Sanaa Lathan is an actress from the United States who is best known for her part in the film “Now You See Me 2.” However, she’s had a long career in Hollywood. Therefore, she has been nominated for and won several notable honors, including the NAACP Image Award and the Black Reel Award.
Meanwhile, in 2015, Sanaa’s previous film, The Perfect Guy, was released in theatres. Above all, she has won several honors, including Best Actress and Best Female Lead at the BET Awards and Theatre World Awards, respectively. It’s also worth remembering that Sanaa means “artistry” in Arabic. From 2009 through 2013, she voiced Donna Tubbs in The Cleveland Show and all following Family Guy appearances as a voice actress.
Meanwhile, she has appeared in several films, including The Best Man (1999) and its sequel, The Best Man Holiday, released in 2013. However, Love & Basketball (2000), Brown Sugar (2002), Alien vs. Predator (2004), Something New (2006), The Family That Preys (2008), Contagion (2011), and Now You See Me 2 are among her other film credits (2016).
However, aside from all of these awards, let’s get to know this lovely and gorgeous actress on a more personal level. Meanwhile, let’s look at her origins, personal life, and philosophy of life.
Sanaa Lathan Biography/Wiki
| Celebrated Name: | Sanaa Lathan |
|---|---|
| Real Name/Full Name: | Sanaa McCoy Lathan |
| Gender: | Female |
| Age: | 51 years old |
| Birth Date: | 19 September 1971 |
| Birth Place: | New York, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | 1.7 m |
| Weight: | 56 kg |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Father: | Stan Lathan |
| Mother | Eleanor McCoy |
| Siblings | Arielle Lathan, Colette Lathan, Lilane Lathan, Tendaji Lathan |
| Profession: | American actress |
| Net Worth in 2022: | $5 million |
| Last Updated: | February 2022 |
Sanaa Lathan Birth and Family
In short, Sanaa McCoy Lathan was born in September 1971 in New York City. However, she was raised by her parents and siblings, including Tendaji Lathan; she grew up in a family that worked in the entertainment industry. Moreover, her father, Stan Lathan, worked behind the scenes in television for PBS as a television show producer, and her mother, Eleanor McCoy, was a Broadway actor and dancer.
However, Tendaji Lathan, her brother, is a well-known established DJ. Lathan earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley, before going on to Yale University to get a master’s degree in theatre.
Sanaa Lathan Education
Sanaa Lathan’s adolescence was a trying time for her. Moreover, she has indicated that she was a latchkey kid with absent parents. As a result, she was forced to live with relatives who were drug addicts. In the years thereafter, she has maintained a strong relationship with her parents.
Meanwhile, she earned a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Berkeley. Later, she went on to Yale University to get her master’s degree in theatre.
Sanaa Lathan Early Life
Meanwhile, Sanaa started her career as a theatrical performer in New York. She later relocated to California, where she appeared on several television shows before obtaining her first film part in Drive. Later, Sanaa went on to star in Blade, Daisy, The Wood, and The Best Man, among other films. However, she had her breakthrough as a leading lady in the critically acclaimed romance film Love & Basketball, in which she portrayed (“Monica”), followed by the box office smash Alien vs. Predator. However, she was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress for her role in the TV miniseries Shots Fired in 2017. Sanaa started her career as a producer in 2018 when she starred in the Netflix original Nappily Ever After. She has also appeared in theatre productions throughout her career, including the Broadway musical A Raisin in the Sun, which earned her a Tony Award nomination.
Moreover, she has also been nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in the film To Take Arms, the Image Honor for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in The Best Man, and the Image Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture for her excellent performance in Love & Basketball.
Sanaa Lathan Career
Meanwhile, Sanaa Lathan sought a profession in acting after receiving her education, training, and certificates in English theatre. She began by appearing in various Shakespeare plays, and after receiving regular praise both off-Broadway and on the Los Angeles stage, she decided to relocate to the city and make it her professional home.
When Lathan arrived in Hollywood, she was cast in early episodes of sitcoms such as Family Matters, In the House, Moesha, and NYPD Blue. However, her portrayal in To Take Arms earned her a nomination for Best Actress from the Los Angeles NAACP Theatrical Award Committee not long after.
1998
By 1998, Lathan had become well-known because of her portrayal as the mother of Wesley Snipes, the film’s primary actor, in the vampire picture Blade. However, in the years that followed, she landed bit parts in blockbuster films including
2000
Meanwhile, in the year 2000, Lathan was cast as the lead in the romance film Love & Basketball. Subsequently, in 2001, she won a BET Award for Best Actress and an NAACP Image Award for Exceptional Actress in a Motion Picture for her outstanding performance.
2003
She starred in the 2003 film Alien vs. Predator, which made more than $171 million worldwide.
2009
After that, in the play Wonderful World, Lathan acted alongside Matthew Broderick in 2009. Therefore, Donna Tubbs was her character on The Cleveland Show from 2009 until 2013.
2011
Meanwhile, in 2011, Lathan featured with Matt Damon, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Kate Wi.nslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Bryan Cranston, and Laurence Fishburne in Steven Soderbergh’s thriller Contagion. However, in the same year, she played alongside Anthony Mackie and Forest Whitaker in Phillipe Caland’s psychological thriller Repentance. However, in the second season of Starz’ original series Boss, in which she portrayed series regular Mona Fredricks with Kelsey Grammer013, Lathan returned her character in The Best Man′be a sequel, The Best Man Holiday.
2016
She was in the ensemble of the Now You See Me sequel, Now You See Me 2, which was a box office triumph, as well as the sci-fi film “Approaching the Unknown” in 2016.
2017
She made a comeback to television in 2017 with a starring part in the series Shots Fired, as well as a cameo in the film American Assassin. However, she went on to star in the Netflix film “Nappily Ever After” after joining the main cast of The Affair in its fourth and fifth seasons.
2021
Meanwhile, in January 2021, she was cast as Lisa Arthur, a high-profile, well-connected New York lawyer, in Season 3 of Succession.
Sanaa Lathan Husband
Sanaa Lathan, best known for her role in Nappily Ever After, is a tremendously successful actress in her late 40s. Therefore, we want to know who the players are. However, the actress, who is 46 years old, is content to be alone yet eager to socialize. Meanwhile, in a recent interview with Health, the actress stated that she will not be with someone just of their appearance. She spreads rumors about her desire for a life mate. But, while that stage of her life is still ongoing, Lathan enjoys her freedom while surrounded by the affection of her family and friends. “Anything less than something extraordinary is unacceptable,” she says.”
However, Lathan depicted it in the film Nappily Ever After, not one to remain or become engrossed in a fairy tale. She stated that if there is a companion for her out there, she welcomes him, but that she is whole and does not require someone to complete her life. To clarify, she is not married and does not have a husband on the side.
Sanaa Lathan Boyfriend
Sanaa Lathan doesn’t appear to take having children for granted. While she admits to having gone on a few dates, there is no sign she is in a relationship.
Meanwhile, in the past, Sanaa Lathan has been associated with several high-profile celebrities, including her Love & Basketball co-star Omar Epp. She has been photographed on dates with Tyrese Gibson (in both 2008 and 2014), two former NBA players, Adewale Ogunleye and Terrell Owen, music entrepreneur Steve Rifkind, and then pictures of her and Moroccan-American hip-hop recording artist, French Montana, have flooded the internet at one point, sparking rumors of an intimate relationship.
Sanaa Lathan Kids
One thing is certain: Sanaa Lathan will always choose herself over an unfulfilling relationship, whether she has a life partner or not. Nonetheless, we remain hopeful that she will meet the proper partner with whom to spend her life and have children.
Sanaa Lathan & Her Movies and TV Shows
Movies
| Year | Movie name |
| 1997 | Drive |
| 1997 | Miracle in the Woods |
| 1998 | Blade |
| 1999 | Life |
| 1999 | Catfish in Black Bean Sauce |
| 1999 | The Wood |
| 1999 | The Best Man |
| 2000 | Love & Basketball |
| 2000 | The Smoker |
| 2000 | Disappearing Acts |
| 2002 | Brown Sugar |
| 2003 | Out of Time |
| 2004 | Alien vs. Predator |
| 2005 | The Golden Blaze |
| 2006 | Something New |
| 2008 | A Raisin in the Sun |
| 2008 | The Family That Preys |
| 2009 | Wonderful World |
| 2009 | Powder Blue |
Sanaa Lathan TV Shows
| Title | Notes |
| In the House | Episode: “The Curse of Hill House” |
| Moesha | Episodes: “A Concerted Effort” (Parts 1 & 2) |
| Family Matters | Episode: “Revenge of the Nerd” |
| Built to Last | Episode: “Pilot” |
| NYPD Blue | Episode: “You’re Under a Rasta” |
| LateLine | Main Cast |
| Nip/Tuck | Recurring Cast: Season 4 |
| The Cleveland Show | Main Cast |
| Family Guy | Recurring Cast: Season 8– |
| Boss | Main Cast: Season 2 |
| Real Husbands of Hollywood | Episode: “Rolling with My Roomie” |
| Punk’d | Episode: “Sanaa Lathan & Trey Songz” |
| Shots Fired | Main Cast |
| The Affair | Main Cast: Season 4–5 |
| The Twilight Zone | Episode: “Replay” |
| Harley Quinn | Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
| Solos | Episode: “Sasha” |
| Hit & Run | Main Cast |
| Succession | Recurring Cast: Season 3 |
| The Best Man: The Final Chapters | Main Cast |
Sanaa Lathan Awards and Nominations
2001
Meanwhile, Sanaa Lathan was nominated for a BET Award for the best actress category in 2001 for her performance in “Love & Basketball” and she won the award.
Thus, she was also nominated for Independent Spirit Awards and a Black Reel Award for her work in “Love & Basketball” in the same year. However, she was the recipient of the Black Reel Award. She was also on the nomination list of Black Reel awards for the best actress category for her performance in “Disappearing Acts.”
Later, Sanaa won the NAACP Image Award for “Love & Basketball.”
2003
However, this year, Sanaa Lathan was nominated for NAACP Image Award and Black Reel Award for her performance in “Brown Sugar”. Moreover, she was also nominated for the Tony Award for her performance in “A Raisin in the Sun.”
2004
Meanwhile, in 2004, Sanaa was nominated for the NAACP Image Award and Black Reel Award for her performance in “Out Of Time” and won the Black Reel Award. Later, she won Theatre World Award for her outstanding performance in “A Raisin in the Sun.”
2006
However, in 2006 she was nominated 2 times for the Black Reel Award for her performance in “Something New”.
2007
Meanwhile, in 2007 Sanaa was nominated 2 times for the NAACP Image Award for her performances in “Something New” and “Nip/Tuck”.
2008
Additionally, she was also nominated for the Black Reel Award for her performance in “The Family That Preys”.
2009
Meanwhile, Sanaa was nominated for the NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie/Mini-Series for “A Raisin in the Sun”.
2012
Meanwhile, in 2012, she won the Lucille Lortel Award and was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for her performance in “By The Way, Meet Vera Stark”.
2016
However, Sanaa was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for her performance in “The Perfect Guy.”
2019
Meanwhile, in 2019, Sanaa was nominated twice for the NAACP Image Award for her performance in “Nappily Ever After” and “The Affair.”
Sanaa Lathan Net Worh
However, Sanaa Lathan has no doubt kept laughing all the way to the bank with her significant movie roles and appearances in TV series throughout the years. Thus, she has a net worth of $4 million, while not being one to flaunt her fortune. Moreover, she also gives back to society as a result of her success and money. To clarify, Sanaa is the founder of The Sanaa Lathan Foundation, a self-named humanitarian organization that aims to assist young women leaving foster care as adults in becoming more integrated into society. Thus, her concept also entails providing opportunities for these women to obtain the necessary education to enable them to succeed in their chosen areas.
Sanaa Lathan bit Beyoncé
Tiffany Haddish alleged that at a party she attended, an actress “bit Beyoncé in the face” while on drugs.
However, Haddish’s statements generated conjecture about who the person may be, with fingers pointing at Lena Dunham, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lawrence, and Natalie Portman as possible possibilities.
Despite her tweeting at the moment, “Y’all are funny,” sources later revealed that Lathan was the perpetrator. Moreover, she said, “I did not bite Beyoncé under any circumstances, and if I did, it was a love bite.”
Now, in a new interview with Health magazine, Lathan addresses the claims, saying, “It blew out.” And I believe that is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever been a part of.”
Sanaa Lathan Upcoming Movies
During her stellar quarter-century career, Sanaa Lathan has portrayed everything from a hard-boiled DOJ detective to an alien slayer. However, she can now add Black Jewish journalists to that list, courtesy of her upcoming part in Netflix’s geopolitical spy thriller Hit & Run.
Meanwhile, Sanaa Lathan has a few upcoming movies named Nomadland, The Father, Judas and the Black Messiah, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Promising Young Woman, One Night in Miami, Soul.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Omar Epps married to Sanaa Lathan?
Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps subsequently became estranged. He then married singer Keisha Epps, his prior girlfriend and the mother of his kid. They’ve been married for more than a decade.
How old is Shania Lathan?
50 years (19th September 1971)
Does Sanaa Lathan have siblings?
Obviously, she does have siblings named Tendaji Lathan, Colette Lathan, Arielle Lathan, and Lilane Lathan.
How tall is the actress Sanaa Lathan?
1.7 m
What does the name Sanaa mean?
Sanaa is a mostly female Arabic name; however, that means ‘Brightness’ or ‘Radiance.’
Was Shemar Moore married to Sanaa Lathan?
Though Sanaa Lathan and Shemar Moore married in 1991, they divorced in 1996.