American actress Sanaa Lathan is the daughter of filmmaker Stan Lathan and actress Eleanor McCoy. Despite their eventual divorce, her parents remained close to her and supported her decision to pursue an entertainment career. While still in college, she began her career as an actress, making guest roles in TV serials including “Family Matters” and “NYPD Blue.” Following graduation from Yale University with a master’s degree in drama, she portrayed a mother in the horror film Blade in her first significant role. Her most well-known performance was in the romance drama “Love & Basketball,” costarring Omar Epps. Back then, Epps was her boyfriend in real life. Her portrayal in the Broadway production of “A Raisin in the Sun” received positive reviews. She played the same role in another “ABC” production. She has also acted in the science fiction films Alien vs. Predator and the thriller Out of Time. Her performance as Simon Baker’s opposite in the romantic comedy “Something New” brought her recognition. She is officially single, despite having been romantically linked to several celebs. She has a bright future ahead of her and is at the height of her career.
Early Life & Childhood of Sanaa Lathan
On September 19, 1971, in New York City, Eleanor McCoy, an actor and dancer, and Stan Lathan, a director and producer, welcomed Sanaa Lathan into the world. Tendaji Lathan, her brother, went on to become a well-known DJ. She was close to both of her parents even after they separated. She spent some of her childhood living with her father in Beverly Hills and some time with her mother in New York.
She trained in dance and gymnastics at a young age since she was an innate athlete. Her parents introduced her to the entertainment world as well. In her younger years, she participated in several plays with the “Black Theatre Workshop.”
She attended the “Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics” and the “University of California, Berkeley,” where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English. After that, she finished her master’s program in drama at Yale University.
During her time at “Yale University,” she made appearances in several Shakespearean plays. Her father urged her to audition for TV series including Family Matters, NYPD Blue, and In the House. She relocated to California in the end to further her acting career.
Career of Sanaa Lathan
Nathan experimented with “Off-Broadway” productions as well as the Los Angeles stage circle in her early years. She received praise for her portrayal as a mother in the superhero horror film “Blade” released in 1998. For her role in the romantic comedy “The Best Man,” she received a nomination for a “National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Award” the following year. Among the top 10 highest-grossing African-American films was this one.
In the romance movie “Love & Basketball,” which she co-starred in with Omar Epps in 2000, she experienced a significant professional breakthrough. She played Epps’ romantic interest and took home the “NAACP Image Award” for “Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture.” During that same time, she appeared in the play “The Vagina Monologues” “Off-Broadway.”
She was chosen to star in the multicultural comedy film “Catfish in Black Bean Sauce” in 2001. Her performance in the film “Disappearing Acts” as an aspiring singer and composer came right after this.
In 2004, she participated in the Broadway production of “A Raisin in the Sun,” and she later returned to the role in an ABC television adaptation of the same play. She also starred in the science fiction film Aliens vs. Predator and the thriller Out of Time. The latter brought in more than $171 million globally.
Her portrayal of an interracial romance with Simon Baker in the romantic comedy “Something New” catapulted her to fame and led to numerous further appearances. In 2009, she starred alongside Matthew Broderick in the drama-comedy “Wonderful World.”
After that, Lathan portrayed “Leah Vaughn” in the romantic suspense film “The Perfect Guy” from 2015. She served as the movie’s executive producer as well. She has also appeared in the romantic comedy “Nappily Ever After” as an actor and producer.
In addition to several other series, she played herself in the reality TV parody “Real Husbands of Hollywood.” She most recently starred in the drama series “The Affair” and “Shots Fired.”
Large-scale Works
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 Happily Ever After (2018) are a few of her notable films.
A Raisin in the Sun (2008), “The Cleveland Show” (2009–2013), “Family Guy” (2010–present), “Real Husbands of Hollywood” (2014), “In the House” (1996), “Family Matters” (1997), “NYPD Blue” (1998), “Late Line” (1998–1999), “Disappearing Acts” (2000), and “A Raisin in the Sun” (2008) are a few of her noteworthy TV projects.
Honors & Accomplishments
For her work in “Love & Basketball,” she was honored with both the BET Award and the Black Reel Award for “Best Actress.” For the same part, she was also awarded the NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture.”
At the Black Reel Awards, she was given the “Best Actress” prize for her performance in “Out of Time.”
She was named the “Best Female Lead” by Theatre World for her role in “A Raisin in the Sun.” She was given the “Lucille Lortel Award” for “Outstanding Lead Actress” in “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark” for her role in the film.
For her performance in “The Perfect Guy,” she was awarded the NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture.”
Individual Life of Sanaa Lathan
Sanaa Lathan is thought to be unmarried at the moment. Among others, she has dated former “National Basketball Association” (NBA) player Adewale Ogunleye and co-star Omar Epp.
She enjoys spending time with her three dogs, which she loves.
Information Popular monthly magazine “Ebony” named Sanaa Lathan one of the “55 Most Beautiful People” in 2001. The following year, she received honors from Black Entertainment Television and Essence, another monthly magazine.
In Swahili, her name translates to “work of art.”
Because of her part in the TV film “Disappearing Acts,” she put on twenty pounds.
She provided the voice of “Donna Tubbs” on “The Cleveland Show.”
Net worth of Sanaa Lathan
The estimated net worth of Sanaa Lathan is about $1 million.