It was her baby and it was her first time directing. On the 20th anniversary of Love & Basketball, you may revisit the movie craving romanceand trust, the chemistry between Monica and Quincy is there. Tamani: Yeah, because you can certainly lose the connection to yourself, when things get out of whack, for sure. It Changed My Whole Life.. Shes an amazing artist.. Not easy but possible.. I went to church. I got this. The movie tells the story of Monica Wright, played by Sanaa Lathan, and Quincy McCall, Omar Epps, two neighbors who grow up next to each other, first as friends, sometimes as enemies and competitors on the basketball court, who over time start to see each other in new ways. Sanaa Lathan I dont know!, Tamani: But I think its part of the human condition. Dont think Im preaching this message from the mountaintop. Its about figuring out who you are and who you want to be at the core. And she does this through the character of Monica. Im riding my own bike. And then a fight breaks out. Ryan Garcia's kids, wife, baby mamas, and his dating life. Co-starring Omar Epps Whos about to do that? And I remember, with Love & Basketball, Love and Happiness by Al Green playing even before the first shot was up on the screen. Selena tells the true story of the iconic Tejano singer, played by Jennifer Lopez, who broke barriers in music and fashion until her untimely death at age 23. That mastery had led me to the most prestigious law school in the country. The free parts. Its almost like she hired me because she couldnt find somebody else. With many theaters closed and the industry on effective hold, audiences have been streaming and often yawning the hours away. Was sanaa lathan ever married? Predator(2004). Is this just our lot? Through her fathers encouragement to perfect on acting on the Los Angeles stage, Sanaa bagged television roles in episodes of shows such as In the House, Family Matters, NYPD Blue, and Moesha. It wasnt in vain, all these different things. But I really started to look out into my future at that point and see misery. Tamani: It was a long path, because I didnt even know I wanted to be a writer, when I was in law school. And I wonder how Prince-Bythewoods filmmaking changed. This site uses cookies to serve you better. 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. The accolades include: The actress has been in various relationships throughout her life. You always feel it. When youre in college, it feels like school. Catch Sanaa in The Twilight Zone, streaming now on CBS All Access. Shes feminine simply by being who she is. Actress and comedian, Hall is the first lady partner of Lathan. Monica Wright (played by Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy McCall (played by Omar Epps) are sometimes friends, enemies, lovers, and competitors. WebLove & Basketball (2000) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. She continued, It was really hard to keep kind of investing and trying to prove myself and keep kind of being shot down. 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 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. And she has to go through it. Im gonna keep playing.. Does Sanaa Lathan have a husband? Lily Percy, host: Hello, fellow movie fans. For the record, while she initially wasnt crazy about Gina while shootingLove and Basketball, she considers her like family now and is grateful to have been a part of her classic film. Percy: Harvard, no less. She ended up training five hours a day for a while before actually getting the job. [laughs]. Thank you for subscribing! Warning, Ladies: If You Give These to Omar Epps, Hell Throw Them Out, Who Is Bubba Watson's Wife? I worked in marketing. I think everybody will probably have to I dont know, its not gonna be that stark. Moreover, she is well best known for her Tony Award-nominated performance in the film A Raisin. Love & Basketball (2000 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. Tamani: Yes. Tamani: [laughs] That is exactly how I felt. Prince-Bythewood, who started out writing for TV, developed the script for Love & Basketball at the Sundance labs. While training at Yale, Sanaa performed in several Shakespeare plays. And of course, she and Quincy have their drama to get through. 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. Sanaa believes more in spirituality than religion. There wasnt a lot of joy, and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. Theres still a chance! she yells, defending her dream. Company Credits And along the way, the things that I tried on, I still incorporate them in my life. Sanaa made her theatrical film debut asCarolyn Brody in Drive in 1997. No, Im gonna be in the NBA. You can stream or buy Love & Basketball; heres a guide. No, I love the way that ended, because its like she fought for what she wanted, and she got what she wanted. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Its important to be able to stand in the truth of yourself and to be able to fight for that, even when its unpopular or other people disagree with you. And I had known for years that I did not want to be a lawyer, even before I applied, really. Tamani: And thats a part of her strength. Im Lily Percy, and welcome to our last episode together. Parental pressure is something that the writer Liara Tamani knows very well. The two dated in the year 2006. I really learned a big life lesson when I was actually auditioning for Love and basketball, the actress began in the two-minute clip. Anyone can read what you share. You say: 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. [music: Love and Happiness by Al Green]. Love & Basketball (2000) Official Trailer - Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps Basketball Movie HD. Comments will be open until 12 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday so please swing by, we need everyone off the bench. Text RICKEY to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. [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. Percy: Exactly. She is the daughter of Stan And every time, I ask myself, How can I be more free? Well, Im very excited, as I told you, to be here talking about a movie that I love, Love & Basketball. Contribute to Atlanta Black Star today and help us share our narratives. Sanaa Lathan is opening up about her miserable experience working on Love & Basketball considered one of the best sports rom-coms ever. And I had to try on many things. She is also known for lending her voice to the character ofDonna Tubbs inThe Cleveland Show (2009-2013) andFamily Guy. Im just curious how youve both grown together, you and Love & Basketball. But the gray gloominess that hung over New England was becoming hard to distinguish from the gloom I felt in myself. 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. Love Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. As a voice actress, she made her TV show debut as Donna Tubbs inThe Cleveland Show in 2009. I got the job and I think Gina [Prince-Bythewood] finally got to the point where she had to hire somebody. Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme. Even when you recognize it and youre trying to fight against it and say, No, Im gonna be free, its hard. So, its really about switching it in your head. Co-stars have been best friends for a long time Im just curious, what are the scenes or lines that stand out to you, even after all these years, after 20-something years of watching this movie? Release Dates I didnt know what I wanted my future to look like. She was sort of like a safety net, and because of that, she had to fight pretty hard to get the role. Man, girls cant play no ball! huffs her neighbor, Quincy. Through her social media, Sanaa has done endorsement work for several brands such as . I was starting to get that feeling. Made straight As. Sanaa Lathan has bagged significant roles in TV series. 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. According to her, she has one of the tastiest recipes for macaroni and cheese because that is her grandmothers. It was a big deal for her and nobody knows me then really. Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. 'We Are Perpetual Foreigners.' [laughs] And I learned that the consequences of not obeying had severe consequences hell, essentially. 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. 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. [laughs], Percy: No, I really do care a lot. [laughs], But theres something about the struggle and the pain that you were going through that you describe back in your freshman year that was necessary to your own I hate using the word journey now, because it sounds so silly when people use it, but it was it was really necessary , Percy: And I think about, for Monica, breaking up with Quincy, the person that she loved the most in her life outside of her family, going and playing basketball in the womens league in Europe, because at the time this is the other thing that blew my mind at the time, the WNBA didnt exist . They were giving the basketball player acting coaches. And theres a competition to their relationship, too, around it. New Line Cinema/Everett Collection. I love that scene. Finally I demanded that if you want me to continue, youll have to get me a basketball coach. You have reached your limit of free articles. How has it changed for you as youve gotten older, as youve become this well, youve become a mother, first of all. Sanaa Lathan Says Filming Love And Basketball Was Miserable What kind of fool drops out of Harvard Law School? 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. What is Sanaa Lathan doing now? It felt like being united with a huge piece of my identity. They want her! First, she dated Shemar Moore, an American actor and former fashion model, from 1985, and they got married from 1991 to 1996. A young, brown-skinned girl wearing an L.A. Lakers cap and a cant-tell-me-nothing attitude. So she goes to Europe, and shes so lonely. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Sanaa Lathan's net worth is $5 million as of 2022. She realized watching it that this wasnt what was right for her that she had to listen to herself, to listen to what her body was telling her, and to change her career. I taught dance, which was, whoo! 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. Viewing Party! They include: Meena Harris: biological father, husband, children, net worth. Didnt curse, drink or smoke. They were giving the basketball players acting coaches.. 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. I had a dance background, but I had never picked up a basketball. This podcast is produced by On Being Studios, which is located on Dakota Land. WebMonica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) have wanted to be professional basketball stars since they were kids. April 16, 2020 11:41 AM EDT. And so along the way to getting to writing, I also discovered other parts of myself. Sanaa has appeared in numerous films and television series, taking great acting and voicing roles. But I hated this sanitized, diminished version of myself. Definitely, looking back, Im grateful to be able to see her intention. And of course she should choose herself, if somebodys asking you that. To maintain this lifestyle, they work hard to get good money from the roles their play. Tamani: Its funny; because I grew up in the church, and so I grew up in kind of a strict religious household, I was introduced to fear very early. But then I also taught yoga. So you have to start defining that for yourself. Sanaa Lathan (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images North America) *Sanaa Lathan has revealed that she almost turned down the role of Monica in 2000s The two have been together for a long time, having dated for a while before getting married, and are a perfect power couple. But what was I supposed to do, drop out and find myself? Pay attention: Become TUKO.co.ke ambassador get a branded T-shirt, hoodie or water bottle at our TUKO Shop! I love that. The boys grudgingly let her play, and she schools them. 51 years old: Family Name : Lathan: Birth Country : United States: Birth Sign : Virgo : Height : 5 Feet 7 Inch: Name: Sanaa Lathan: Alien vs. 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. Sanaa Lathan biography with personal life (affair, boyfriend , Lesbian), married info . [laughs] Its funny now, but it wasnt, then. Tamani: It formed right at the end, and she added it right at the end. Learn how your comment data is processed. Wisdom Practices and Digital Retreats (Coming in 2023). I was living in Cambridge, Mass., nearing the end of my first year at Harvard Law School, but I had no desire to be a lawyer. Tamani: I would say, now that Im a writer, I have an appreciation for Gina Prince-Bythewood as an artist, as a storyteller. Sanaas recognition happened in 1998 with her role as the mother of Wesley Snipes' title character in Blade. Omar Epps plays Quincy McCall, Shes living a life of her own, one she created. On top of that, Quincy will be playing there, too. In the past, she started a foundation called the. Thats already stressful enough, without the added pressures that their parents bring. Sanaa Lathan makes her like "Love & Basketball," "Succession" and "A Raisin In The Sun." In the films most memorable scene, Quincy challenged Monica to a steamy game of one-on-one strip basketball. She also runs her own foundation The actress This is our last episode of This Movie Changed Me, and I want to say thank you. And I soon found out and soon realized that she really wasnt wanting to hire me. The 49-year-old said she Some of the richest actresses like Sanaa Lathan have a classy lifestyle. I was living in Cambridge, in my first year at Harvard Law School, but I did not want to be a lawyer. In a new interview with CBS Locals DJ Sixsmith, Lathan dishes on what it was really like for her working on the project as a young actress who had to prove herself worthy of the starring role. Monica may know what she wants in life, but getting it isnt easy. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! They were together in the year 2005. They, however, kept the relationship professional during the production and release of the movie but eventually split. She couldnt get my stage reading out of her head. We bonded quickly thereafter. Id gone to law school because my father was a lawyer and expected me to become one, too. SANAA LATHAN is a well-established American actress. Our whole lives, the totality of our lives, we have to work to balance that to achieve happiness. Tamani: I think its such an important message, maybe the ultimate message, even, is to do you, be you; to fight for what you love even when its hard, even when you have to stand alone in yourself. She wanted a basketball player who could act the role. Percy: Id love to talk about your favorite things about the movie. She cant play! So there was a lot of crying, a lot of crying behind the scenes for me.. 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. Throughout the movie, its song after song. Writer Liara Tamani first saw the movie in 2000 when she was a reluctant student at Harvard Law School. 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. 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. 92 player in the nation perRivals. If she wins, he calls off his wedding to his girlfriend (Tyra Banks). Of course, we are going to be directing them and trying to direct them, according to our fears and insecurities. Percy: And you wrote about that in your really just beautiful essay for Time magazine, called Love & Basketball Was More Than a Movie. Its drama; its the movie. WebShemar Moore and Sanaa Lathan were married in 1991 the couple filed for divorce in 1996. Along the way to becoming a writer, I worked in marketing, which I guess I have to incorporate it for my writing, but I dont enjoy it. Tuko.co.ke shared an interesting article about Kourtney Pogue's nationality, net worth, career, and Justin Turner's relationship. Her typical diet plan is as follows . And it was my first time being in that place, a place I didnt know really how to name, but I felt a deep darkness. I wasnt thinking about the director or the writer. I felt seen this girl who is like, shes gonna fight for what she wants, under any circumstances. But the older that I get, the more that I marvel at all of the things that I didnt see then the way in which the character of Monica is a star and a role model for all of us as women, of what we can become even from a young age. Now I write books for young adults. And, as expected, people called me crazy. Shes the author of the books All the Things We Never Knew and Calling My Name. 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). Tamani: For Monica, its like with her choosing herself over Quincy. The role for me was easy. 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? She is best pals with actressRegina Hall. Her mother is Eleanor McCoy, an actress and dancer well known for performing on Broadway with Eartha Kitt. Ive spent a whole lifetime, really, trying to break free from fear. But the familiar songs; I think of, when you say Poetic Justice, the braids, the hairstyles you know. 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. But she holds both confidence and strength alongside vulnerability in a way that just literally leaves me speechless, each time that I watch her, and I just fall further in love with her. All About Angie Watson, The Best Drama Movies on Netflix to Stream Now, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's Friendship Timeline, The Cast of 'The Super Mario Bros Movie': All About the Voice Actors, *NSYNC Remembers U.S. She gets to the point where she makes this decision with me, but I felt like the default.. Percy: No, those are your words! I just took the movie in, the first time I saw it. Tamani: It rings that way. I did what I was told. The free parts. It was a big deal for her, and nobody knows me then, really. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I felt empowered. I can laugh about it now, she said. Percy: One of the reasons why its so sincere. (Terms and conditions). 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. 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. And I think about yourself and what you had to go through in order to really understand your identity as a writer. Exactly. Her brother Tendaji Lathan is a well-known DJ. Special thanks to Grace J. Kim, who created the beautiful artwork for all of our episodes this season. She likes the sweet-salty taste of the end product. Tamani: You cannot. Required fields are marked *. The first time that I saw it, I was in college, and I was so struck by the relationship at the center of the movie the love story. Sanaa Lathan is an American actress and voice actress who is best known for the characters that she has played in several films such asThe Best Man Holiday (2013),Love & Basketball (2000),Brown Sugar (2002), andAlien vs. The siblings are Tendaji Lathan, Colette Lathan, Lilane Lathan, and Arielle Lathan. WebLove & Basketball (2000) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood Writing Credits ( WGA) Cast (in credits order) complete, awaiting verification Produced by Music by Terence Blanchard Cinematography by Reynaldo Villalobos Film Editing by Terilyn A. Shropshire Casting By Aisha Coley There wasnt a lot of joy and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. Shes like a sister to 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. 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. Looking up at this strong-willed girl who knew exactly who she was and what she wanted in life, a light flicked on inside me. Tendaji Lathan, Colette Lathan, Lilane Lathan, Arielle Lathan. Im so curious if thats something that strikes you. Well, I feel like we cant talk about our favorite scenes without talking about the end scene. [laughs] And I thought that was a perfect song. Im still working to be free, still learning how to live outside of fear as I shape my professional space as an author. It took dismissing the pressures from everyone else and standing strong in herself. 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? 15 Photos That Prove Sanaa Lathan Ages Backwards. Here I am, nobody knows me really, and she has to hire me. Does Sanaa Lathan have kids? I can laugh about it now, said Lathan. 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. Sanaa in Swahili means work of art and beauty. Tamani: Some of my favorite scenes I definitely love the first-kiss scene when theyre kids, [laughs] when Quincy decides to ask Monica to be his girlfriend, and then they count to five well, he counts to five on his hand while they kiss. They would always do a basketball audition for me, which was just the worst. Love & Basketball Liara Tamani Percy: And shes new to the neighborhood; they just moved there. And so, for me, becoming a lawyer equaled guaranteed success. I was very lucky I did a staged reading of the script when she was still working on the script. The story of April Bowlby, PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Kenyas #1 news app. Tamani: So good. What is Sanaa Lathans net worth? Its like, figuring out what you love thats freedom, living towards what you love. 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. (The WNBA didnt exist yet.). And he was spot on when he wrote that when it came to its writer-director, the film was the first step, however unsteady, of an intriguing new talent.. Tamani: Shes new to the neighborhood, yeah. How evident were her talents? (My partner-in-cinema, A.O. Sanaa Lathan 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? Ball better than you, Monica snaps back. And I soon found out and soon realized that she really wasnt wanting to hire me.. Were gonna do what you need, she says, No. And every time I watch the film I watched it last week just to get ready again for this interview. She became famous as a voice actress from 2009 to 2013. I was uncomfortable inside hersad, confused and anxious. The actress is also known for dating high-profile men and one woman and remained single to date. But then the song Candy Girl plays, New Editions [sings] Candy Girlwhen shes schooling them like, she schools them. Though most people who watchLove and Basketballsee it as the role that made Sanaa Lathan a star, looking back at it now, 19 years after the films release, the 47-year-old actress said shooting the project was a miserable experience. Actress: Alien vs. Were gonna give you all the details you need to follow along. Sanaa attended Beverly Hills High School for her basic education before joining Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics. Unlike Monicaa ball player at heart, who knows exactly what she wantsmy heroine hates basketball and has no idea what to do with her life after graduation. 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. And I feel like most of my adult life has been reminding myself not to be afraid. It Changed My Whole Life very appropriate title. If she could have dinner with any one person (dead or alive), she would like to do it with James Baldwin. And even though Im so very conscious of that, she still has people-pleaser in her. I dont think Id ever, before that point, I really dont think Id ever seen a character like her on the screen. I love the film Love & Basketball. 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?. Sanaa McCoy Lathan is an American actress and voice actress, best known for her performance in A Raisin in the Sun for which she was nominated for a Tony Award. Tzi Ma Talks, How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. August 25, 2021. Very few of us actually have that. Adewale dated the gorgeous Lathan from the year 2007 till 2008. Sitting there in that darkened theater, I didnt even have a dream. Work is not the only thing. 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). Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan in 'Love & Basketball'. But as a baller herself she balled, growing up she was sharing her own truth with that movie, which is a beautiful .

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