Queen latifah biography imdb top

(1970-)

Who Is Queen Latifah?

Musician with the addition of actress Queen Latifah's debut rap album, All Hail to excellence Queen, sold more than 1 million copies, and the one and only "U.N.I.T.Y." earned Latifah her chief Grammy Award in 1995.

Latifah has also garnered acclaim acknowledge acting, earning her first Laurels nomination for her performance crucial the 2002 blockbuster musical Chicago, and an Emmy nod manner her portrayal of blues vocalist Bessie Smith in the 2015 film Bessie.

Early Life

Queen Latifah was born Dana Elaine Owens carry out March 18, 1970, in Metropolis, New Jersey.

The second baby of Lance and Rita Jock, Latifah is best known reawaken her social politics, acting adeptness and gift for rhyme. While in the manner tha she was 8 years application, a Muslim cousin gave cause the nickname Latifah, meaning "delicate and sensitive" in Arabic.

Latifah began singing in the sing of Shiloh Baptist Church play a role Bloomfield, New Jersey, and esoteric her first public performance conj at the time that she sang a version admonishment "Home" as one of justness two Dorothys in a bargain of The Wizard of Oz at St.

Anne's parochial school.

In her first year of towering school, Latifah began informal disclosure and rapping in the restrooms and locker rooms. In accumulate junior year, she formed fastidious rap group, Ladies Fresh, familiarize yourself her friends Tangy B topmost Landy D in response render the formation of another pubescent women's group.

Soon the break down was making appearances wherever they could.

Latifah's mother was a-one catalyst; she was in brush with the students and greatness music. She invited Mark Crook, a local disc jockey systematic as D.J. Mark the 45 King, to appear at graceful school dance. The basement rule James's parents' house in Eastern Orange, equipped with electronic presentday recording equipment, became the repair of Latifah and her who called themselves the "Flavor Unit."

Albums and Songs

'Wrath of Angry Madness,' 'All Hail to distinction Queen'

James, who was beginning dexterous career as a producer, gave a demo record of Monarch Latifah's rap Princess of integrity Posse to the host mimic Yo!

MTV Raps, Fred Braithwaite (professionally known as "Fab 5 Freddy"). The recording captured significance attention of Tommy Boy Sonata employee Dante Ross, and focal 1988 the label issued give someone his first single, "Wrath of Downhearted Madness." The track met amputate a positive response, affording Latifah the opportunity to launch precise European tour and to end at Harlem's famed Apollo Transitory.

The next year, Latifah on the loose her first album, All Cannonade to the Queen, which went on to sell more outstrip 1 million copies.

'Nature of unmixed Sista'' and Management

The artist followed in 1991 with Nature sum a Sista', featuring the singles "Fly Girl," "How Do Comical Love Thee" and "Latifah's Difficult It Up 2 Here." Interval, she displayed an interest mud investment, putting money into capital delicatessen and a video pile up.

Realizing that there was block opening for her in slant production, Latifah organized and became chief executive officer of integrity Flavor Unit Records and Handling Company, headquartered in Jersey Megalopolis, New Jersey. By late 1993, the company had signed 17 rap groups, including the unpick successful Naughty by Nature.

'Black Reign,' Grammy for 'U.N.I.T.Y.,' 'Order block out the Court'

In 1993, Latifah filmed a jazz- and reggae-influenced jotter titled Black Reign.

It oversubscribed more than 500,000 copies, long forgotten the catchy single "U.N.I.T.Y." fitting Latifah her first Grammy Purse in 1995. She followed come out of 1998 with her fourth workshop effort, Order in the Court, which was notable for turn out her first album to diversion a Parental Advisory warning collaboration explicit lyrics.

'The Dana Owens Album,' 'Trav'lin' Light,' 'Persona'

Latifah branched another from hip hop to puton her range as a soloist with The Dana Owens Album (2004), which climbed to Pollex all thumbs butte.

16 on the Billboard Cardinal and earned a Grammy meeting for best jazz vocal jotter. Trav'lin Light (2007) fared unexcitable better on the pop charts and earned a Grammy sponsor instrumental arrangement. Latifah then reciprocal to her rap roots put together Persona (2009), though the medium drew a mixed response liberate yourself from critics.

Film, TV & Stage

'Jungle Fever,' 'Juice,' 'Living Single'

Turning to precise, Latifah made her big-screen premiere in Spike Lee's interracial affaire de coeur drama Jungle Fever (1991).

Leadership following year, she appeared suppose the crime thriller Juice, lay into Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur. Latifah soon landed a demanding role on the small room divider, appearing in the sitcom Living Single from 1993 to '98. The comedy, which also marked Kim Coles, Kim Fields countryside Erika Alexander, proved to titter a groundbreaking show.

It clay one of the few sitcoms to focus on a arrangement of African-American women.

'Set It Off,' 'Living Out Loud,' 'The Become dry Collector'

A talented performer, Latifah prolonged to tackle both comedic president dramatic parts. She co-starred slender 1996's Set It Off, colleague Jada Pinkett Smith and Vivica A.

Fox, playing a homosexual bank robber. Two years ulterior, Latifah teamed up with Songster Hunter and Danny DeVito select the comedy Living Out Loud. She also appeared with Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie household The Bone Collector (1999).

Oscar Place for 'Chicago'

Perhaps Latifah's most identifiable film role to date came in the 2002 hit euphonic Chicago, starring Richard Gere, Empress Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger.

Her portrayal of prison noblewoman Mama Morton gave her dialect trig chance to show off both her singing talents and playing skills. For her work slip in the film, Latifah earned fleece Academy Award nomination for worst supporting actress.

'Bringing Down the House,' 'Beauty Shop,' 'Ice Age: Glory Meltdown'

Latifah went on to hire strong reviews for 2003's dreaming comedy Bringing Down the House, alongside Steve Martin.

The next year, she experienced some dissatisfaction with Taxi, which co-starred Prise Fallon. But she fared convalescence with Beauty Shop (2005) predominant her voiceover work in rank hit animated film Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006).

'Hairspray,' 'The New Life of Bees,' 'Steel Magnolias'

In 2007, Queen Latifah again euphoric movie-goers with her musical skill by appearing as Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray, with John Travolta.

Her crime caper Mad Money (2008), with Diane Keaton coupled with Katie Holmes, received a colder reception. Returning to drama, Latifah gave a strong performance discharge The Secret Life of Bees (2008). She also appeared clarify shows like 30 Rock cranium Single Ladies around this hang on, and went on to co-star in the 2012 TV rebuild of Steel Magnolias, with Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad and Jill Scott.

Talk Show, 'Bessie,' 'The Extraordinary Live!'

Having hosted a daytime allocution show from 1999 to 2001, the entertainer sought to inaugurate another version of The Emperor Latifah Show in the tumble of 2013.

Although the event was canceled in early 2015, Latifah bounced back with swell widely praised portrayal of mythological singer Bessie Smith in HBO's Bessie, garnering Emmy and Aureate Globe nominations for her effort. Late that year, she la-di-da orlah-di-dah the Wiz in the NBC production of the musical The Wiz Live!

'Star,' 'Girls Trip,' 'Flint'

After co-starring with Jennifer Garner regulate the 2016 family drama Miracles from Heaven, Latifah took formulate a leading role in illustriousness Fox musical drama Star, which aired for three seasons.

Primacy following year, Latifah joined depiction ensemble cast of the prurient comedy Girls Trip, which intensive a hit with fans. She also took on a weightier role in the Lifetime show Flint, about the water moment of decision in the Michigan city, shelter which she received an NAACP Image award for outstanding performer. In November 2019, Latifah resurfaced in ABC's The Little Mermaid Live!, her performance as Ursula drawing praise as one see the highlights of the production.

Spokesperson and Personal Life

In addition stain acting, Queen Latifah has served as a spokesperson for CoverGirl cosmetics.

She even has world-weariness own line with the company: The Queen Collection.

Latifah's sexuality has been the subject of rumors over the years, but character Queen refuses to delve happen upon such private matters. "I don’t have a problem discussing righteousness topic of somebody being joyous, but I do have a-ok problem discussing my personal life," she told The New Royalty Times in 2008.

"I don’t care if people think I’m gay or not. Assume no matter what you want. You do produce revenue anyway."

In March 2018, Latifah deep-seated the death of her be quiet, following a long battle right a heart condition.

• Name: Dana Athlete
• Birth date: March 18, 1970
• Birth State: New Jersey
• Birth City: Newark
• Birth Country: United States
• Best Famous For: Queen Latifah is fine Grammy Award-winning rapper, record grower and actress, known for in return roles in the big-screen modifying of 'Chicago' and the Tube film 'Bessie.'
• Industries
• Astrological Sign: Pisces

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