how old was sanaa lathan in love and basketball

Sanaa McCoy Lathan [1] (born September 19, 1971) [1] is an American actress. She is the daughter of actress Eleanor McCoy and film director Stan Lathan. Her career began after she appeared in the shows In the House, Family Matters, NYPD Blue, and Moesha. Moreover, she is well best known for her Tony Award-nominated performance in the film A Raisin. As she has dated a lady, so she definitely is not straight in terms of her sexuality. Sanaa Lathan is black. How evident were her talents? As a voice actress, she made her TV show debut as Donna Tubbs inThe Cleveland Show in 2009. Sitting in the Harvard Square movie theater, between two of my girls from class, I watched Monica Wright roll up on her new neighbor and his friends playing basketball and ask if she could join. Its about figuring out who you are and who you want to be at the core. And she does this through the character of Monica. But then I also taught yoga. I wasnt thinking about the director or the writer. Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan in 'Love & Basketball'. Actress and comedian, Hall is the first lady partner of Lathan. Talking about her persona life, she is yet unmarried and is single at the moment. But I really started to look out into my future at that point and see misery. Later, she went to the University of California, Berkeley, where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in English. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. She was rumored of dating Colin Kaepernick and Denzel Washington. That song played, and I was like, ooh. WebMonica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) have wanted to be professional basketball stars since they were kids. Id become a master at taming, hiding and cutting out the parts of myself that werent compatible with the person other people wanted me to be: the rebellious, curious and sexy parts; the questioning and fearless parts. And theres a competition to their relationship, too, around it. And that was a beautiful and inspiring thing. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Percy: I love that. They want her! Released in 2000, it stars Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps as childhood friends turned young adults bound by feelings for each other and a shared passion for basketball. Your email address will not be published. I would always get to the last step and they would throw in another basketball player, she said. When she would go in for basketball auditions, she said it would go horribly. But the familiar songs; I think of, when you say Poetic Justice, the braids, the hairstyles you know. No way Monica would let that happen to her. The story of April Bowlby, PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Kenyas #1 news app. It took me there. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It was her baby and it was her first time directing. And I absolutely love love, love, love that that film begs that question, that it asks that question of me. We went on to do Disappearing Acts and Shots Fired and I love her. Percy: You write about it in that same essay for Time. And he was spot on when he wrote that when it came to its writer-director, the film was the first step, however unsteady, of an intriguing new talent.. Love & Basketball (2000) Official Trailer - Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps Basketball Movie HD. Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. Sanaa had been exposed to celebrities and entertainment since her childhood years as both her parents are well-known in the entertainment industry. I wasnt thinking about any of that. Co-stars have been best friends for a long time Its funny, because Im like, Where do you get this from? According to her, she has one of the tastiest recipes for macaroni and cheese because that is her grandmothers. I cant my future cannot be here. Thats how I felt. Its like, figuring out what you love thats freedom, living towards what you love. Thank you for subscribing! However, she has read the holy scriptures of several religions like The Bible, Quran, Hindu scriptures. WebActress Sanaa Lathan confessed recently that Love and Basketball made her miserable. Trending :Joanna Gaines || Pat Sajak || Brandi Love || Kamala Harris || Elizabeth Warren ||. On top of that, Quincy will be playing there, too. Percy: Liara Tamani is a writer and proud Harvard Law School dropout. They would always do a basketball audition for me, which was just the worst. And, as expected, people called me crazy. People talk about Harvard like its the pinnacle thing you can achieve. And we all have to balance that, I think, with our careers and our work. I was starting to get that feeling. What kind of fool drops out of Harvard Law School? Thats the thing, because Monica has to stand alone in herself many a time, when people dont believe in her. She also runs her own foundation The actress Predator. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. But then the song Candy Girl plays, New Editions [sings] Candy Girlwhen shes schooling them like, she schools them. Well, Im very excited, as I told you, to be here talking about a movie that I love, Love & Basketball. SANAA LATHAN is a well-established American actress. My favoritestill. Another commented, Great message and I cannot picture anybody else in that role! Parental pressure is something that the writer Liara Tamani knows very well. Ryan Garcia's kids, wife, baby mamas, and his dating life. When have we seen that since? Throughout the movie, its song after song. | [laughs] And I thought that was a perfect song. I was very lucky I did a staged reading of the script when she was still working on the script. PAY ATTENTION: Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme. Sanaa has appeared in numerous films and television series, taking great acting and voicing roles. Other things in my life at the time just the misery, too [laughs] was making me feel like that. Sanaa has become an icon and appeared in other top films such as: Alessandra Brawn: family, dating, net worth, Will Arnett relationship. Sanaa Lathan is opening up about her miserable experience working on Love & Basketball considered one of the best sports rom-coms ever. Fifteen years ago on Tuesday, Love & Basketball debuted in theaters. Who is Kandi on Two and a Half Men? But unlike a lot of relationships that I normally see between men and women, where its kind of expected that the woman would just say, OK, no, honey, were gonna follow your career. And the fact that she was female and that she was Black and I wasnt using words like representation or feminism back then, but its like, you feel the energy just the same. Growing up, I was a good girl. Percy: So how did you go from watching this movie, realizing I cant keep doing this; I cant go down the path to be a lawyer, and then dropping out of Harvard? The accolades include: The actress has been in various relationships throughout her life. Percy: Theres such intention behind it, because Gina chooses that song at the beginning as this kind of entryway into this childhood, this suburban childhood that these kids are experiencing. Liara Tamani is the author of the acclaimed Calling My Name, which was a 2018 PEN America Literary Award Finalist and SCBWI Golden Kite Finalist, and All the Things We Never Knew, which was a 2020 Kirkus Best YA Book of the Year. Anyone can read what you share. Tendaji Lathan, Colette Lathan, Lilane Lathan, Arielle Lathan. Lathan has bagged accolades throughout her career due to her outstanding movies and TV shows roles. It feels so right that we end this podcast by talking about a movie that I love dearly, Love & Basketball, with the wonderful writer Liara Tamani. He is a football player by profession. At times, I felt alone and scared. Terrell Owens, an American Football wide receiver (2006), Steve Rifkind, an American music entrepreneur (2009-2010), French Montana, an American rapper (2013), Do Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps have a child together? Percy: So Im curious, as we end our conversation Im sure youve seen this movie many more times since that first time. Debut Album 25 Years Later: 'A True Homecoming', Madelyn Cline and Chase Stokes' Relationship Timeline, The Cast of 'Outer Banks' : Everything to Know, The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video to Stream Now, Madonna's Dating History: From Sean Penn to Guy Ritchie, The Cast of 'Yellowjackets': Everything to Know, The Best Super Bowl Commercials of All Time. [laughs]. Percy: I know. Catch Sanaa in The Twilight Zone, streaming now on CBS All Access. She was hugely inspirational in that way, to see such a strong woman, a strong girl. I love the film Love & Basketball. Love & Basketball, written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, is a movie that gets better and better with each viewing. Magazines, Digital When the movie was released a few months later, the New York Times critic Elvis Mitchell voiced quibbles but largely admired it and especially Lathan. Flash-forward to later in the movie: shes a high school senior (played by Sanaa Lathan), sitting at the dining table, listening to her dad urge her to consider options besides playing basketball. She became famous as a voice actress from 2009 to 2013. She gets to the point where she knows it, she makes this decision with me, but yet, I was like the default. If she could have dinner with any one person (dead or alive), she would like to do it with James Baldwin. Im just curious, what are the scenes or lines that stand out to you, even after all these years, after 20-something years of watching this movie? And Im just gonna ask you to do that for ten seconds, and Ill chime back in. Worrying about your happiness instead of the expectations and opinions of others. The decision made last Friday by four-star center Lathan Sommerville is significant for Rutgers in that it solidifies the best recruiting class in program history. [laughs] Its funny now, but it wasnt, then. She made her first TV show appearance as Charese on the sitcom,In The House in 1996. Our whole lives, the totality of our lives, we have to work to balance that to achieve happiness. Very few of us actually have that. Adewale dated the gorgeous Lathan from the year 2007 till 2008. The same year saw her do back-to-back turns in The Best Man and The Wood films. What was the trajectory in your mind, and the steps that led you to ultimately embracing your identity as a writer? But her vision of herself as a ball player holds strong. Impossible. Were gonna do what you need, she says, No. And theres a line in the movie that I feel like summarizes so much of what weve been talking about, when she says, When youre a kid, you see the life you want, and it never crosses your mind that its not gonna turn out that way. And again, I dont think anyone else delivering that line wouldve been able to give it the depth that she does; its just so much who Sanaa Lathan is. And really, this could go on forever, because much like yourself, I love the movie. Sanaa Lathan is opening up about her miserable experience working on Love & Basketballconsidered one of the best sports rom-coms ever. Was sanaa lathan ever married? Actress Sanaa Lathan is a show stopper and head turner that has fans swooning over a pic of her in a nearly nude swimsuit. It was a situation where Gina [Prince-Bythewood], the director, did not want an actress who could play basketball. She is also known for lending her voice to the character ofDonna Tubbs inThe Cleveland Show (2009-2013) andFamily Guy. And I love what you say here. She continued, It was really hard to keep kind of investing and trying to prove myself and keep kind of being shot down. And like you said, when she went on to play overseas, its probably not just Q, Quincy she was missing, its her friends and family from home. No, in life, in real life for most of us, its just putting one foot in front of the other and taking one step and then another toward the things you love, in the direction of the things you love. Some of her notable film credit includes the box-office hit The Best Man and its 2013 sequel, Alien vs. Sanaa Lathan was born on September 19, 1971, which makes her 29 years old at the time that Love and Basketball was released in 2000. And without having the bravery to at least move in that direction, that discovery doesnt take place. Sanaa Lathan (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images North America) *Sanaa Lathan has revealed that she almost turned down the role of Monica in 2000s She already had more than 30 plays under her belt, and that gave her some of the confidence she needed to get through it all. So I wasnt worried about that. Sanaa made her theatrical film debut asCarolyn Brody in Drive in 1997. But for me, Monica Wright will always be a shining example of whats possible when we have the courage to stand alone in the truth of ourselves. Love & Basketball pays homage to idea that anything boys can do, girls can do better, and it and ends with Quincy and Monica engaging in a final game of double or nothing with very high stakes: She challenges him to one-on-one. Co-starring Omar Epps and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the story centers on a young Black couple navigating the challenging worlds of romance and athletics. When he watches it now, he finds new lessons on parenthood in the relationship between Selena and her father, played by Edward James Olmos. But you cannot be successful if you are absolutely miserable. WebLove & Basketball Sanaa Lathan was: 28 Played: Monica Wright Fri, Apr 21 2000 The Best Man Sanaa Lathan was: 28 Played: Robin Fri, Oct 22 1999 The Wood Sanaa Gina Prince-Bythewoods Love & Basketball tells the story of two talented athletes who weave in and out of each others lives as they pursue big dreams. Well, I feel like we cant talk about our favorite scenes without talking about the end scene. Tamani: But my father was a lawyer, and I was expected to follow in his footsteps. Tamani: It rings that way. That mastery had led me to the most prestigious law school in the country. Lathans net worth is $5 million as of 2022. And I feel like most of my adult life has been reminding myself not to be afraid. But I hated this sanitized, diminished version of myself. Sanaas recognition happened in 1998 with her role as the mother of Wesley Snipes' title character in Blade. Tamani: So good. August 25, 2021. Sanaa completed her schooling from theManhattan Center for Science and Mathematics. First, she dated Shemar Moore, an American actor and former fashion model, from 1985, and they got married from 1991 to 1996. Wisdom Practices and Digital Retreats (Coming in 2023). But she holds both confidence and strength alongside vulnerability in a way that just literally leaves me speechless, each time that I watch her, and I just fall further in love with her. Thats freedom. Shes living a life of her own, one she created. I didnt know what I wanted my future to look like. And every time, I ask myself, How can I be more free? Sanaa Lathan is an American actress and voice actress who is best known for the characters that she has played in several films such asThe Best Man Holiday (2013),Love & Basketball (2000),Brown Sugar (2002), andAlien vs. When Gina Prince-Bythewoods Love & Basketball was released 20 years ago, it was celebrated as a mainstream romantic film featuring Black characters, but I treasured it for so much more. [music: Love and Happiness by Al Green]. The movie tells the story of Monica Wright, played by Sanaa Lathan, and Quincy McCall, Omar Epps, two neighbors who grow up next to each other, first as friends, sometimes as enemies and competitors on the basketball court, who over time start to see each other in new ways. Tzi Ma Talks, How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. She realized watching it that this wasnt what was right for her that she had to listen to herself, to listen to what her body was telling her, and to change her career. The film followed the two childhood besties through four quarters of their adolescence as they fall in love (and out, and in again) all while warding off naysayers and combating family struggles to chase their shared dreams of going pro. I distinctly remember at the end, after seeing that, I felt like, literally when she turned around and looked at Quincy and their child, I almost felt like she was reaching through the screen, asking me, So what you bout to do? [laughs] Like, I got here, so what you bout to do? You say: Id become a master at taming, hiding and cutting out the parts of myself that werent compatible with the person other people wanted me to be: the rebellious, curious and sexy parts; the questioning and fearless parts. Finally I demanded that if you want me to continue, youll have to get me a basketball coach. Percy: I think its the connection to yourself that youre describing, right? Watch on. Company Credits Im riding my own bike. And then a fight breaks out. I was living in Cambridge, in my first year at Harvard Law School, but I did not want to be a lawyer. And even though Im so very conscious of that, she still has people-pleaser in her. Here I am, nobody knows me really, and she has to hire me. MC Lytes, I think Lyte as a Rock, when she then is the older character, when shes Sanaa Lathan, and shes schooling girls on the basketball court at school. [laughs]. 50 years old (as of 2022) Zodiac sign: Virgo; Place of birth: New York City, New York, Love & Basketball as Monica Wright (2000) The Smoker as Roxanne (2000) Brown Sugar as It was her baby and it was her first time directing. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! For me, I cant go any further without just talking about Sanaa Lathan, who I absolutely love. Special thanks to Grace J. Kim, who created the beautiful artwork for all of our episodes this season. Though most people who watchLove and Basketballsee it as the role that made Sanaa Lathan a star, looking back at it now, 19 years after the films release, the 47-year-old actress said shooting the project was a miserable experience. Sanaa Lathan biography with personal life (affair, boyfriend , Lesbian), married info . The siblings are Tendaji Lathan, Colette Lathan, Lilane Lathan, and Arielle Lathan. Predator(2004). Later, she graduated with a mastersdegreeindrama from Yale University. She obtained abachelorsdegreeinEnglish from theUniversity of California, Berkeley. In the grassy patch between their bedroom windows, he reaches for a congratulatory hug, but Monica takes a kiss. Unfortunately, no. You gonna try to work on where you want to go? No, its very powerful. [laughs]. Shes the author of the books All the Things We Never Knew and Calling My Name. She couldnt get my stage reading out of her head. Tamani: Yes. The two were co-casts and dated during the filming of Love & Basketball. Liara Tamani is the author of the upcoming novel All The Things We Never Knew (Greenwillow/HarperCollins). The first time that I saw it, I was in college, and I was so struck by the relationship at the center of the movie the love story. Gina Prince-Bythewoods Love & Basketball tells the story of two talented athletes who weave in and out of each others lives as they pursue big dreams. 51 years old: Family Name : Lathan: Birth Country : United States: Birth Sign : Virgo : Height : 5 Feet 7 Inch: Name: Sanaa Lathan: Alien vs. But be prepared to leave it belonging a little more to yourself. Tamani: You cannot. The two dated during the, Did Sanaa Lathan have a baby with Denzel Washington? Tamani: Yes. Finally, however, she listened to her father's advice, and today she is one of the well-doing black actresses in America. Then a bright star came into view. How has it changed for you as youve gotten older, as youve become this well, youve become a mother, first of all. Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme. And I look at, you know, if I get a no, then it wasnt a match for me. Desperate to stop her, he shoves her into the grass. Looking up at this strong-willed girl who knew exactly who she was and what she wanted in life, a light flicked on inside me. Not easybut possible. Writer Liara Tamani first saw the movie in 2000 when she was a reluctant student at Harvard Law School. There wasnt a lot of joy and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. An American actor and former fashion model, Shemar is one of Lathan's boyfriend. Her lovely essay for Time magazine, which inspired this conversation, is called: Love & Basketball Was More Than a Movie. I was miserable. Through her social media, Sanaa has done endorsement work for several brands such as . And its funny, because I think that shaped me in so many ways, and so Im the very opposite with my daughter. WebSanaa Lathan is currently 51 according to her birthdate September 19, 1971 Sun Sign Virgo Born Place New York City, New York, United States Residence Los Angeles, California, United States Nationality Education Sanaa completed her schooling from the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics. Before she saved the summer with The Old Guard, Gina Prince-Bythewood proved that she had cinematic game with her debut feature. | And when you are so focused or when I was so focused on success, success, achievement, achievement, and worried about what other people would think of me if I dropped out, or if I went down a path that was less traveled and less set up for the type of success that society thinks is successful, there was a great fear in departing from that, because its about setting up a version of success for yourself or defining success for yourself. We had other Black love movies at the time, like Love Jones and even Brown Sugar. It took dismissing the pressures from everyone else and standing strong in herself. Percy: No, those are your words! She wanted a basketball player who could act the role. Tamani: Yeah what I was not ready for was the gem hiding inside of that romance. You can play. But then, when they see shes a girl she takes off her hat and she has long hair theyre like, Oh, girls cant ball, whatever. I had a dance background, but I had never picked up a basketball. In the end, he wins, but he chooses Monica instead, and the movie closes with her playing for the WNBA, with the name Wright-McCall on the back of her jersey. Menu. I felt empowered. Sanaa Lathan stars in the iconic indie as Monica Wright, a determined young woman who dreams of playing pro basketball. It Changed My Whole Life.. And I had known for years that I did not want to be a lawyer, even before I applied, really. On the 20th anniversary of Love & Basketball, you may revisit the movie craving romanceand trust, the chemistry between Monica and Quincy is there. The songs you heard in this episode were Love and Happiness by Al Green, courtesy of Hi Records, Candy Girl by New Edition, courtesy of Warlock Records, and Soul Sista by Bilal, courtesy of Interscope Records. It was like she was showing me parts of myself Id forgotten about, ignored or maybe never knew were there. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. All Rights Reserved. And it not only has to do with work or even her relationship in general, but I think its relevant to every part of our humanity, what we believe and what we value. And I loved how short-lived it is, because hes like, Oh, now you have to ride on the back of my bike. And shes like, No. I got the job and I think Gina [Prince-Bythewood] finally got to the point where she had to hire somebody. Monica wanted to play for the Los Angeles Lakers Release Dates When she did, she said she felt like she was somewhat unwanted, which is why filming, for her, wasnt as enjoyable as people might have thought it was. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. Percy: Youre a parent too. Technical Specs, See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro, Crenshaw High School Girl's Basketball Team, key hair stylist (as Brian Andrew Tunstall), assistant director: additional photography / second assistant director, supervising sound designer / supervising sound editor, camera operator: "b" camera / steadicam operator, assistant location manager (as Judy Heinzen), production coordinator: Spain (as Maxine Parker). Man, girls cant play no ball! huffs her neighbor, Quincy. How can I shape my life according to what I love, even more? It felt like being united with a huge piece of my identity. As one of my prophets, Roger Ebert, famously said, Ill see you at the movies., [music: Love and Happiness by Al green]. Ive worked really hard, Percy: Is it like, Do we all have this, as women? Tamani: Oof, yes. She wanted a basketball player who could act the role. She likes the sweet-salty taste of the end product. She ended up training five hours a day for a while before actually getting the job. Percy: And shes new to the neighborhood; they just moved there. Sometimes its hard to remove that from you, even as an adult. I would always get to the last step and then they would throw in another basketball player. | Sanaa also goes to the gym and works out with celebrity trainer Mike T atForce Fitness Inc. in Los Angeles. Its just like you ended your essay, because you said in your essay, Dont think Im preaching this message from the mountaintop. And it was my first time being in that place, a place I didnt know really how to name, but I felt a deep darkness. It rings that way, yes. Thats freedom. I was lost in ittrapped inside an impossible cloud of other peoples opinions and expectations. Sanaa Lathan On Filming Love & Basketball: I Was Miserable Deriving from a dance background, the 47-year-old thespian had no prior basketball experience Its been years since Ive seen Love & Basketball, and Im eager to revisit it. Gina and the producers really wanted a basketball player that could act as opposed to an actress they could teach to play basketball. WebSanaa Lathan. Shes feminine simply by being who she is. They were like, OK, cool. [laughs] I dont enjoy the marketing aspect. Moreover, she earned a Master's Degree in Drama at Yale University. Tamani: Oh, Tupac, the jokes, the outfits, the language all of that, and just seeing people who looked like me loved, being loved, and loving other people up on the big screen its a big deal. Warning, Ladies: If You Give These to Omar Epps, Hell Throw Them Out, Who Is Bubba Watson's Wife? We bonded quickly thereafter. Percy: Id love to talk about your favorite things about the movie. Her second affair was with Omar Epps, an actor, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles. You talk about how you were feeling at that time, when you first encountered Monica. Despite being in many relationships, Lathan is still single. But even with that, the overall message of the movie is that she falls in love, and she is loved, just for who she is, not because of this kind of way of showcasing femininity. What is Sanaa Lathans net worth? Tamani: It was a long path, because I didnt even know I wanted to be a writer, when I was in law school. And I had a mentor, a female mentor, a Black woman who really helped me back then with my kind of transition as an actress into the business. Thank you for subscribing! Definitely, looking back, Im grateful to be able to see her intention. An American music entrepreneur, Steve started dating the gorgeous Lathan in 2009 and broke up in early 2010. By the end of shooting, we were cool and very close, she said. Sanaa pursued studies at the University of They were together in the year 2005. I was miserable [laughs]. Tamani: Shes new to the neighborhood, yeah. Tamani: Just Love & Happiness, because that is what its about. No, she concentrated on building her career first and creating a future for other young black actors. And then what you experienced was really personal. Like Selena the person, writer Shea Serrano is also a Mexican American from Texas. It was her baby, and it was her first time directing. Id been trying to become a lawyer for so long that I had no idea what I wanted for my future. In the next scene, a fresh cut is bleeding on Monicas chin and her mother is cleaning it in the bathroom while scolding her for running around like a little boy. Annoyed, Monica yanks her head away, eyes her new wound in the mirror and smiles. Id gone to law school because my father was a lawyer and expected me to become one, too. They were giving the basketball player acting coaches. I felt seen this girl who is like, shes gonna fight for what she wants, under any circumstances. And now, re-watching it preparing to talk to you, I realized that, as you said so beautifully, Gina Prince-Bythewood, she was telling us, This is actually what the story is about. She doesnt get there that dayher team loses the game. I worked for an interior design company. Her first name Sanaa is pronounced as Sa-NAA just as Sinatra would be pronounced with missing tra.

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