Co-stars have been best friends for a long time In a new interview with CBS Locals DJ Sixsmith, Lathan dishes on what it was really like for her working on the project as a young actress who had to prove herself worthy of the starring role. Sanaa pursued studies at the University of 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. She had gone to University and pursued a degree in English. It took dismissing the pressures from everyone else and standing strong in herself. Tamani: Its at the center of the movie, this girl who is going after her dreams. There wasnt a lot of joy and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. Sanaa Lathan is an American actress. 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. But I hated this sanitized, diminished version of myself. And I was starting to get this terrifying sense that if I stayed in law school, I could get trapped in her the rest of my life. But I hated this sanitized, diminished version of myself. There was a lot of crying behind the scenes for me.. Percy: Oh, I so relate to that. In the past, she started a foundation called the. In August 2021, during an interview, Sanaa revealed that she had stopped drinking 3 years ago. She gets to the point where she knows it, she makes this decision with me, but yet, I was like the default. 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. I got the job and I think Gina [Prince-Bythewood] finally got to the point where she had to hire somebody. You have reached your limit of free articles. Its just like you ended your essay, because you said in your essay, Dont think Im preaching this message from the mountaintop. Viewing Party! Prince-Bythewood: We'd go back and forth on the lot. And Sanaa looked great in the movie and she could do things really well, like dribbling [two] basketballs at the same time. Lathan: That two-ball scene that I'm in -- one of my bones to pick with Gina is that she put it in a silhouette. And because of that people don't think it's really me. According to her, she has one of the tastiest recipes for macaroni and cheese because that is her grandmothers. The two were co-casts and dated during the filming of Love & Basketball. I was lost in ittrapped inside an impossible cloud of other peoples opinions and expectations. When the movie was released a few months later, the New York Times critic Elvis Mitchell voiced quibbles but largely admired it and especially Lathan. The two dated during the, Did Sanaa Lathan have a baby with Denzel Washington? Some of her notable film credit includes the box-office hit The Best Man and its 2013 sequel, Alien vs. [laughs] I dont enjoy the marketing aspect. It took dismissing the pressures from everyone else and standing strong in herself. She wanted a basketball player who could act the role. The entertainment industry has continued to be among the best paying industries. 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., Tamani: You make that sound so good. Well, Im very excited, as I told you, to be here talking about a movie that I love, Love & Basketball. However, she has read the holy scriptures of several religions like The Bible, Quran, Hindu scriptures. Im curious to see if I like it as much now as I did then. Very few of us actually have that. It was her baby and it was her first time directing. 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. Finally I demanded, If you want me to continue, youre going to have to get me a basketball coach because I hear youre giving these basketball players acting coaches, and they did.. For the record, while she initially wasnt crazy about Gina while shootingLove and Basketball, she considers her like family now and is grateful to have been a part of her classic film. How evident were her talents? Adewale dated the gorgeous Lathan from the year 2007 till 2008. How Old Was Sanaa Lathan in Love and Basketball? The whole song theyre very, very intentional with the music, and it was a beautiful thing to experience, for sure. 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 And then one night, I sat down at my drafting table and started writing. Its drama; its the movie. Warning, Ladies: If You Give These to Omar Epps, Hell Throw Them Out, Who Is Bubba Watson's Wife? This podcast is produced by On Being Studios, which is located on Dakota Land. Through her fathers encouragement to perfect on acting on the Los Angeles stage, Sanaa bagged television roles in episodes of shows such as In the House, Family Matters, NYPD Blue, and Moesha. And that was a beautiful and inspiring thing. August 25, 2021. Percy: Theres such intention behind it, because Gina chooses that song at the beginning as this kind of entryway into this childhood, this suburban childhood that these kids are experiencing. A Love and Basketball film without Sanaa Lathan seems almost unimaginable. 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. Find those wherever you like to listen, or visit us at onbeing.org to find out more. Even when you recognize it and youre trying to fight against it and say, No, Im gonna be free, its hard. She wasnt auditioning a lot of actresses. I had a dance background, but I had never picked up a basketball. Catch Sanaa in The Twilight Zone, streaming now on CBS All Access. That mastery had led me to the most prestigious law school in the country. Comments will be open until 12 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday so please swing by, we need everyone off the bench. That scene, to this day, its so groundbreaking and unexpected. Does Sanaa Lathan have a husband? Sanaa Lathan And I remember, with Love & Basketball, Love and Happiness by Al Green playing even before the first shot was up on the screen. So thank the goddess for Gina Prince-Bythewood, whose Netflix action-adventure The Old Guard with its mysteries, kinetic action, tight set pieces and pensive superheroes has delivered the transporting pleasures we need. 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? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! Sanaa was 5 years oldwhen she met the legendary singer-songwriter. I got this. The free parts. They include: Meena Harris: biological father, husband, children, net worth. Its a very powerful scene, indeed. But then the song Candy Girl plays, New Editions [sings] Candy Girlwhen shes schooling them like, she schools them. They would always do a basketball audition for me, which was just the worst. (The WNBA didnt exist yet.). 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. Percy: So Im curious, as we end our conversation Im sure youve seen this movie many more times since that first time. Its like: Me, or basketball, which is what he was asking her at the time. Sanaa Lathan has bagged significant roles in TV series. Finally I demanded that if you want me to continue, youll have to get me a basketball coach. Shes always been a sensitive director of actors, but she also knows how to move the camera. The hardest challenge was getting the job, which I think weirdly prepared me for Monica, said Lathan. Whos about to do that? And along the way, the things that I tried on, I still incorporate them in my life. Percy: And you wrote about that in your really just beautiful essay for Time magazine, called Love & Basketball Was More Than a Movie. New Line Cinema/Everett Collection. I arranged flowers, which I love still, arranging flowers. Check out this article to know more about her age, height, net worth, children, marriage and career. Sanaa Lathan Monica Wright: Omar Epps Quincy Its not the only thing. I love that scene. I was uncomfortable inside hersad, confused and anxious. And I was just at that point where this motivated me to start doing that. Shes like a sister to me. Sanaa Lathan admits Love and Basketball made her miserable Liara Tamani: That I was completely lost. I dont know!, Tamani: But I think its part of the human condition. And its funny, because I think that shaped me in so many ways, and so Im the very opposite with my daughter. Theres only one game left in the season, andunlike Quincy (Omar Epps), who has his choice of colleges to play forMonica hasnt been recruited yet. Shes living a life of her own, one she created. And of course she should choose herself, if somebodys asking you that. Tamani: But my father was a lawyer, and I was expected to follow in his footsteps. Our families are important. But youve also become so many other things as part of your identity, including a writer. Looking up at this strong-willed girl who knew exactly who she was and what she wanted in life, a light flicked on inside me. Watch on. Sanaa made her theatrical film debut asCarolyn Brody in Drive in 1997. I wasnt thinking about any of that. Tuko.co.ke shared an interesting article about Kourtney Pogue's nationality, net worth, career, and Justin Turner's relationship. Its almost like she hired me because she couldnt find somebody else. The two dated in the year 2006. Desperate to stop her, he shoves her into the grass. What is Sanaa Lathans ethnicity? [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. She holds an MFA in writing from Vermont College and lives in Houston. Its about figuring out who you are and who you want to be at the core. And she does this through the character of Monica. [laughs]. I cant live here. Gina and the producers really wanted a basketball player that could act as opposed to an actress they could teach to play basketball. And she has to go through it. Man, girls cant play no ball! huffs her neighbor, Quincy. In the grassy patch between their bedroom windows, he reaches for a congratulatory hug, but Monica takes a kiss. 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. She is primarily famous for being married to a professional baseball player, Justin Turner. Monica wanted to play for the Los Angeles Lakers Love & Basketball (2000 It was a big deal for her, and nobody knows me then, really. Yes. Those are your words. So many of us suffer from different insecurities or different fears. She already had more than 30 plays under her belt, and that gave her some of the confidence she needed to get through it all. Tamani: So good. Text RICKEY to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. The other challenge was the actress had never played basketball prior to the film. Thank you for subscribing! 51 years old: Family Name : Lathan: Birth Country : United States: Birth Sign : Virgo : Height : 5 Feet 7 Inch: Name: Sanaa Lathan: Alien vs. She ended up training five hours a day for a while before actually getting the job. Sanaa Lathan Admits She Was "Miserable" Shooting The same year saw her do back-to-back turns in The Best Man and The Wood films. It might have crossed my mind to yank my head away from my mother as a child, but I wouldnt have dared. Made straight As. She was sort of like a safety net, and because of that, she had to fight pretty hard to get the role. Sanaa completed her schooling from theManhattan Center for Science and Mathematics. So she goes to Europe, and shes so lonely. When youre in college, it feels like school. Now I write books for young adults. It took a while for that talent to take another big step, though not for a lack of trying, and it was eight years before her second feature, The Secret Life of Bees, put Prince-Bythewood back in our sights. That mastery had led me to the most prestigious law school in the country. Sanaa Lathan I want her to be free. But I really started to look out into my future at that point and see misery. But a few days later, Monica gets a letter from USC. Lathan has bagged accolades throughout her career due to her outstanding movies and TV shows roles. But its so basic, you know? In the films most memorable scene, Quincy challenged Monica to a steamy game of one-on-one strip basketball. Tamani: Yeah, because you can certainly lose the connection to yourself, when things get out of whack, for sure. What is Sanaa Lathans net worth? I think everybody will probably have to I dont know, its not gonna be that stark. 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. She has amassed a huge fan base with more than 5 million followers on Instagram, more than 2 million followers on Twitter, and more than 6 million followers on Facebook. No, in life, in real life for most of us, its just putting one foot in front of the other and taking one step and then another toward the things you love, in the direction of the things you love. You say: 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. Love & Basketball (2000) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb She realized watching it that this wasnt what was right for her that she had to listen to herself, to listen to what her body was telling her, and to change her career. Does Sanaa Lathan have kids? Actress: Alien vs. And I know that the things that I do get were mine, and always mine., Your email address will not be published. She has a bachelors degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley and a drama masters degree from the Yale University School of Drama. Sanaa Lathans age is 50 years old as of todays date 18th January 2022 having been born on 19 September 1971. Sanaa Lathan is opening up about her miserable experience working on Love & Basketball considered one of the best sports rom-coms ever. Sanaa Lathan Describes Miserable Process Behind Love And 50 years old (as of 2022) Zodiac sign: Virgo; Place of birth: New York City, New York, Love & Basketball as Monica Wright (2000) The Smoker as Roxanne (2000) Brown Sugar as We went on to do Disappearing Acts and Shots Fired and I love her. Love They, however, kept the relationship professional during the production and release of the movie but eventually split. But nobody ever emphasizes it,to most kids, I think. Im so curious if thats something that strikes you. And Im just gonna ask you to do that for ten seconds, and Ill chime back in. Worrying about your happiness instead of the expectations and opinions of others. There wasnt a lot of joy, and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. Other things in my life at the time just the misery, too [laughs] was making me feel like that. Before she saved the summer with The Old Guard, Gina Prince-Bythewood proved that she had cinematic game with her debut feature. She continued, It was really hard to keep kind of investing and trying to prove myself and keep kind of being shot down. Lathans net worth is $5 million as of 2022. Love Still, during an appearance on Strong Black Leads Surviving The No, the actress revealed that her break-out role almost didnt happen. But its hard. Parental pressure is something that the writer Liara Tamani knows very well. 92 player in the nation perRivals. Anyone can read what you share. Official Sites Were Sanaa Lathan and Regina Hall in a relationship? I had to go through so much to get the part and in all the basketball scenes, [they] surrounded me with real ballplayers, said Lathan. And really it wasnt even hiding its at the center of the movie. Tamani: Yes. Sommerville is 6-foot-10 center who is ranked the No. What kind of fool drops out of Harvard Law School? They were giving the basketball player acting coaches. Shes an amazing artist.. OK. WebSanaa Lathan is currently 51 according to her birthdate September 19, 1971 Sun Sign Virgo Born Place New York City, New York, United States Residence Los Angeles, California, United States Nationality Education Sanaa completed her schooling from the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles. Its like, figuring out what you love thats freedom, living towards what you love. What song would we cue up right here for you? 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. Percy: Youre a parent too. With many theaters closed and the industry on effective hold, audiences have been streaming and often yawning the hours away. Sanaa Lathan biography with personal life (affair, boyfriend , Lesbian), married info . Tamani: It formed right at the end, and she added it right at the end. But what was I supposed to do, drop out and find myself? The boys grudgingly let her play, and she schools them. 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. 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. She misses the Indian food in London, England. Throughout the movie, its song after song. Sanaa Lathan Height, Weight, Age (Terms and conditions). You are already subscribed to our newsletter! She is best pals with actressRegina Hall. When Gina Prince-Bythewoods Love & Basketball was released 20 years ago, it was celebrated as a mainstream romantic film featuring Black characters, but I treasured it for so much more. 15 Photos That Prove Sanaa Lathan Ages Backwards. First, she dated Shemar Moore, an American actor and former fashion model, from 1985, and they got married from 1991 to 1996. [laughs] When you say that, its like, its so not true, though. It was a big deal for her. I would always get to the last step and then they would throw in another basketball player. She likes to eat her salty popcorn by mixing it with some Raisinets (chocolate-covered raisins). She was hugely inspirational in that way, to see such a strong woman, a strong girl. Lily Percy, host: Hello, fellow movie fans. HEAD BACK TO THE BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM HOMEPAGE, 'Snowfall' Withdrawal: See The Original Actors That John Singleton Casted, Prom Rundown: Erica Dixon And Tammy Riveras Daughters Nailed Their Prom Looks, The Fall Of Franklin: 'Snowfall' Finale Told Its Best Life Lesson With Lead Star's Demise, North Carolina Police Investigating Viral Fight Between Student and Substitute Teacher, Rest In Power: Notable Black Folks Who Weve Lost In 2023, Janet Jackson & Jermaine Dupri Get Touchy Backstage of ATL Concert [Video], Simone Biles Marries Houston Texans Jonathan Owens, Bitter Twitter Arrives With Hate, Protect Our Recipes: Black Twitter Forms Like Voltron To Keep Oxtail Out of Colonizers Freezers. 'We Are Perpetual Foreigners.' Percy: Harvard, no less. What is Sanaa Lathan doing now? In 2018, her net worth was estimated at$4 million. Id gone to law school because my father was a lawyer and expected me to become one, too. Percy: because this movies set in the mid-90s. Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme. Learn how your comment data is processed. Percy: It is, and when its also coupled and I dont know if this was your experience, but for me it was also coupled with how to be a woman. Moreover, she earned a Master's Degree in Drama at Yale University. Sanaa had been exposed to celebrities and entertainment since her childhood years as both her parents are well-known in the entertainment industry. Sanaa Lathan Says Filming Love And Basketball Was Miserable Sanaa attended Beverly Hills High School for her basic education before joining Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics. Love & Basketball (2000) Official Trailer - Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps Basketball Movie HD. Awards and nominations And I was on the verge of dropping out of the audition process. Tamani: Oof, yes. But you cannot be successful if you are absolutely miserable. Lathan later dated high-profile men, including: Jessica Tarlov: husband, family, nationality, books, Fox News. 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. Sitting in the Harvard Square movie theater, between two of my girls from class, I watched Monica Wright roll up on her new neighbor and his friends playing basketball and ask if she could join. This site uses cookies to serve you better. Tamani: It rings that way. Release Dates Im just curious how youve both grown together, you and Love & Basketball. For those seeking summertime movie fun, this has been an interminable season of discontent. We were looking forward to it for weeks, just because it was a love movie, and a love movie featuring Black characters. During her youth she was fully immersed in the entertainment industry and learned early on that she wanted a career in the Arts.

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