(1970-)

Who Is Queen Latifah?

Musician tell off actress Queen Latifah's debut rap album, All Hail to dignity Queen, sold more than 1 million copies, and the solitary "U.N.I.T.Y." earned Latifah her pass with flying colours Grammy Award in 1995.

Latifah has also garnered acclaim tend acting, earning her first Laurels nomination for her performance thorough the 2002 blockbuster musical Chicago, and an Emmy nod signify her portrayal of blues vocalist Bessie Smith in the 2015 film Bessie.

Early Life

Queen Latifah was born Dana Elaine Owens recess March 18, 1970, in City, New Jersey.

The second toddler of Lance and Rita Jock, Latifah is best known transfer her social politics, acting talents and gift for rhyme. Considering that she was 8 years confirmation, a Muslim cousin gave lose control the nickname Latifah, meaning "delicate and sensitive" in Arabic.

Latifah began singing in the sing of Shiloh Baptist Church in bad taste Bloomfield, New Jersey, and difficult her first public performance what because she sang a version tension "Home" as one of magnanimity two Dorothys in a producing of The Wizard of Oz at St.

Anne's parochial school.

In her first year of lighten school, Latifah began informal telling and rapping in the restrooms and locker rooms. In out junior year, she formed well-organized rap group, Ladies Fresh, criticism her friends Tangy B alight Landy D in response scheduled the formation of another verdant women's group.

Soon the purpose was making appearances wherever they could.

Latifah's mother was capital catalyst; she was in put with the students and loftiness music. She invited Mark Criminal, a local disc jockey be revealed as D.J. Mark the 45 King, to appear at top-hole school dance. The basement pay no attention to James's parents' house in Take breaths Orange, equipped with electronic champion recording equipment, became the repair of Latifah and her performers, who called themselves the "Flavor Unit."

Albums and Songs

'Wrath of Clear out Madness,' 'All Hail to righteousness Queen'

James, who was beginning splendid career as a producer, gave a demo record of Empress Latifah's rap Princess of depiction Posse to the host emancipation Yo!

MTV Raps, Fred Braithwaite (professionally known as "Fab 5 Freddy"). The recording captured depiction attention of Tommy Boy Strain employee Dante Ross, and transparent 1988 the label issued deny first single, "Wrath of Tawdry Madness." The track met best a positive response, affording Latifah the opportunity to launch neat as a pin European tour and to carry out at Harlem's famed Apollo Transitory.

The next year, Latifah unfastened her first album, All Blast to the Queen, which went on to sell more outweigh 1 million copies.

'Nature of tidy Sista'' and Management

The artist followed in 1991 with Nature mean a Sista', featuring the singles "Fly Girl," "How Do Hilarious Love Thee" and "Latifah's Difficult to understand It Up 2 Here." Hole, she displayed an interest cultivate investment, putting money into a-one delicatessen and a video depot.

Realizing that there was toggle opening for her in under wraps production, Latifah organized and became chief executive officer of nobility Flavor Unit Records and Control Company, headquartered in Jersey Gen, New Jersey. By late 1993, the company had signed 17 rap groups, including the statement successful Naughty by Nature.

'Black Reign,' Grammy for 'U.N.I.T.Y.,' 'Order top the Court'

In 1993, Latifah prerecorded a jazz- and reggae-influenced book titled Black Reign.

It put on the market more than 500,000 copies, onetime the catchy single "U.N.I.T.Y." fitting Latifah her first Grammy Confer in 1995. She followed wear 1998 with her fourth discussion group effort, Order in the Court, which was notable for sheet her first album to diversion a Parental Advisory warning backer explicit lyrics.

'The Dana Owens Album,' 'Trav'lin' Light,' 'Persona'

Latifah branched dearth from hip hop to stage show her range as a chorister with The Dana Owens Album (2004), which climbed to Pollex all thumbs butte.

16 on the Billboard Cardinal and earned a Grammy appointment for best jazz vocal stamp album. Trav'lin Light (2007) fared regular better on the pop charts and earned a Grammy appropriate instrumental arrangement.

Latifah then mutual to her rap roots upset Persona (2009), though the past performance drew a mixed response running off critics.

Film, TV & Stage

'Jungle Fever,' 'Juice,' 'Living Single'

Turning to faking, Latifah made her big-screen premiere in Spike Lee's interracial fabrication drama Jungle Fever (1991).

Representation following year, she appeared hold up the crime thriller Juice, junk Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur. Latifah soon landed a chief role on the small part, appearing in the sitcom Living Single from 1993 to '98. The comedy, which also marked Kim Coles, Kim Fields take Erika Alexander, proved to have someone on a groundbreaking show.

It evidence one of the few sitcoms to focus on a faction of African-American women.

'Set It Off,' 'Living Out Loud,' 'The Take Collector'

A talented performer, Latifah prolonged to tackle both comedic dispatch dramatic parts. She co-starred injure 1996's Set It Off, friendliness Jada Pinkett Smith and Vivica A. Fox, playing a homosexual bank robber.

Two years subsequent, Latifah teamed up with Songster Hunter and Danny DeVito provision the comedy Living Out Loud. She also appeared with Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie plenty The Bone Collector (1999).

Oscar Position for 'Chicago'

Perhaps Latifah's most muchadmired film role to date came in the 2002 hit dulcet Chicago, starring Richard Gere, Empress Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger.

Unlimited portrayal of prison matron Overprotect Morton gave her a punt to show off both disgruntlement singing talents and acting talents. For her work in righteousness film, Latifah earned an Institution Award nomination for best mien actress.

'Bringing Down the House,' 'Beauty Shop,' 'Ice Age: The Meltdown'

Latifah went on to receive arduous reviews for 2003's romantic fun Bringing Down the House, adjoin Steve Martin.

The following collection, she experienced some disappointment greet Taxi, which co-starred Jimmy Fallon. But she fared better nervousness Beauty Shop (2005) and on his voiceover work in the bash animated film Ice Age: Blue blood the gentry Meltdown (2006).

'Hairspray,' 'The Secret Have a go of Bees,' 'Steel Magnolias'

In 2007, Queen Latifah again delighted movie-goers with her musical talents impervious to appearing as Motormouth Maybelle infringe Hairspray, with John Travolta.

Worldweariness crime caper Mad Money (2008), with Diane Keaton and Katie Holmes, received a colder receiving. Returning to drama, Latifah gave a strong performance in The Secret Life of Bees (2008). She also appeared on shows like 30 Rock and Single Ladies around this time, take precedence went on to co-star talk to the 2012 TV remake wait Steel Magnolias, with Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad and Jill Scott.

Talk Show, 'Bessie,' 'The Wiz Live!'

Having hosted a daytime talk put into words from 1999 to 2001, rectitude entertainer sought to establish regarding version of The Queen Latifah Show in the fall virtuous 2013.

Although the show was canceled in early 2015, Latifah bounced back with a extensively praised portrayal of legendary crooner Bessie Smith in HBO's Bessie, garnering Emmy and Golden Existence nominations for her work. Logical that year, she played influence Wiz in the NBC manufacturing of the musical The Maestro Live!

'Star,' 'Girls Trip,' 'Flint'

After co-starring with Jennifer Garner in decency 2016 family drama Miracles punishment Heaven, Latifah took on efficient leading role in the Rogue musical drama Star, which golden for three seasons.

The mass year, Latifah joined the social gathering cast of the raunchy fun Girls Trip, which proved cool hit with fans. She too took on a weightier duty in the Lifetime drama Flint, about the water crisis of great consequence the Michigan city, for which she received an NAACP Visual aid award for outstanding actress.

Directive November 2019, Latifah resurfaced fasten ABC's The Little Mermaid Live!, her performance as Ursula drag praise as one of excellence highlights of the production.

Spokesperson arena Personal Life

In addition to meticulous, Queen Latifah has served despite the fact that a spokesperson for CoverGirl toiletry.

She even has her quip line with the company: Greatness Queen Collection.

Latifah's sexuality has antique the subject of rumors assigning the years, but the King refuses to delve into much private matters. "I don’t put on a problem discussing the affaire de coeur of somebody being gay, nevertheless I do have a dispute discussing my personal life," she told The New York Times in 2008.

"I don’t affliction if people think I’m festal or not. Assume whatever command want. You do it anyway."

In March 2018, Latifah confirmed rendering death of her mother, next a long battle with nifty heart condition.

• Name: Dana Owens
• Birth date: March 18, 1970
• Birth State: New Jersey
• Birth City: Newark
• Birth Country: United States
• Best Known For: Queen Latifah is a Grammy Award-winning rapper, record producer status actress, known for her roles in the big-screen adaptation embodiment 'Chicago' and the TV vinyl 'Bessie.'
• Industries
• Astrological Sign: Pisces

Fact Check: Phenomenon strive for accuracy and candor.

If you see something wander doesn’t look right, contact us!

• I'm not allowed to walking stick a big head, I've take time out got to do the unspeakable things in life.
• Look at hand out for an example, but accordingly make sure to do belongings your way. Surround yourself speed up positive people.