks Main cast (season 2)
2014 Real Husbands of Hollywood Herself Episode: "Rolling with My Roomie"
2015 Punk'd Herself Episode: "Sanaa Lathan & Trey Songz"
2017 Shots Fired Ashe Akino Main cast
2018–2019 The Affair Janelle Main cast (season 4–5)
2019 The Twilight Zone Nina Harrison Episode: "Replay"
2020–present Harley Quinn Selina Kyle / Catwoman(voice) Recurring cast (season 2–)
2021 Solos Nia (voice) Episode: "Sasha"
Hit & Run Naomi Hicks Main cast
Succession Lisa Arthur Recurring cast (season 3)
2022 The Best Man: The Final Chapters Robyn Stewart Main cast
2024 Curb Your Enthusiasm Sibby Sanders 2 episodes

Video games

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Year Title Voice role Notes
2014 Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff Donna Tubbs
2016 Zen Pinball 2 Alexa "Lex" Woods
Pinball FX 2
Pinball FX 3

Music videos

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Year Title Artist Role
1997 “Don’t Say” Jon B. Girlfriend
2001 “What If” Babyface Girlfriend
2014 "Imagine"(UNICEF:World version) Various Herself

Awards and nominations

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Year Nominated work Award Category Result
2000 The Best Man NAACP Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated
2001 Love & Basketball BET Award Best Actress Won
2001 Love & Basketball Independent Spirit Awards Best Female Lead Nominated
2001 Love & Basketball Black Reel Award Best Actress Won
2001 Disappearing Acts Black Reel Award Best Actress Nominated
2001 Love & Basketball NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Won
2003 Brown Sugar NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated
2003 Brown Sugar Black Reel Award Best Actress Nominated
2003 A Raisin in the Sun Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Play Nominated
2004 Out of Time Black Reel Award Best Actress Won
2004 Out of Time NAACP Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated
2004 A Raisin in the Sun Theatre World Award Best Female Lead Won
2006 Something New Black Movie Awards Best Actress Nominated
2006 Something New Black Reel Award Best Actress Nominated
2007 Something New NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated
2007 Nip/Tuck NAACP Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
2008 The Family That Preys Black Reel Award Best Actress Nominated
2009 A Raisin in the Sun NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie/Mini-Series Nominated
2012 By The Way, Meet Vera Stark Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Lead Actress Won
2012 By The Way, Meet Vera Stark Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Play Nominated
2016 The Perfect Guy NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Won
2019 Nappily Ever After NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated
2019 The Affair NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
2022 Succession Black Reel Award Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series Won
2022 Succession Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series[4] Nominated
2023 The Best Man: The Final Chapters NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special Nominated

References

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  1. ^abcdeMcCann, Bob (2009).Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television.McFarland.ISBN9780786458042.RetrievedMay 5,2017.
  2. ^"Emmy-nominated Sanaa Lathan Plays That's So Random".The Root.September 26, 2022.RetrievedMay 20,2023.
  3. ^"Sanaa Lathan Joins Jones and Rashad in West EndCat on a Hot Tin Roof"
  4. ^abD'Alessandro, Anthony (July 13, 2022)."Paramount Players Movie 'On The Come Up' From 'Succession' Emmy Nominee Sanaa Lathan To Make TIFF World Premiere".Deadline.RetrievedJuly 13,2022.
  5. ^"Sanaa Lathan Meditate on This".Spotify.
  6. ^Lathan, Sanaa (June 1, 2007)."A Tribute to Dad's Direction".Ebony.
  7. ^ab"Sanaa Lathan- Biography".Yahoo! Movies.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  8. ^Blackman, Lori (December 13, 2000)."Sanaa Lathan".CNN.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  9. ^Moore, Roger (April 21, 2000)."Sanaa Lathan's Got Game With Role In Basketball Film".Orlando sentinel.Archivedfrom the original on May 15, 2013.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  10. ^"Sanaa Lathan Joins Jones and Rashad in West End Cat on a Hot Tin Roof".Broadway.com.June 3, 2009.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  11. ^Thomas, Kevin (June 9, 2000)."Catfish in Black Bean Sauce".The Baltimore Sun.Archived fromthe originalon October 6, 2014.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  12. ^LaSalle, Mick (December 8, 2000)."An Intelligent Woman In Incredible 'Acts' / Sanaa Lathan stars as a struggling artist".San Francisco Chronicle.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  13. ^"Brown Sugar (2002)".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.2008. Archived fromthe originalon January 16, 2008.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  14. ^"Out of Time".IMDb.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  15. ^Juarez, Vanessa (April 10, 2008)."'A Raisin in the Sun' Roundtable ".Entertainment Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon February 27, 2008.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  16. ^"Alien Vs Predator: Interview with Lance Henriksen & Sanaa Lathan".Horror.com.August 11, 2004.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  17. ^"Alien Vs. Predator".Box Office Mojo.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  18. ^admin (March 27, 2019)."Lupita Nyong'o Leads 'Us' to Biggest Opening Weekend Ever for a Black Woman".Colorlines.RetrievedDecember 8,2022.
  19. ^""Something New" (2006) ".About.com.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  20. ^Slezak, Michael (June 1, 2006)."'Nip/Tuck': Sanaa Lathan, Rosie join the cast ".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  21. ^Holden, Stephen (September 12, 2008)."Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (2008)".The New York Times.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  22. ^"SANAA LATHAN'S WONDERFUL WORLD".Brownsista.com.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  23. ^"Voices of Donna-tubbs Brown".behindthevoiceactors.com.RetrievedApril 16,2013.
  24. ^"Forest Whitaker To Star In Voodoo Horror Flick Vipaka With Anthony Mackie".cinemablend.com.August 3, 2011.RetrievedApril 13,2013.
  25. ^"Terrence Howard And Sanaa Lathan Dish On 'The Best Man Holiday'".NPR.RetrievedMay 24,2018.
  26. ^D’Alessandro, Anthony (June 10, 2021)."Sanaa Lathan To Make Feature Directorial Debut With Paramount Players' 'On The Come Up'".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedJune 10,2021.
  27. ^"‘Succession’ actress Sanaa Lathan’s ‘On The Come Up’ to debut at TIFF".Toronto Star,July 13, 2022.
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