Sanaa Lathan Biography

(Actress and Voice Actress Known for Her Films: ‘The Best Man’, ‘Love & Basketball’ and ‘Disappearing Acts’)

Birthday: September 19, 1971 (Virgo)

Born In: New York, New York, United States

Sanaa Lathan is an American actor and the daughter of actor Eleanor McCoy and director Stan Lathan. Although her parents divorced later, they were both very close to her and encouraged her to make a career in the entertainment industry. She started her career with appearances in TV serials such as ‘NYPD Blue’ and ‘Family Matters’ when she was still in college. After earning her master’s degree in drama from ‘Yale University,’ she played her first major role as a mother in the horror movie ‘Blade.’ She is best known for her role alongside Omar Epps in the romantic drama ‘Love & Basketball.’ Epps was then her real-life boyfriend. Her performance in the ‘Broadway’ play ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ was appreciated. Her role was reprised in an ‘ABC’ production. She has also appeared in the thriller ‘Out of Time’ and the science-fiction film ‘Alien vs. Predator.’ She gained recognition for her role opposite Simon Baker in the romantic comedy ‘Something New.’ Although she has been romantically linked with a number of celebrities, she is officially single. She is in the prime of her career and has a bright future to look forward to.
20
Quick Facts

Also Known As: Sanaa McCoy Lathan

Age: 53 Years, 53 Year Old Females

Family:

father: Stan Lathan

mother: Eleanor McCoy

siblings: Arielle Lathan, Colette Lathan, Lilane Lathan, Tendaji Lathan

Actresses American Women

Height: 5'7" (170 cm), 5'7" Females

U.S. State: New Yorkers

More Facts

education: Yale University, University Of California, Berkeley

  • 1

    What movies has Sanaa Lathan starred in?

    Sanaa Lathan has starred in popular films such as "Love & Basketball," "The Best Man," "Alien vs. Predator," "The Perfect Guy," and "Nappily Ever After."
  • 2

    Is Sanaa Lathan a singer?

    While Sanaa Lathan is known for her acting talent, she is not primarily known as a singer. However, she has showcased her singing abilities in some of her roles and has a pleasant singing voice.
  • 3

    Has Sanaa Lathan produced any films?

    Yes, Sanaa Lathan has ventured into producing films as well. She served as a producer for the movie "Nappily Ever After," in which she also starred.
  • 4

    What is Sanaa Lathan's approach to fitness and wellness?

    Sanaa Lathan is known for prioritizing her health and wellness. She follows a balanced diet, engages in regular exercise routines such as yoga and cardio, and emphasizes the importance of self-care and mental well-being.
Childhood & Early Life
Sanaa Lathan was born on September 19, 1971, in New York City, New York, US, to actor and dancer Eleanor McCoy and director and producer Stan Lathan. Her brother, Tendaji Lathan, grew up to become a well-known DJ. Her parents later divorced, but she remained close to both of them. She was raised partly in Beverly Hills with her father and partly in New York with her mother.
She was a natural athlete and trained in gymnastics and dance at a young age. She was also exposed to the entertainment industry due to her parents. She performed in a number of plays with the ‘Black Theatre Workshop’ in her younger days.
She studied at the ‘Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics’ and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from the ‘University of California, Berkeley.’ She then completed her master’s degree in drama from ‘Yale University.’
She appeared in a number of Shakespearean plays during her ‘Yale University’ days. She was encouraged by her father to take up roles in TV serials such as ‘In the House,’ ‘NYPD Blue,’ and ‘Family Matters.’ She finally moved to California to boost her acting career.
Continue Reading Below
Career
In her early days, Nathan ventured into both ‘Off-Broadway’ shows and the Los Angeles stage circle. Her role as a mother in the 1998 superhero horror movie ‘Blade’ earned her positive reviews. She was nominated for a ‘National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Award’ the following year for her performance in the romantic comedy ‘The Best Man.’ The film was one of the top 10 highest-grossing African–American movies.
She made a major breakthrough in her career when she starred alongside Omar Epps in the romantic drama ‘Love & Basketball’ in 2000. She won the ‘NAACP Image Award’ for ‘Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture’ for her role as the love interest of Epps. She made an ‘Off-Broadway’ appearance in the play ‘The Vagina Monologues’ during the same period.
In 2001, she was cast in the multicultural comedy movie ‘Catfish in Black Bean Sauce.’ This was closely followed by her role as an aspiring singer and songwriter in the movie ‘Disappearing Acts.’
She performed in the ‘Broadway’ play ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ in 2004 and later reprised her role in an ‘ABC’ TV production of the play. She also appeared in the thriller ‘Out of Time’ and the science-fiction movie ‘Alien vs. Predator.’ The latter grossed over $171 million worldwide.
Her role in the romantic comedy ‘Something New,’ involving an interracial relationship with Simon Baker, made her popular and earned her many similar roles. She co-starred with Matthew Broderick in the dark comedy–drama ‘Wonderful World’ in 2009.
Lathan then played the role of ‘Leah Vaughn’ in the 2015 romantic thriller ‘The Perfect Guy.’ She was also the executive producer of the film. She has also produced and acted in the romantic comedy ‘Nappily Ever After.’
She has appeared as herself in the reality TV parody ‘Real Husbands of Hollywood’ and several other series. Lately, she has been seen in the drama series ‘Shots Fired’ and ‘The Affair.’
Major Works
Some of her noteworthy movies are ‘Blade’ (1998), ‘The Best Man’ (1999), ‘Love & Basketball’ (2000), ‘Brown Sugar’ (2002), ‘Out of Time’ (2003), ‘Alien vs. Predator’ (2004), ‘Something New’ (2006), ‘The Family That Preys’ (2008), ‘The Perfect Guy’ (2015, ‘Approaching the Unknown’ (2016), ‘American Assassin’ (2016), and ‘Nappily Ever After’ (2018).
Some of her notable TV projects are ‘In the House’ (1996), ‘Family Matters’ (1997), ‘NYPD Blue’ (1998), ‘Late Line’ (1998–1999), ‘Disappearing Acts’ (2000), ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ (2008), ‘The Cleveland Show’ (2009–2013), ‘Family Guy’ (2010–present), ‘Real Husbands of Hollywood’ (2014), and ‘The Affair’ (2018).
Continue Reading Below
Awards & Achievements
She won the ‘BET Award’ and the ‘Black Reel Award’ for the ‘Best Actress’ for her performance in ‘Love & Basketball.’ She also won the ‘NAACP Image Award’ for ‘Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture’ for the same role.
She received the ‘Best Actress’ award at the ‘Black Reel Awards’ ceremony for her role in ‘Out of Time.’
Her performance in ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ won her the ‘Theatre World Award’ for the ‘Best Female Lead.’ She earned the ‘Lucille Lortel Award’ for ‘Outstanding Lead Actress’ for her performance in ‘By the Way, Meet Vera Stark.’
She won the ‘NAACP Image Award’ for ‘Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture’ for her role in ‘The Perfect Guy.’
Personal Life
Sanaa Lathan is currently believed to be single. She has dated co-star Omar Epp and former ‘National Basketball Association’ (NBA) player Adewale Ogunleye, among others, in the past.
She loves animals and has three dogs that keep her company.
Facts About Sanaa Lathan
Sanaa Lathan is a big fan of yoga and has been practicing it for many years to maintain her physical and mental well-being.
In addition to her acting talents, Sanaa Lathan is also a skilled voice actress and has lent her voice to several animated projects.
Sanaa Lathan is known for her love of cooking and often shares her favorite recipes and culinary creations on social media.
Despite her busy schedule as an actress, Sanaa Lathan makes time to volunteer and support various charitable organizations, particularly those focused on empowering women and girls.
Sanaa Lathan is a strong advocate for self-care and regularly promotes the importance of mental health awareness and self-love in interviews and on her social media platforms.

See the events in life of Sanaa Lathan in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- Sanaa Lathan Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/sanaa-lathan-42971.php

People Also Viewed

Sabrina Carpenter Biography
Sabrina Carpenter
(American)
 
Blake Lively Biography
Blake Lively
(American)
 
Jenna Ortega Biography
Jenna Ortega
(American)
 
Kristen Bell Biography
Kristen Bell
(American)
 
Winona Ryder Biography
Winona Ryder
(American)
 
Sydney Sweeney Biography
Sydney Sweeney
(American)
 
Margaret Qualley Biography
Margaret Qualley
(American)
 
Scarlett Johansson Biography
Scarlett Johansson
(American)