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. OK. The On Being Project Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. They, however, kept the relationship professional during the production and release of the movie but eventually split. The siblings are Tendaji Lathan, Colette Lathan, Lilane Lathan, and Arielle Lathan. WebSanaa Lathan. And the thing that struck me is that both sets of parents we have Monicas parents, and then we have Quincys parents, so Omar Epps, who plays Quincy both parents are trying to put their own insecurities and their own fears and shame in the expectations that they set for their kids. 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. She also runs her own foundation The actress Get the news that matters from one of the leading news sites in Kenya, East Pokot Residents Have No Share in Our Gov't, Rigathi Gachagua Declares, Loise Kim Says Sister Lost a Lot of Blood, Had Cardiac Arrest Before She Died, Miley Cyrus Mom, Tish Cyrus Engaged to Prison Break Star Dominic Purcell: A Thousand Times Yes", Shakahola Deaths: Gov't Direct Detectives to Investigate Possibility of Organ Harvesting, Rigathi Gachagua Discloses He Barred Samidoh from Travelling Abroad Due to His Romantic Affairs, Is Terry Flenory alive? I went to church. The two dated in the year 2006. Some of the richest actresses like Sanaa Lathan have a classy lifestyle. And of course, she and Quincy have their drama to get through. Our whole lives, the totality of our lives, we have to work to balance that to achieve happiness. With many theaters closed and the industry on effective hold, audiences have been streaming and often yawning the hours away. An American actor and former fashion model, Shemar is one of Lathan's boyfriend. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. They want her! Unfortunately, no. And that says a lot about, I think, where I was, [laughs] just thinking about the love story. Percy: Liara Tamani is a writer and proud Harvard Law School dropout. Im Lily Percy, and welcome to our last episode together. It could be a plaything, oh, deciding youre gonna study this or this. 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). I want her to be free. And, as expected, people called me crazy. And she has to go through it. Man, girls cant play no ball! huffs her neighbor, Quincy. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You can stream or buy Love & Basketball; heres a guide. And we also produce other podcasts you might enjoy, like On Being with Krista Tippett, Poetry Unbound, and Becoming Wise. (Yes, teenage boys worshipped his game, on and off the court.). 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. But then I also taught yoga. Its a beautiful thing. But nobody ever emphasizes it,to most kids, I think. It took me there. No. Sanaa Lathan (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images North America) *Sanaa Lathan has revealed that she almost turned down the role of Monica in 2000s WebLove & Basketball (2000) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. I wasnt thinking about any of that. Sommerville is 6-foot-10 center who is ranked the No. The 49-year-old said she thought hard about quitting and even was suggested to by several people in my life, including some of my representation said, Just drop out. Lathan revealed that the stress of chasing her acting dreams was getting to her, but at the advice of a close confidant in her inner circle, the actress realized there were other options. 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. Didnt curse, drink or smoke. Trending :Joanna Gaines || Pat Sajak || Brandi Love || Kamala Harris || Elizabeth Warren ||. Shes the author of the books All the Things We Never Knew and Calling My Name. I did what I was told. 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? Ive spent a whole lifetime, really, trying to break free from fear. Thank you for listening, for your emails, for your support, and for learning and growing alongside us. Tendaji Lathan, Colette Lathan, Lilane Lathan, Arielle Lathan. Get into your joy. The actress said, as soon as I switched to that energy and started having fun in the process, I got the job., In 2019, the Nappily Ever After star spoke about her experience while shooting the beloved film, expressing that she felt miserable and had often believed that she got the job because I think [director] finally got to the point where she had to hire somebody. She added, Its almost like she hired me because she couldnt find somebody else. WebActress Sanaa Lathan confessed recently that Love and Basketball made her miserable. 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. Of course, we are going to be directing them and trying to direct them, according to our fears and insecurities. Sanaa has appeared in numerous films and television series, taking great acting and voicing roles. Her first name Sanaa is pronounced as Sa-NAA just as Sinatra would be pronounced with missing tra. 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. She has her career, and she has her family, and she has her man supporting her. I wasnt Sanaa Lathan, I was just some actress and I could feel them being like, Why did this bh get the part? (The WNBA didnt exist yet.). Its just like you ended your essay, because you said in your essay, Dont think Im preaching this message from the mountaintop. It took dismissing the pressures from everyone else and standing strong in herself. 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. So many of us suffer from different insecurities or different fears. Fans Swoon Over Sanaa Lathan In Nearly Nude Tamani: It rings that way. However, she has read the holy scriptures of several religions like The Bible, Quran, Hindu scriptures. Does Sanaa Lathan have a husband? Percy: Harvard, no less. Sanaa Lathan Thats already stressful enough, without the added pressures that their parents bring. Love & Basketball pays homage to idea that anything boys can do, girls can do better, and it and ends with Quincy and Monica engaging in a final game of double or nothing with very high stakes: She challenges him to one-on-one. [laughs]. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital It feels so right that we end this podcast by talking about a movie that I love dearly, Love & Basketball, with the wonderful writer Liara Tamani. 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. [laughs] I dont enjoy the marketing aspect. Stan worked behind the scenes for PBS television. Fifteen years ago on Tuesday, Love & Basketball debuted in theaters. Menu. You talk about how you were feeling at that time, when you first encountered Monica. When she would go in for basketball auditions, she said it would go horribly. Her brother Tendaji Lathan is a well-known DJ. She wanted a basketball player who could act the role. 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. 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? Lily Percy, host: Hello, fellow movie fans. And I soon found out and soon realized that she really wasnt wanting to hire me. The 49-year-old said she Watch on. Copyright 2023. She wanted a basketball player who could act the role. Tamani: Yeah what I was not ready for was the gem hiding inside of that romance. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. Thats freedom. With The Old Guard, she became the first Black woman to direct a big comic-book movie. 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. In the next scene, a fresh cut is bleeding on Monicas chin and her mother is cleaning it in the bathroom while scolding her for running around like a little boy. Annoyed, Monica yanks her head away, eyes her new wound in the mirror and smiles. People talk about Harvard like its the pinnacle thing you can achieve. So its amazing to think about that. | Its like: Me, or basketball, which is what he was asking her at the time. Percy: Oh, I so relate to that. No, Im gonna be in the NBA. But the gray gloominess that hung over New England was becoming hard to distinguish from the gloom I felt in myself. 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. Just Drop Out: Sanaa Lathan Reveals She Almost Quit While Id been trying to become a lawyer for so long that I had no idea what I wanted for my future. And I was like, I cant live like this. Sanaa Lathan makes her like "Love & Basketball," "Succession" and "A Raisin In The Sun." After finishing my first year of law school, I didnt go back. She gets to the point where she makes this decision with me, but I felt like the default., Fans were shocked to hear this news, but also voiced that they were happy the actress didnt give up including one Instagram user who wrote, I am so glad you did not give up! She doesnt get there that dayher team loses the game. As an actor, she does this for me in every role that she takes on even when the movies arent very good, shes still fantastic. Growing up, she took part in gymnastics and dance and also indulged in performing arts and athletics. And even though Im so very conscious of that, she still has people-pleaser in her. Sometimes its hard to remove that from you, even as an adult. 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? What would be the perfect song to cue up for freedom? But I really started to look out into my future at that point and see misery. Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. She tries to take regular breaks from social media. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 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. Adewale dated the gorgeous Lathan from the year 2007 till 2008. Shes living a life of her own, one she created. [laughs] Its funny now, but it wasnt, then. Desperate to stop her, he shoves her into the grass. Sanaa believes more in spirituality than religion. Moreover, she is well best known for her Tony Award-nominated performance in the film A Raisin. 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. 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. Sanaa Lathan is black. Gina and the producers really wanted a basketball player that could act as opposed to an actress they could teach to play basketball. And I remember, with Love & Basketball, Love and Happiness by Al Green playing even before the first shot was up on the screen. Love Monica Wright (played by Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy McCall (played by Omar Epps) are sometimes friends, enemies, lovers, and competitors. Omar Epps, Sanaa Lathan Reunite for Love and Basketball They were like, OK, cool. [laughs] When you say that, its like, its so not true, though. Liara Tamani is the author of the upcoming novel All The Things We Never Knew (Greenwillow/HarperCollins). The boys grudgingly let her play, and she schools them. Tamani: Shes new to the neighborhood, yeah. Those are your words. She is also known for lending her voice to the character ofDonna Tubbs inThe Cleveland Show (2009-2013) andFamily Guy. Sanaa prefers to stick to a vegan diet (along with some fish) and tries to stick to 1200 calories a day. Comments will be open until 12 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday so please swing by, we need everyone off the bench. Actress: Alien vs. I was uncomfortable inside hersad, confused and anxious. Unfortunately, no. basketball Percy: because this movies set in the mid-90s. Tuko.co.ke shared an interesting article about Kourtney Pogue's nationality, net worth, career, and Justin Turner's relationship. 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. I couldnt even entertain the question without the fear of judgment in my ear: Have you lost your mind? As one of my prophets, Roger Ebert, famously said, Ill see you at the movies., [music: Love and Happiness by Al green]. That mastery had led me to the most prestigious law school in the country. I really learned a big life lesson when I was actually auditioning for Love and basketball, the actress began in the two-minute clip. ALSO TRENDING ON RICKEYSMILEYMORNINGSHOW.COM: Snowfall Withdrawal: See The Original Actors That John Singleton Casted, Simone Biles Responds To Trolls After They Criticize Her Edges In Her Wedding Photos, Chrisean Rock Shows Off New Hair, New Smile, And Her Growing Baby, Rest In Power: Notable Black Folks Who Weve Lost In 2023, Prom Rundown: Erica Dixon And Tammy Riveras Daughters Nailed Their Prom Looks, Pusha Ts Wife, Virginia Williams, Reveals She Felt Like An Oddball Compared To Other Rappers Wives, Janet Jackson & Jermaine Dupri Get Touchy Backstage of ATL Concert [Video], Phil Jackson Says He Stopped Watching NBA Games Because Of Black Lives Matter Politics, Twitter Roasts Him, Rickey Smiley Morning Show Featured Video. Shes an amazing artist.. According to her, she has one of the tastiest recipes for macaroni and cheese because that is her grandmothers. How Old Was Sanaa Lathan in Love and Basketball? But up on the big screen, Monica isnt letting her dad, her fear or anyone else tell her what to do. An American Football wide receiver, Owens is one of Lathan's boyfriend. Percy: One of the reasons why its so sincere. 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 Awards and nominations Percy: Exactly. Check out this article to know more about her age, height, net worth, children, marriage and career. 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. Definitely, looking back, Im grateful to be able to see her intention. Tamani: But my father was a lawyer, and I was expected to follow in his footsteps. It was her baby and it was her first time directing. No way Monica would let that happen to her. The free parts. Her typical diet plan is as follows . Predator(2004). Talking about her persona life, she is yet unmarried and is single at the moment. Monica Wright (played by Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy McCall (played by Omar Epps) are sometimes friends, enemies, lovers, and competitors. August 25, 2021. They were giving the basketball players acting coaches.. You can play. But then, when they see shes a girl she takes off her hat and she has long hair theyre like, Oh, girls cant ball, whatever. I worked for an interior design company. They would always do a basketball audition for me, which was just the worst. Sanaas recognition happened in 1998 with her role as the mother of Wesley Snipes' title character in Blade. But then the song Candy Girl plays, New Editions [sings] Candy Girlwhen shes schooling them like, she schools them. The songs you heard in this episode were Love and Happiness by Al Green, courtesy of Hi Records, Candy Girl by New Edition, courtesy of Warlock Records, and Soul Sista by Bilal, courtesy of Interscope Records. Percy: You write about it in that same essay for Time. Tamani: So good. During her youth she was fully immersed in the entertainment industry and learned early on that she wanted a career in the Arts. Tamani: You cannot. | What kind of fool drops out of Harvard Law School? 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?. I just took the movie in, the first time I saw it. Actress Sanaa Lathan is a show stopper and head turner that has fans swooning over a pic of her in a nearly nude swimsuit. They gave me an assistant coach for the LA Sparks and she had me training five hours a day before I got the job.. Love & Basketball | Moviepedia | Fandom Id gone to law school because my father was a lawyer and expected me to become one, too. But what was I supposed to do, drop out and find myself? Well, I feel like we cant talk about our favorite scenes without talking about the end scene. I got the job and I think Gina [Prince-Bythewood] finally got to the point where she had to hire somebody. 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. It rings that way, yes. They include: Meena Harris: biological father, husband, children, net worth. Become TUKO.co.ke ambassador get a branded T-shirt, hoodie or water bottle at our TUKO Shop! Magazines, Digital It was a big deal for her, and nobody knows me then, really. Tamani: Its at the center of the movie, this girl who is going after her dreams. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Its drama; its the movie. 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. Lathan has bagged accolades throughout her career due to her outstanding movies and TV shows roles. Tamani: Yes. 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.