The same year saw her do back-to-back turns in The Best Man and The Wood films. Im so curious if thats something that strikes you. Yes. I think everybody will probably have to I dont know, its not gonna be that stark. What kind of fool drops out of Harvard Law School? 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. It wasnt in vain, all these different things. Thats freedom. WebActress Sanaa Lathan confessed recently that Love and Basketball made her miserable. Sanaa has become an icon and appeared in other top films such as: Alessandra Brawn: family, dating, net worth, Will Arnett relationship. So you have to start defining that for yourself. And shes going through such a difficult period in her life that ultimately helps her to understand what it is thats missing. The "Love and Basketball" star. Then a bright star came into view. However, she got through it all by totally mastering Monica when it came to the actual acting. I couldnt even entertain the question without the fear of judgment in my ear: Have you lost your mind? Does Sanaa Lathan have kids? And my first year of law school, its like youre out of college, and youre at that point where youre like, OK, this is not playtime anymore, [laughs] I felt like. 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. No, I love the way that ended, because its like she fought for what she wanted, and she got what she wanted. On the 20th anniversary of Love & Basketball, you may revisit the movie craving romanceand trust, the chemistry between Monica and Quincy is there. It was a situation where Gina [Prince-Bythewood], the director, did not want an actress who could play basketball. An American Football wide receiver, Owens is one of Lathan's boyfriend. They gave me an assistant coach for the LA Sparks and she had me training five hours a day before I got the job.. Id gone to law school because my father was a lawyer and expected me to become one, too. Watch on. Shes an amazing artist.. After that, she went on to study acting under the careful guidance of professional acting teacher Earle R. Gister. Gabrielle Union and Sanaa Lathan Reunite 15 Years After Love & Basketball and Haven't Aged a DaySee the Pics! Percy: You write about it in that same essay for Time. The accolades include: The actress has been in various relationships throughout her life. She had gone to University and pursued a degree in English. Some of the richest actresses like Sanaa Lathan have a classy lifestyle. I went to church. [laughs] But I was starting to awaken to the reality that not being connected to what I loved came at a cost, a huge cost, really happiness. Percy: And you wrote about that in your really just beautiful essay for Time magazine, called Love & Basketball Was More Than a Movie. What was the trajectory in your mind, and the steps that led you to ultimately embracing your identity as a writer? It might have crossed my mind to yank my head away from my mother as a child, but I wouldnt have dared. 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. Sanaa also goes to the gym and works out with celebrity trainer Mike T atForce Fitness Inc. in Los Angeles. She also runs her own foundation The actress 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. Youre gonna be my cheerleader, Quincy replies before Monica beats him to the basket. She wasnt auditioning a lot of actresses. And really, this could go on forever, because much like yourself, I love the movie. They were like, OK, cool. But I hated this sanitized, diminished version of myself. Sanaa attended Beverly Hills High School for her basic education before joining Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics. An American actor and former fashion model, Shemar is one of Lathan's boyfriend. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital And I absolutely love love, love, love that that film begs that question, that it asks that question of me. Become TUKO.co.ke ambassador get a branded T-shirt, hoodie or water bottle at our TUKO Shop! Sommerville is 6-foot-10 center who is ranked the No. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Tamani: Some of my favorite scenes I definitely love the first-kiss scene when theyre kids, [laughs] when Quincy decides to ask Monica to be his girlfriend, and then they count to five well, he counts to five on his hand while they kiss. 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. Does Sanaa Lathan have a husband? For those seeking summertime movie fun, this has been an interminable season of discontent. Image by Grace J. Kim, All Rights Reserved. The two have been together for a long time, having dated for a while before getting married, and are a perfect power couple. 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). In August 2021, during an interview, Sanaa revealed that she had stopped drinking 3 years ago. Its funny, when youre growing up, people dont emphasize to you, Hey you, and only you, can create the life you want for yourself. And watching Monica up on the screen, it kind of made me realize that. That Blonde Though: Sanaa Lathan Wows Fans with Stunning Selfies of the Many Hairstyles Shes Rocked Since Her 2017 Big Chop, Dont Say Anything to Your Agents, I Wasnt Suppose to Tell You: Fans In Stitches After Regina Hall Reveals Sanaa Lathan Once Told Her She Landed a Role Only to Learn It Actually Went to Regina King, I Had to Curse Out the Camera Crew: Sanaa Lathan Reveals How Method Mans Superstar Status Left Members of On the Come Up Production In Awe. 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. Percy: One of the reasons why its so sincere. 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. Talking about her persona life, she is yet unmarried and is single at the moment. 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. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Though most people who watch Love and Basketball see it as the role that made Sanaa Lathan a star, looking back at it now, 19 years after the films release, the Sanaa made her theatrical film debut asCarolyn Brody in Drive in 1997. One of my all time favorites! When he first saw the movie in 1997, he was captivated by all the things it got right about his world the accents, dialogue, and intimate moments. And thats a part of her recognizing her worth and recognizing the importance of her dreams, part of knowing where she wants to go and how important it is for her to get there a huge part of her character that Gina Prince-Bythewood wrote. How can I shape my life according to what I love, even more? Actress: Alien vs. Worrying about your happiness instead of the expectations and opinions of others. And if those fears and insecurities are alive within us, and especially if we are unaware of them, of course theyre gonna be passed on to our children. 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. If she wins, he calls off his wedding to his girlfriend (Tyra Banks). SANAA LATHAN is a well-established American actress. Were gonna do what you need, she says, No. August 25, 2021. Thank you for subscribing! Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. Sanaa prefers to stick to a vegan diet (along with some fish) and tries to stick to 1200 calories a day. 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks produced Love & Basketball, and the clips you heard in this episode are credited entirely to them. Monica Wright (played by Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy McCall (played by Omar Epps) are sometimes friends, enemies, lovers, and competitors. Its important to be able to stand in the truth of yourself and to be able to fight for that, even when its unpopular or other people disagree with you. Im gonna be the first girl in the NBA, she says. 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. If she could have dinner with any one person (dead or alive), she would like to do it with James Baldwin. Moreover, she is well best known for her Tony Award-nominated performance in the film A Raisin. This is our last episode of This Movie Changed Me, and I want to say thank you. When she was growing up, she felt that she needed to become a lawyer, just like her father she even went to Harvard and started law school; then saw Love & Basketball, and the movie completely changed her life. Is this just our lot? Writer Liara Tamani first saw the movie in 2000 when she was a reluctant student at Harvard Law School. (My partner-in-cinema, A.O. Thats already stressful enough, without the added pressures that their parents bring. And then one night, I sat down at my drafting table and started writing. Whos about to do that? I didnt know what I wanted my future to look like. I would always get to the last step and then they would throw in another basketball player. That was part of the problem, because it wasnt like, Let me leave law school to do this big, great thing. It was like, Let me leave law school and then tell people I dont know what Im gonna do. [laughs], Percy: Its so good for you to say that, because I think a lot of times, especially when youre a teenager, you just assume theres gonna be these very concrete steps that you can take, and youll just suddenly know things. It was her baby and it was her first time directing. Tamani: It was a long path, because I didnt even know I wanted to be a writer, when I was in law school. That scene, to this day, its so groundbreaking and unexpected. Well, Im very excited, as I told you, to be here talking about a movie that I love, Love & Basketball. Text RICKEY to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. Comments will be open until 12 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday so please swing by, we need everyone off the bench. She is the daughter of Stan Lathan and Eleanor McCoy. Was sanaa lathan ever married? I wasnt Sanaa Lathan, I was just some actress and I could feel them being like, Why did this bh get the part? The team behind This Movie Changed Me is: Gautam Srikishan, Chris Heagle, Eddie Gonzalez, Lilian Vo, Christiane Wartell, Tony Liu, and Kristin Lin. I felt seen this girl who is like, shes gonna fight for what she wants, under any circumstances. Sanaa Lathan, the daughter of Actress Eleanor McCoy and Director Stan Lathan, was raised in both New York City and Los Angeles. Scroll up and hear her tell it via the clip above. Didnt curse, drink or smoke. And I feel like most of my adult life has been reminding myself not to be afraid. I was miserable. Theres still a chance! she yells, defending her dream. Who is Kandi on Two and a Half Men? And I had known for years that I did not want to be a lawyer, even before I applied, really. Unfortunately, no. I got the job and I think Gina [Prince-Bythewood] finally got to the point where she had to hire somebody. She wanted a basketball player who could act the role. Her first name Sanaa is pronounced as Sa-NAA just as Sinatra would be pronounced with missing tra. By the end of shooting, we were cool and very close, she said. What is Sanaa Lathans net worth? Yeah, I dont even know. Along the way to becoming a writer, I worked in marketing, which I guess I have to incorporate it for my writing, but I dont enjoy it. Its just like you ended your essay, because you said in your essay, Dont think Im preaching this message from the mountaintop. Predator, Love & Basketball, Brown Sugar and The Family That Preys. Omar Epps plays Quincy McCall, You say, At the end of the movie, Monicas running onto the court in a Los Angeles Sparks uniform with Quincy cheering her on from the sidelines. Percy: Yeah, and one of the things that the movie shows, which honestly Im your same age, and so I saw the movie and had this very all I focused on was the love story, at the time. Its drama; its the movie. A Love and Basketball film without Sanaa Lathan seems almost unimaginable. The romantic drama starred Omar Epps as hotshot basketball player Quincy McCall and Sanaa Lathan as his feisty girlfriend Monica Wright, who loves the sport as much as he does. Tamani: Its at the center of the movie, this girl who is going after her dreams. I was lost in ittrapped inside an impossible cloud of other peoples opinions and expectations. It has been a joy for our team to make this for all of you. [laughs], Percy: No, I really do care a lot. [laughs], But theres something about the struggle and the pain that you were going through that you describe back in your freshman year that was necessary to your own I hate using the word journey now, because it sounds so silly when people use it, but it was it was really necessary , Percy: And I think about, for Monica, breaking up with Quincy, the person that she loved the most in her life outside of her family, going and playing basketball in the womens league in Europe, because at the time this is the other thing that blew my mind at the time, the WNBA didnt exist . There was a lot of crying behind the scenes for me.. Its almost like she hired me because she couldnt find somebody else, so there wasnt a lot of joy and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. It took dismissing the pressures from everyone else and standing strong in herself. I felt empowered. On top of that, Quincy will be playing there, too. Other things in my life at the time just the misery, too [laughs] was making me feel like that. Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Truth always rings. And I think about yourself and what you had to go through in order to really understand your identity as a writer. So its amazing to think about that. Her lovely essay for Time magazine, which inspired this conversation, is called: Love & Basketball Was More Than a Movie. I want her to be free. Work is not the only thing. Shes always been a sensitive director of actors, but she also knows how to move the camera. Warning, Ladies: If You Give These to Omar Epps, Hell Throw Them Out, Who Is Bubba Watson's Wife? And so, for me, becoming a lawyer equaled guaranteed success. She is also known for lending her voice to the character ofDonna Tubbs inThe Cleveland Show (2009-2013) andFamily Guy. Thats freedom. She was rumored of dating Colin Kaepernick and Denzel Washington. This site uses cookies to serve you better. It was the basketball.. Bankrolled by New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Brothers (Spike Lee was a guardian angel), it went on to premiere at the 2000 Sundance festival. Required fields are marked *. Its a very powerful scene, indeed. Percy: So it sounds like when you went to see it for the first time, you went really to have this lovely, celebratory experience with your girlfriends. There wasnt a lot of joy, and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. And its funny, because I think that shaped me in so many ways, and so Im the very opposite with my daughter. 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? Im Lily Percy, and welcome to our last episode together. When youre in college, it feels like school. Sanaa has appeared in numerous films and television series, taking great acting and voicing roles. Contribute to Atlanta Black Star today and help us share our narratives. She is a big user of coconut oil and uses it on her hair, her skin, as a makeup remover, and for cooking. Although she was born in a family of parents in the entertainment industry, Sanaa Lathan did not have a passion for acting until her father coaxed her. I also grew up in the church, and that was my experience, as well. Sanaa completed her schooling from theManhattan Center for Science and Mathematics. Adewale dated the gorgeous Lathan from the year 2007 till 2008. They include: Meena Harris: biological father, husband, children, net worth. Percy: because this movies set in the mid-90s. Tamani: Yeah what I was not ready for was the gem hiding inside of that romance. And along the way, the things that I tried on, I still incorporate them in my life. Sanaa Lathan (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images North America) *Sanaa Lathan has revealed that she almost turned down the role of Monica in 2000s Its like, figuring out what you love thats freedom, living towards what you love. But its so basic, you know? They were giving the basketball player acting coaches. My favoritestill. Another commented, Great message and I cannot picture anybody else in that role! This podcast is produced by On Being Studios, which is located on Dakota Land. 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. WebLove & Basketball (2000) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood Writing Credits ( WGA) Cast (in credits order) complete, awaiting verification Produced by Music by Terence Blanchard Cinematography by Reynaldo Villalobos Film Editing by Terilyn A. Shropshire Casting By Aisha Coley Shes feminine simply by being who she is. 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? Featured Image by Gage Skidmore / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0. Actress Sanaa Lathan is a show stopper and head turner that has fans swooning over a pic of her in a nearly nude swimsuit. All About Angie Watson, The Best Drama Movies on Netflix to Stream Now, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's Friendship Timeline, The Cast of 'The Super Mario Bros Movie': All About the Voice Actors, *NSYNC Remembers U.S. But I knew I could do the role, she said. 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. What is Sanaa Lathan doing now? Growing up, I was a good girl. When she would go in for basketball auditions, she said it would go horribly. 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. 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 New Line Cinema/Everett Collection. It was a big deal for her and nobody knows me then really. Im curious to see if I like it as much now as I did then. Im gonna keep playing.. And every time, I ask myself, How can I be more free? Percy: I think its the connection to yourself that youre describing, right? According to her, she has one of the tastiest recipes for macaroni and cheese because that is her grandmothers. 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 free parts. Tzi Ma Talks, How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. Gina [Prince-Bythewood] really wanted, and the producers, they really wanted a basketball player who could act as opposed to an actress who they could teach to play basketball, she told LAs KCAL, the CBS affiliate. Magazines, Digital Impossible. They start to fall in love with each other. In order to maintain a calm and level-headed state of mind, she practicesTranscendental Meditation for 20 minutes on a daily basis. And every time I watch the film I watched it last week just to get ready again for this interview. It was like she was showing me parts of myself Id forgotten about, ignored or maybe never knew were there. And that was a beautiful and inspiring thing. Tamani: Yeah, because you can certainly lose the connection to yourself, when things get out of whack, for sure. No. 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. | Dont think Im preaching this message from the mountaintop. Wisdom Practices and Digital Retreats (Coming in 2023). But as a baller herself she balled, growing up she was sharing her own truth with that movie, which is a beautiful . Sanaa in Swahili means work of art and beauty. And we all have to balance that, I think, with our careers and our work. As she is so gorgeous, she has dated a long list of handsome fellow till now with some of whom she had created abuzz in the American media as well. And Im really, really excited to take you back in time to the year 2000. Tamani: I think its such an important message, maybe the ultimate message, even, is to do you, be you; to fight for what you love even when its hard, even when you have to stand alone in yourself. Sanaa Lathan biography with personal life (affair, boyfriend , Lesbian), married info . After finishing my first year of law school, I didnt go back. I was living in Cambridge, Mass., nearing the end of my first year at Harvard Law School, but I had no desire to be a lawyer. Tamani: Oof, yes. 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. I had a dance background, but I had never picked up a basketball. I wasnt thinking about any of that. She was hugely inspirational in that way, to see such a strong woman, a strong girl. 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. But then, who is gonna drop out of law school? [laughs] I dont enjoy the marketing aspect. The two were co-casts and dated during the filming of Love & Basketball. Were Sanaa Lathan and Regina Hall in a relationship? She says Monicas dedication was a revelation to her. Karim Kharbouch, better known as French Montana is one of Lathan's boyfriend who is an American rapper. You talk about how you were feeling at that time, when you first encountered Monica. But you cannot be successful if you are absolutely miserable. And I had to try on many things. She was quite young when both her parents separated from each other and she used to part her time between Beverly Hills and New York. I had no idea what I wanted to be. Your email address will not be published. Im still working to be free, still learning how to live outside of fear as I shape my professional space as an author. April 16, 2020 11:41 AM EDT. Not easy but possible.. And Id love for you to just close your eyes and think about where you were when you first saw that movie, how you were feeling, who you were with any memories that come to mind. Its funny, because Im like, Where do you get this from? Desperate to stop her, he shoves her into the grass. 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. She likes the sweet-salty taste of the end product. It took me out of my misery, and it just swept over me, the feeling of love, and made me just so ready to take it all in. She is the daughter of Stan Love & Basketball, written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, is a movie that gets better and better with each viewing. Here's everything you need to know, Jesus Ortiz Paz's parents, net worth, wife, and daughter, 20 female celebrities with black hair to follow in 2023, Germany hopes to help climate with discount travel card, 'Super Mario' is year's first film to pass $1 bn globally, Muigai Wa Njoroge's 2 Beautiful Wives Steal Show at Hubby's Event, JPMorgan to buy First Republic after regulators seize control. It Changed My Whole Life very appropriate title. And Im just gonna ask you to do that for ten seconds, and Ill chime back in. [laughs]. 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. The other challenge was the actress had never played basketball prior to the film. She gets to the point where she makes this decision with me, but I felt like the default.. Shes like a sister to me. She gets to the point where she knows it, she makes this decision with me, but yet, I was like the default. I love that scene. I love the film Love & Basketball. We went on to do Disappearing Acts and Shots Fired and I love her. So it is very important to me that my daughter not have that fear. Sanaa Lathan is opening up about her miserable experience working on Love & Basketball considered one of the best sports rom-coms ever. 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. Catch Sanaa in The Twilight Zone, streaming now on CBS All Access. She has her career, and she has her family, and she has her man supporting her. 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.
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