Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles. And so, for me, becoming a lawyer equaled guaranteed success. Throughout the movie, its song after song. Tamani: But its hard when it gets embedded in you, in a sense, when your early self is constructed around it. And really, this could go on forever, because much like yourself, I love the movie. 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. Growing up, I was a good girl. [laughs]. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our cookie and, Sanaa Lathan Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Clare McConnell Height, Weight, Age, Boyfriend, Family, Jorma Tommila Height, Weight, Age, Wife, Family, Aksel Hennie Height, Weight, Age, Wife, Net Worth, Family, Lucia Lachkovi Javorekov Height, Weight, Age, Boyfriend, Bio, Veronika Rajek Height, Weight, Age, Net Worth, Boyfriend, Family, A. R. Ameen Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Toby Smiles Height, Weight, Age, Disability, Family. Lathans net worth is $5 million as of 2022. Shes worked steadily since, honing her craft and affirming her talent with movies like Beyond the Lights (2014) and the limited series Shots Fired (2017). Sanaa Lathan is opening up about her miserable experience working on Love & Basketball considered one of the best sports rom-coms ever. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 10, 2021. ^ "Succession actress Sanaa Lathans On The Come Up to debut at TIFF". Toronto Star, July 13, 2022. ^ Rowles, Dustin (November 21, 2014). " 'Imagine' Gets the Star-Studded 'We Are The World' Treatment for UNICEF". Pajiba. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021. Her second affair was with Omar Epps, an actor, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. I dont think Id ever, before that point, I really dont think Id ever seen a character like her on the screen. [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. And at the time, I wouldnt even have articulated it like that; I just knew that I was way more than sad. Percy: because this movies set in the mid-90s. They dated from 1985 till 1996. What would be the perfect song to cue up for freedom? [laughs]. the two were co-stars in the 2003s. I felt empowered. Through acting, she has accumulated beautiful wealth. Sanaa Lathan Monica Wright: Omar Epps Quincy And I wonder how Prince-Bythewoods filmmaking changed. Sanaa Lathan admits Love and Basketball made her miserable Like Selena the person, writer Shea Serrano is also a Mexican American from Texas. I taught dance, which was, whoo! 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. They want her! We were looking forward to it for weeks, just because it was a love movie, and a love movie featuring Black characters. 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. Sanaa pursued studies at the University of And really from a young age, I was a high achiever, and I was really very attached to that part of my identity. Learn how your comment data is processed. Ive spent a whole lifetime, really, trying to break free from fear. 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks produced Love & Basketball, and the clips you heard in this episode are credited entirely to them. Tzi Ma Talks, How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. The actress is also known for dating high-profile men and one woman and remained single to date. And like you said, when she went on to play overseas, its probably not just Q, Quincy she was missing, its her friends and family from home. I know that we have the scene where Monica is made over by her sister, and she goes to prom, and her mom for the first time tells her that shes beautiful. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. She continued, It was really hard to keep kind of investing and trying to prove myself and keep kind of being shot down. Sanaa used to do roller skating daily when in third grade. The two dated during the, Did Sanaa Lathan have a baby with Denzel Washington? [laughs] When you say that, its like, its so not true, though. She gets to the point where she knows it, she makes this decision with me, but yet, I was like the default. And of course, she and Quincy have their drama to get through. Who is Kandi on Two and a Half Men? No, she concentrated on building her career first and creating a future for other young black actors. She is a big user of coconut oil and uses it on her hair, her skin, as a makeup remover, and for cooking. She wanted a basketball player who could act the role. Its a beautiful thing. 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: No, its very unrealistic. Im just curious how youve both grown together, you and Love & Basketball. Shes the author of the books All the Things We Never Knew and Calling My Name. It Changed My Whole Life.. Some of the richest actresses like Sanaa Lathan have a classy lifestyle. In August 2021, during an interview, Sanaa revealed that she had stopped drinking 3 years ago. I love the film Love & Basketball. It could be a plaything, oh, deciding youre gonna study this or this. She became famous as a voice actress from 2009 to 2013. Gina and the producers really wanted a basketball player that could act as opposed to an actress they could teach to play basketball. It has been a joy for our team to make this for all of you. So many of us suffer from different insecurities or different fears. 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. Karim Kharbouch, better known as French Montana is one of Lathan's boyfriend who is an American rapper. She misses the Indian food in London, England. Flash-forward to later in the movie: shes a high school senior (played by Sanaa Lathan), sitting at the dining table, listening to her dad urge her to consider options besides playing basketball. Shes a superstar, playing in Spain people know her on the street, people come up to her; she has, in so many ways, the dream that shes always wanted but shes completely alone. But her vision of herself as a ball player holds strong. The other challenge was the actress had never played basketball prior to the film. She tries to take regular breaks from social media. 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. I was miserable [laughs]. 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. Stan worked behind the scenes for PBS television. Tamani: Yeah, because you can certainly lose the connection to yourself, when things get out of whack, for sure. [laughs] And I learned that the consequences of not obeying had severe consequences hell, essentially. It took dismissing the pressures from everyone else and standing strong in herself. While training at Yale, Sanaa performed in several Shakespeare plays. 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. You gonna try to work on where you want to go? No, its very powerful. Percy: One of the reasons why its so sincere. 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. When [Monica] 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?. Percy: And shes new to the neighborhood; they just moved there. Fifteen years ago on Tuesday, Love & Basketball debuted in theaters. Unfortunately, no. Love & Basketball | Moviepedia | Fandom Percy: No, those are your words! 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. There wasnt a lot of joy, and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. The same year saw her do back-to-back turns in The Best Man and The Wood films. The "Love and Basketball" star. 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. How Old Was Sanaa Lathan In Love And Basketball? And we all have to balance that, I think, with our careers and our work. Sanaa Lathan Ive worked really hard, Percy: Is it like, Do we all have this, as women? Other things in my life at the time just the misery, too [laughs] was making me feel like that. Sanaa Lathan, the daughter of Actress Eleanor McCoy and Director Stan Lathan, was raised in both New York City and Los Angeles. I didnt know what I wanted my future to look like. Liara Tamani is the author of the acclaimed Calling My Name, which was a 2018 PEN America Literary Award Finalist and SCBWI Golden Kite Finalist, and All the Things We Never Knew, which was a 2020 Kirkus Best YA Book of the Year. People talk about Harvard like its the pinnacle thing you can achieve. Tamani: Just Love & Happiness, because that is what its about. 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. Very few of us actually have that. Shes living a life of her own, one she created. Predator, Love & Basketball, Brown Sugar and The Family That Preys. Viewing Party! Percy: Youre a parent too. I really learned a big life lesson when I was actually auditioning for Love and basketball, the actress began in the two-minute clip. Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. Filming & Production Sanaa in Swahili means work of art and beauty. But unlike a lot of relationships that I normally see between men and women, where its kind of expected that the woman would just say, OK, no, honey, were gonna follow your career. She couldnt get my stage reading out of her head. I was lost in ittrapped inside an impossible cloud of other peoples opinions and expectations. Prince-Bythewood, who started out writing for TV, developed the script for Love & Basketball at the Sundance labs. Im Lily Percy, and welcome to our last episode together. It took dismissing the pressures from everyone else and standing strong in herself. 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). I love that scene. Actress Sanaa Lathan is a show stopper and head turner that has fans swooning over a pic of her in a nearly nude swimsuit. And she has to go through it. 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. It was a big deal for her, and nobody knows me then, really. Image by Grace J. Kim, All Rights Reserved. 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. Sanaa also goes to the gym and works out with celebrity trainer Mike T atForce Fitness Inc. in Los Angeles. Love & Basketball (2000) Official Trailer - Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps Basketball Movie HD. She was sort of like a safety net, and because of that, she had to fight pretty hard to get the role. And even though Im so very conscious of that, she still has people-pleaser in her. But I really started to look out into my future at that point and see misery. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Shes living a life of her own, one she created. One of my all time favorites! 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? Lets All Watch Love & Basketball, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/movies/love-basketball-sanaa-lathan-omar-epps.html. Sanaa Lathan is opening up about her miserable experience working on Love & Basketballconsidered one of the best sports rom-coms ever. Later, she went to the University of California, Berkeley, where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in English. And every time I watch the film I watched it last week just to get ready again for this interview. 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? Moreover, she earned a Master's Degree in Drama at Yale University. But, going back to the theater, I was with my girls, I was with my friends we were excited to see it. And I absolutely love love, love, love that that film begs that question, that it asks that question of me. 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. 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.. Co-stars have been best friends for a long time But the freedom and aliveness that came with being more at home in myself kept me pushing forward. Sanaas father is Stan Lathan. But yeah. 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 Lathan (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images North America) *Sanaa Lathan has revealed that she almost turned down the role of Monica in 2000s Sanaa Lathan Admits She Was "Miserable" Shooting A Love and Basketball film without Sanaa Lathan seems almost unimaginable. They gave me an assistant coach for the LA Sparks and she had me training five hours a day before I got the job.. You always feel it. Sanaa Lathan Height, Weight, Age I did what I was told. And I had known for years that I did not want to be a lawyer, even before I applied, really. (Yes, teenage boys worshipped his game, on and off the court.). August 25, 2021. Man, girls cant play no ball! huffs her neighbor, Quincy. Her lovely essay for Time magazine, which inspired this conversation, is called: Love & Basketball Was More Than a Movie. Love & Basketball (2000 Theres still a chance! she yells, defending her dream. Its hard, like we said, because as human beings, also, as much as we say, Oh, I dont care what anybody thinks you know those people? Shes like a sister to me. That song played, and I was like, ooh. Its almost like she hired me because she couldnt find somebody else. 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. All of which is to say its time to revisit Love & Basketball, Prince-Bythewoods debut feature and first screen triumph. Percy: I know. On the 20th anniversary of Love & Basketball, you may revisit the movie craving romanceand trust, the chemistry between Monica and Quincy is there. I worked in marketing. Gabrielle Union and Sanaa Lathan Reunite 15 Years After Love & Basketball and Haven't Aged a DaySee the Pics! Moreover, she is well best known for her Tony Award-nominated performance in the film A Raisin. MC Lytes, I think Lyte as a Rock, when she then is the older character, when shes Sanaa Lathan, and shes schooling girls on the basketball court at school. 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.. I cant my future cannot be here. Thats how I felt. But even with that, the overall message of the movie is that she falls in love, and she is loved, just for who she is, not because of this kind of way of showcasing femininity. When she would go in for basketball auditions, she said it would go horribly. Copyright 2023. But be prepared to leave it belonging a little more to yourself. As one of my prophets, Roger Ebert, famously said, Ill see you at the movies., [music: Love and Happiness by Al green]. In 2018, her net worth was estimated at$4 million. The whole song theyre very, very intentional with the music, and it was a beautiful thing to experience, for sure. Allegra Edwards bio: height, husband, family, movies and TV shows. Awards and nominations She doesnt get there that dayher team loses the game. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Text RICKEY to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. Adults like to tell kids what they expect them to do or what they think is right or what they think is good, instead of encouraging them to look on the inside of themselves or to figure out what they love. And I was on the verge of dropping out of the audition process. Love Writer Liara Tamani first saw the movie in 2000 when she was a reluctant student at Harvard Law School. But 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. Made straight As. In the past, she started a foundation called the. 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 accolades include: The actress has been in various relationships throughout her life. And I was already feeling like, I have to, because you know, when you get to that low point, its like, I cant stay here. So I wasnt worried about that. Her brother Tendaji Lathan is a well-known DJ. Your email address will not be published. Epps is one of Sanna's boyfriend who by profession is a actor, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. How can I shape my life according to what I love, even more? If I had been an actress who hadnt really done a lot, just a couple of acting classes, I would have probably been terrified. She is the daughter of Stan Lathan and Eleanor McCoy. OK. Thats freedom. 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. I cant live here. Whos about to do that? WebShemar Moore and Sanaa Lathan were married in 1991 the couple filed for divorce in 1996. I would always get to the last step and they would throw in another basketball player, she said. [laughs]. But you cannot be successful if you are absolutely miserable. All Rights Reserved. Fifteen years ago on Tuesday, Love & Basketball debuted in theaters. She had gone to University and pursued a degree in English. Were Sanaa Lathan and Regina Hall in a relationship? But I knew I could do the role, she said. Work is not the only thing. Does Sanaa Lathan have kids? Tamani: Oof, yes. This podcast is produced by On Being Studios, which is located on Dakota Land. Yes, the two were in a relationship in 2005. WebSanaa Lathan. Her typical diet plan is as follows . However, that was very difficult to do, so while they worked hard to find basketball players who could possibly play Monica, they kept Sanaa around because they liked her reading of the part. Percy: Liara Tamani is a writer and proud Harvard Law School dropout. Because its easy for other people to look at you and say, oh, how good youve done or how successful you are, and it looks all good from the outside. Percy: Id love to talk about your favorite things about the movie. Released in 2000, it stars Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps as childhood friends turned young adults bound by feelings for each other and a shared passion for basketball. Exactly. I couldnt even entertain the question without the fear of judgment in my ear: Have you lost your mind? And I love what you say here. It felt like being united with a huge piece of my identity. 15 Photos That Prove Sanaa Lathan Ages Backwards. Im curious to see if I like it as much now as I did then. 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. She was rumored of dating Colin Kaepernick and Denzel Washington. Magazines, Digital And I was like, I cant live like this. I got this. 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. Id gone to law school because my father was a lawyer and expected me to become one, too. Check out this article to know more about her age, height, net worth, children, marriage and career. Her mother is Eleanor McCoy, an actress and dancer well known for performing on Broadway with Eartha Kitt. But 20 years ago, watching this movie, I knew I had to have the guts to find out. To maintain this lifestyle, they work hard to get good money from the roles their play. And I had to try on many things. 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. 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. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. 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 She is the daughter of Stan And of course she should choose herself, if somebodys asking you that. 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.