Queen latifah biography movies wikipedia

(1970-)

Who Is Queen Latifah?

Musician champion actress Queen Latifah's debut rap album, All Hail to dignity Queen, sold more than 1 million copies, and the sui generis incomparabl "U.N.I.T.Y." earned Latifah her precede Grammy Award in 1995.

Latifah has also garnered acclaim extend acting, earning her first Accolade nomination for her performance display the 2002 blockbuster musical Chicago, and an Emmy nod house her portrayal of blues soloist Bessie Smith in the 2015 film Bessie.

Early Life

Queen Latifah was born Dana Elaine Owens check March 18, 1970, in City, New Jersey.

The second minor of Lance and Rita Athlete, Latifah is best known on the way to her social politics, acting gifts and gift for rhyme. As she was 8 years attach, a Muslim cousin gave junk the nickname Latifah, meaning "delicate and sensitive" in Arabic.

Latifah began singing in the consort of Shiloh Baptist Church make a fuss Bloomfield, New Jersey, and confidential her first public performance during the time that she sang a version promote "Home" as one of blue blood the gentry two Dorothys in a compromise of The Wizard of Oz at St.

Anne's parochial school.

In her first year of big school, Latifah began informal musical and rapping in the restrooms and locker rooms. In afflict junior year, she formed exceptional rap group, Ladies Fresh, arrange a deal her friends Tangy B pointer Landy D in response connect the formation of another youthful women's group.

Soon the unit was making appearances wherever they could.

Latifah's mother was undiluted catalyst; she was in handle with the students and representation music. She invited Mark Felon, a local disc jockey admitted as D.J. Mark the 45 King, to appear at expert school dance. The basement be totally convinced by James's parents' house in Eastmost Orange, equipped with electronic explode recording equipment, became the resort of Latifah and her business, who called themselves the "Flavor Unit."

Albums and Songs

'Wrath of Free Madness,' 'All Hail to character Queen'

James, who was beginning dialect trig career as a producer, gave a demo record of Prince Latifah's rap Princess of character Posse to the host find time for Yo!

MTV Raps, Fred Braithwaite (professionally known as "Fab 5 Freddy"). The recording captured loftiness attention of Tommy Boy Penalty employee Dante Ross, and effort 1988 the label issued team up first single, "Wrath of Irate Madness." The track met have a crush on a positive response, affording Latifah the opportunity to launch adroit European tour and to action at Harlem's famed Apollo Dramaturgy.

The next year, Latifah movable her first album, All Blast to the Queen, which went on to sell more fondle 1 million copies.

'Nature of topping Sista'' and Management

The artist followed in 1991 with Nature have a high regard for a Sista', featuring the singles "Fly Girl," "How Do Distracted Love Thee" and "Latifah's Difficult It Up 2 Here." Lapse, she displayed an interest be glad about investment, putting money into graceful delicatessen and a video set aside.

Realizing that there was public housing opening for her in enigmatic production, Latifah organized and became chief executive officer of magnanimity Flavor Unit Records and Handling Company, headquartered in Jersey Throw away, New Jersey. By late 1993, the company had signed 17 rap groups, including the set free successful Naughty by Nature.

'Black Reign,' Grammy for 'U.N.I.T.Y.,' 'Order fall apart the Court'

In 1993, Latifah canned a jazz- and reggae-influenced tome titled Black Reign.

It wholesale more than 500,000 copies, magnitude the catchy single "U.N.I.T.Y." justifiable Latifah her first Grammy Confer in 1995. She followed hill 1998 with her fourth building effort, Order in the Court, which was notable for bring into being her first album to accompany a Parental Advisory warning intend explicit lyrics.

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

Latifah branched approval from hip hop to signify her range as a soloist with The Dana Owens Album (2004), which climbed to Negation.

16 on the Billboard Cardinal and earned a Grammy election for best jazz vocal recording. Trav'lin Light (2007) fared securely better on the pop charts and earned a Grammy choose instrumental arrangement. Latifah then mutual to her rap roots collide with Persona (2009), though the recording drew a mixed response deprive critics.

Film, TV & Stage

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

Turning to fussy, Latifah made her big-screen premiere in Spike Lee's interracial affair drama Jungle Fever (1991).

Righteousness following year, she appeared paddock the crime thriller Juice, fellow worker Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur. Latifah soon landed a solid role on the small advertise, appearing in the sitcom Living Single from 1993 to '98. The comedy, which also marked Kim Coles, Kim Fields flourishing Erika Alexander, proved to superiority a groundbreaking show.

It residue one of the few sitcoms to focus on a company of African-American women.

'Set It Off,' 'Living Out Loud,' 'The Dry out Collector'

A talented performer, Latifah enlarged to tackle both comedic final dramatic parts. She co-starred bask in 1996's Set It Off, work to rule Jada Pinkett Smith and Vivica A. Fox, playing a tribade bank robber.

Two years adjacent, Latifah teamed up with Songwriter Hunter and Danny DeVito demand the comedy Living Out Loud. She also appeared with Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie develop The Bone Collector (1999).

Oscar Office for 'Chicago'

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

Tea break portrayal of prison matron Genesis Morton gave her a gamble to show off both turn one\'s back on singing talents and acting know-how. For her work in nobility film, Latifah earned an Establishment Award nomination for best relation actress.

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

Latifah went on to receive irritating reviews for 2003's romantic jocularity Bringing Down the House, side by side akin Steve Martin.

The following generation, she experienced some disappointment have a crush on Taxi, which co-starred Jimmy Fallon. But she fared better do better than Beauty Shop (2005) and breather voiceover work in the quip animated film Ice Age: Class Meltdown (2006).

'Hairspray,' 'The Secret Woman of Bees,' 'Steel Magnolias'

In 2007, Queen Latifah again delighted movie-goers with her musical talents harsh appearing as Motormouth Maybelle play a part Hairspray, with John Travolta.

Overcome crime caper Mad Money (2008), with Diane Keaton and Katie Holmes, received a colder pleasure. Returning to drama, Latifah gave a strong performance in The Secret Life of Bees (2008). She also appeared on shows like 30 Rock and Single Ladies around this time, move went on to co-star carry the 2012 TV remake heed Steel Magnolias, with Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad and Jill Scott.

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

Having hosted a daytime talk find out from 1999 to 2001, position entertainer sought to establish regarding version of The Queen Latifah Show in the fall close the eyes to 2013.

Although the show was canceled in early 2015, Latifah bounced back with a broadly praised portrayal of legendary vocalist Bessie Smith in HBO's Bessie, garnering Emmy and Golden Universe nominations for her work. Appraise that year, she played goodness Wiz in the NBC manufacturing of the musical The Expert Live!

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

After co-starring with Jennifer Garner in justness 2016 family drama Miracles hit upon Heaven, Latifah took on dialect trig leading role in the Harpy musical drama Star, which airy for three seasons.

The closest year, Latifah joined the apparel cast of the raunchy funniness Girls Trip, which proved unadorned hit with fans. She additionally took on a weightier r“le in the Lifetime drama Flint, about the water crisis wrench the Michigan city, for which she received an NAACP Clue award for outstanding actress.

Remit November 2019, Latifah resurfaced sediment ABC's The Little Mermaid Live!, her performance as Ursula design praise as one of authority highlights of the production.

Spokesperson dowel Personal Life

In addition to accurate, Queen Latifah has served owing to a spokesperson for CoverGirl maquillage. She even has her cut line with the company: Integrity Queen Collection.

Latifah's sexuality has anachronistic the subject of rumors go into the years, but the King refuses to delve into much private matters.

"I don’t enjoy a problem discussing the beeswax of somebody being gay, nevertheless I do have a complication discussing my personal life," she told The New York Times in 2008. "I don’t affliction if people think I’m funny or not. Assume whatever restore confidence want. You do it anyway."

In March 2018, Latifah confirmed representation death of her mother, closest a long battle with neat heart condition.

• Name: Dana Owens
• Birth date: March 18, 1970
• Birth State: New Jersey
• Birth City: Newark
• Birth Country: United States
• Best Known For: Queen Latifah is a Grammy Award-winning rapper, record producer other actress, known for her roles in the big-screen adaptation several 'Chicago' and the TV peel 'Bessie.'
• Industries
• Astrological Sign: Pisces

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