Dana Elaine Owens
(born March 18, 1970), [1] better known by her stage name Queen Latifah
, is an American rapper, singer, model, actress and CoverGirl. Latifah's work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy Award nomination and an Academy Award nomination.
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QUEEN LATIFAH TICKETS
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Early life
Latifah was born and raised in
Newark, New Jersey, the daughter of Rita, a schoolteacher who worked at
Irvington High School, and Lancelot Owens, a policeman.
[2] [3] [4] Her parents divorced when Latifah was ten.
Latifah performed the number "Home" from the musical
The Wiz
in a high school play.
[5] Her stage name,
Latifah
(?????), meaning "delicate" and "gentle" in
Arabic, was given to her by her cousin when she was eight.
Latifah was raised in the
Baptist church.
[6] Always a large girl, the currently 5'10" tall Latifah was a
power forward on her high school
basketball team.
[7] [8]
Music career
1987–1988: Beginnings
Latifah started her career
beatboxing for the rap group
Ladies Fresh
. Latifah was one of the members of the original version of the Flavor Unit, which, at that time, was a crew of MC's grouped around producer
DJ Mark the 45 King. In 1988, DJ Mark the 45 King heard a demo version of Latifah's single "Princess of the Posse" and gave the demo to
Fab Five Freddy, who was the host of
Yo! MTV Raps
.
1988–2000: Rapping
Freddy helped Latifah sign with
Tommy Boy Records, which released Latifah's first album
All Hail the Queen
in 1989, when she was nineteen.
That year, she appeared as Referee on the UK label Music of Life album "1989—The Hustlers Convention (live)". In 1998, Co Produced by Ro Smith now CEO of Def Ro Inc. she released her fourth hip-hop album
Order in the Court
.
2003–2007: Singing
After
Order in the Court
, Latifah shifted primarily to sung lyrics in soul music and jazz standards, which she had used sparingly in her previous hip-hop-oriented records. In 2004, she released the
soul/
jazz standards The Dana Owens Album
. On July 11, 2007, Latifah sang at the famed
Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles as the
headlining act in a live
jazz concert. Before a crowd of more than 12,400, she was backed by a 10-piece live orchestra and three backup vocalists, The Queen Latifah Orchestra. Latifah performed new arrangements of standards including "
California Dreaming," first made popular by
'60s icons
The Mamas & the Papas. Later in 2007, Latifah released an album entitled
Trav'lin' Light
.
Jill Scott,
Erykah Badu,
Joe Sample,
George Duke,
Christian McBride, and
Stevie Wonder made guest appearances.
[9] It was nominated for a Grammy in the "Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album" category.
[10]
In 2009, Latifah, along with the Jubilation Choir, recorded the title track on the album
Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration, covering the
song the
Edwin Hawkins Singers made popular in 1969.
[11]
2008–present: Return to hip hop
In 2008, Latifah was asked if she would make another hip-hop album. She was quoted saying the album was "already done" and it would be called "All Hail the Queen II". It was rumored that the album would be named "The 'L' Word". When asked about the rumor, she stated it was her attempt to "mess with people's heads" referring to rumors that she is lesbian.
[12] On September 12, 2008, Rolling Stone reported that Queen Latifah is working on a new album entitled,
"Persona". The cover of said album has a striking resemblance to the video game,
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona. Not only does the different versions of Latifah line up in a similar fashion to the cover of the
Playstation Portable game, but Latifah's cover uses an almost exact same font, with slight differences such as the 'e' in Persona turned anti-clockwise. The song "Cue the Rain" was released as the album's lead single. This album will be, at least partially, produced by
Dr. Dre. She will also work with
Missy Elliott.
[13]
Film and television
From 1993 to 1998, Latifah had a starring role on
Living Single
, a
FOX sitcom;
she also wrote and performed its theme music. She began her film career in supporting roles in the 1991 and 1992 films
House Party 2
,
Juice
, and
Jungle Fever
. She had her own talk show,
The Queen Latifah Show
, from
1999 to
2001. She also had recurring roles during the second season (1991-1992) of the NBC hit
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
She made a guest role as herself on
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper in 1993.
Latifah appeared in the 1996 box-office hit,
Set It Off
and subsequently had a supporting role in the
Holly Hunter film
Living Out Loud
(1998).
She played the role of Thelma in the 1999 movie adaptation of Jeffrey Deavers'
The Bone Collector
, alongside
Denzel Washington and
Angelina Jolie. Although she had already received some critical acclaim, she gained mainstream success after being cast as Matron "Mama" Morton in the Oscar-winning musical
Chicago
, the recipient of the Best Picture Oscar.
Latifah received an
Academy Award nomination for
Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role, but lost to co-star
Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Latifah is one of two
hip-hop artists to receive an
Academy Award nomination in an acting category (Best Supporting Actress,
Chicago
, 2002). The other is
Will Smith (Best Actor,
Ali
, 2001, and Best Actor,
The Pursuit of Happyness
, 2006).
In 2003, she starred with
Steve Martin in the film
Bringing Down the House
, which was a major success at the box office.
She also recorded a song "Do Your Thing" for the soundtrack. Since then, she has had both leading and supporting roles in a multitude of films that received varied critical and box office receptions, including films such as
Scary Movie 3
,
Barbershop 2: Back in Business
,
Taxi
,
Kung Faux
,
Beauty Shop
, and
Hairspray
. In early 2006, Latifah appeared in a romantic comedy/drama entitled
Last Holiday
.
Film critic
Richard Roeper stated that "this is the Queen Latifah performance I've been waiting for ever since she broke into movies".
[14] Also in 2006, Latifah voiced Ellie, a friendly
mammoth, in the animated film,
Ice Age: The Meltdown
(her first voice appearance in an animated film), and also appeared in the drama
Stranger Than Fiction
.
She has starred in two movie remakes (
Taxi
and
Last Holiday
), five sequels (
House Party 2
,
Scary Movie 3
,
Barbershop 2: Back in Business
,
Ice Age: The Meltdown
and
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
), one spinoff (
Beauty Shop
), two movies based on books (
The Bone Collector
and
The Secret Life of Bees
) and two screen adaptations of musicals (
Chicago
and
Hairspray
).
[15] The summer of 2007 brought Latifah triple success in the big-screen version of the Broadway smash hit
Hairspray
, in which she acted, sang, and danced. The film rated highly with critics. It starred, among others,
John Travolta (
Grease
),
Michelle Pfeiffer (
Stardust),
Allison Janney (
Juno
),
James Marsden (
Enchanted
) and
Christopher Walken (
Catch Me If You Can
). Also in 2007, she portrayed an
HIV-positive woman in the film
Life Support
, a role for which she garnered her first
Golden Globe Award,
Screen Actors Guild Award and an
Emmy nomination. For her work, Queen Latifah received a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame, on January 4, 2006, located at 6915 Hollywood Blvd.
Latifah produced the 2007 film
The Perfect Holiday
. In addition to producing the film, Latifah starred alongside
Terrence Howard,
Morris Chestnut,
Gabrielle Union,
Charles Q. Murphy,
Jill Marie Jones, and
Faizon Love.
[16] In 2008, Latifah appeared in the crime comedy
Mad Money
opposite
Academy Award-winner
Diane Keaton as well as
Katie Holmes and
Ted Danson. She appeared on
Saturday Night Live
on October 4, 2008, as moderator
Gwen Ifill impersonator in a comedic sketch depicting the recent
vice-presidential debate.
[17] In 2009, Latifah was a presenter at the
81st Academy Awards, presenting the segment honoring film professionals who had died during 2008 and singing "
I'll Be Seeing You" during the montage. Latifah spoke at Michael Jackson's memorial service in Los Angeles.
Books
Latifah wrote an autobiography, which was published in 1999 by Harper Collins - Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman (ISBN 0688156231)
Products and endorsements
Latifah is a celebrity spokesperson for
CoverGirl cosmetics, Curvation ladies underwear,
Pizza Hut and
Jenny Craig.
[18] She represents her own line of cosmetics for women of color called the and has starred in several commercials for the line, as well as a commercial with fellow spokeswoman and singer
Faith Hill.
Personal life
Raised in
East Orange, New Jersey, she has been a resident of
Colts Neck, New Jersey.
[19] Latifah's older brother Lancelot Jr. was killed in 1992 in an accident involving a motorcycle that Latifah had recently bought him.
Latifah still wears the key to the motorcycle around her neck,
which can be seen throughout her performance in her sitcom
Living Single
. She also dedicated
Black Reign
to him. In 1993, Latifah was the victim of a
carjacking, which also resulted in the shooting of a friend. In 1996 she was arrested and charged with possession of
marijuana and possession of a loaded
handgun.
[20] In her 1999
autobiography,
Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman
, Latifah discussed how her brother's death led to a bout of depression and drug abuse, from which she later recovered.
In early 2003, Latifah had
breast reduction surgery to relieve back pain. She also works out with a trainer and
kickboxes.
[21]
Latifah appeared in advertisements in January 2009 for
Jenny Craig chronicling her weight loss while on the diet. She was hired as the new spokesperson due to her 35 pound loss on the Jenny Craig program.
Latifah spoke at the
memorial service for
Michael Jackson on July 7, 2009, reciting a poem written by
Maya Angelou.
Discography
Studio albums
- All Hail the Queen
(1989)
- Nature of a Sista
(1991)
- Black Reign
(1993)
- Order in the Court
(1998)
- The Dana Owens Album
(2004)
- Trav'lin' Light
(2007)
- Persona
(2009)
Compilations
- She's a Queen: A Collection of Hits
(2002)
Filmography
Year
| Film
| Role
| Notes
|
1991
| Jungle Fever
| Lashawn
|
|
House Party 2
| Zora
|
|
1992
| Juice
| Ruffhouse M.C.
|
|
1996
| Set It Off
| Cleopatra 'Cleo' Sims
| American Black Film Festival Award for Best Actress Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
|
1997
| Hoodlum
| Sulie
|
|
1998
| Living Out Loud
| Liz Bailey
| Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
|
Sphere
| Alice "Teeny" Fletcher
|
|
1999
| The Bone Collector
| Thelma
| Nominated — Black Reel Award for Theatrical - Best Supporting Actress Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
|
2002
| Chicago
| Matron "Mama" Morton
| Black Reel Award for Theatrical - Best Supporting Actress Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated — BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
|
Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio
| Dove (English voice)
|
|
Brown Sugar
| Francine
| Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
|
2003
| Scary Movie 3
| Aunt Shaneequa
|
|
Bringing Down the House
| Charlene Morton
| Producer NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated — BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Box Office Movie Nominated — Black Reel Award for Film - Best Actress Nominated — Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actress
|
|
| BET Award for Favorite Actress
|
2004
| Taxi
| Belle
|
|
The Cookout
| Security Guard
| (also producer)
|
Barbershop 2: Back in Business
| Gina
| BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Box Office Movie
|
2005
| Beauty Shop
| Gina Norris
| Producer Nominated — BET Comedy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Theatrical Film Nominated — Black Movie Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Nominated — Black Reel Award for Film - Best Actress Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
|
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz
| Aunt Em
|
|
2006
| Stranger Than Fiction
| Penny Escher
|
|
|
| BET Award for Best Actress
|
Ice Age: The Meltdown
| Ellie
| Voice Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie
|
Last Holiday
| Georgia Byrd
| Nominated — Black Movie Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
|
2007
| Life Support
| Ana
| Producer Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Female Lead - Drama Series or Special NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie Nominated — Prism Award for Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
|
Hairspray
| Motormouth Maybelle
| Hollywood Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble Cast Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
|
Arctic Tale
| Narrator
|
|
The Perfect Holiday
| Mrs. Christmas
| Producer
|
2008
| Mad Money
| Nina Brewster
|
|
What Happens in Vegas...
| Dr. Twitchell
|
|
The Secret Life of Bees
| August Boatwright
| Black Reel Award for Best Actress Hollywood Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble Cast Nominated — Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble Nominated — NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
|
2009
| Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
| Ellie
| Voice
|
2010
| Valentine's Day
|
|
Just Wright
| Leslie Wright
| Producer
|
References
- Queen Latifah:Biography
- The Queen holds court
- Queen Latifah Biography (1970-)
- Stated in interview on ''Inside the Actors Studio'', 2006
- Queen Latifah | Music Artist | Videos, News, Photos & Ringtones | MTV
- Queen Latifah Discusses God, Jesus, Rap, and Her New Movie, 'Last Holiday,' in this Beliefnet Interview - Beliefnet.com
- People.com bio
- 'Queen' Of Many Hats, Queen Latifah Makes Jump From Hip Hop Artist To Actress - CBS News
- LATIFAH OPENING FATBURGER IN MIAMI: Plus, new album due September 25.
- GRAMMY.com
- Jon Bon Jovi, Queen Latifah go gospel for "Day"
- Title Unavailable
- Title Unavailable
- Reviews for the Weekend of January 7-8 2006
- Queen Latifah needs some sleep
- Queen Latifah Makes Animated Film Debut
- http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/vp-debate-open-palin-biden/727421/
- "Queen Latifah is the Newest Face of Jenny Craig", ETonline.com, January 10, 2008
- "The Robertson Treatment Vol. 6.7; Queen Latifah holding court in Hollywood!", ''Baltimore Afro-American'', March 28, 2003. She is 6 foot 1, about 200 pounds. Accessed December 11, 2007. "'I've always loved musicals,' admits the actress who was born Dana Owens and was raised in the East Orange, NJ area and who presently lives in Rumson, NJ."
- Queen Latifa arrested in California for carrying loaded pistol and the possession of marijuana
- To 'C' the Queen