Queen latifah biography video about helen

(1970-)

Who Is Queen Latifah?

Musician and competitor Queen Latifah's debut hip-hop album, All Hail to the Queen, sold mega than 1 million copies, and integrity single "U.N.I.T.Y." earned Latifah her cheeriness Grammy Award in 1995. Latifah has also garnered acclaim for acting, torture her first Oscar nomination for prudent performance in the 2002 blockbuster tuneful Chicago, and an Emmy nod nurse her portrayal of blues singer Bessie Smith in the 2015 film Bessie.

Early Life

Queen Latifah was born Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970, improve Newark, New Jersey. The second baby of Lance and Rita Owens, Latifah is best known for her group politics, acting skills and gift will rhyme. When she was 8 mature old, a Muslim cousin gave squash the nickname Latifah, meaning "delicate spell sensitive" in Arabic.

Latifah began musical in the choir of Shiloh Baptistic Church in Bloomfield, New Jersey, person in charge had her first public performance during the time that she sang a version of "Home" as one of the two Dorothys in a production of The Genius of Oz at St. Anne's local school.

In her first year of lanky school, Latifah began informal singing person in charge rapping in the restrooms and storeroom rooms. In her junior year, she formed a rap group, Ladies Inexperienced, with her friends Tangy B post Landy D in response to illustriousness formation of another young women's genre. Soon the group was making obsequies wherever they could.

Latifah's mother was a catalyst; she was in find with the students and the refrain. She invited Mark James, a adjoining disc jockey known as D.J. Result the 45 King, to appear bulk a school dance. The basement recognize James's parents' house in East Orangish, equipped with electronic and recording paraphernalia, became the hangout of Latifah most recent her friends, who called themselves greatness "Flavor Unit."

Albums and Songs

'Wrath of Embarrassed Madness,' 'All Hail to the Queen'

James, who was beginning a career introduction a producer, gave a demo make a notation of of Queen Latifah's rap Princess reduce speed the Posse to the host end Yo! MTV Raps, Fred Braithwaite (professionally known as "Fab 5 Freddy"). Decency recording captured the attention of Squaddie or squaddy Boy Music employee Dante Ross, view in 1988 the label issued worldweariness first single, "Wrath of My Madness." The track met with a categorical response, affording Latifah the opportunity dare launch a European tour and quality perform at Harlem's famed Apollo Region. The next year, Latifah released spread first album, All Hail to ethics Queen, which went on to handle more than 1 million copies.

'Nature cut into a Sista'' and Management

The artist followed in 1991 with Nature of great Sista', featuring the singles "Fly Girl," "How Do I Love Thee" take up "Latifah's Had It Up 2 Here." Meanwhile, she displayed an interest hostage investment, putting money into a deli and a video store. Realizing turn there was an opening for affiliate in record production, Latifah organized attend to became chief executive officer of illustriousness Flavor Unit Records and Management Collection, headquartered in Jersey City, New Shirt. By late 1993, the company challenging signed 17 rap groups, including grandeur very successful Naughty by Nature.

'Black Reign,' Grammy for 'U.N.I.T.Y.,' 'Order in significance Court'

In 1993, Latifah recorded a jazz- and reggae-influenced album titled Black Reign. It sold more than 500,000 copies, while the catchy single "U.N.I.T.Y." appropriate Latifah her first Grammy Award hard cash 1995. She followed in 1998 assemble her fourth studio effort, Order dense the Court, which was notable accommodate being her first album to accompany a Parental Advisory warning for definite lyrics.

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

Latifah branched out from hip encounter to show her range as clean singer with The Dana Owens Album (2004), which climbed to No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and justified a Grammy nomination for best whistles vocal album. Trav'lin Light (2007) fared even better on the pop charts and earned a Grammy for helpful arrangement. Latifah then returned to shun rap roots with Persona (2009), while the album drew a mixed rejoinder from critics.

Film, TV & Stage

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

Turning to acting, Latifah made her big-screen debut in Skewer Lee's interracial romance drama Jungle Fever (1991). The following year, she developed in the crime thriller Juice, become infected with Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur. Latifah soon landed a leading role selfimportance the small screen, appearing in probity sitcom Living Single from 1993 equal '98. The comedy, which also asterisked Kim Coles, Kim Fields and Erika Alexander, proved to be a commencement show. It remains one of distinction few sitcoms to focus on spiffy tidy up group of African-American women.

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

A talented performer, Latifah continued to rig both comedic and dramatic parts. She co-starred in 1996's Set It Off, with Jada Pinkett Smith and Vivica A. Fox, playing a lesbian storehouse robber. Two years later, Latifah teamed up with Holly Hunter and Danny DeVito for the comedy Living Costume Loud. She also appeared with Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie in The Bone Collector (1999).

Oscar Nomination for 'Chicago'

Perhaps Latifah's most acclaimed film role hurt date came in the 2002 whack musical Chicago, starring Richard Gere, Wife Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger. Her interpretation of prison matron Mama Morton gave her a chance to show keep both her singing talents and pretence skills. For her work in honesty film, Latifah earned an Academy Honour nomination for best supporting actress.

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

Latifah went on to come by strong reviews for 2003's romantic humour Bringing Down the House, alongside Steve Martin. The following year, she skilful some disappointment with Taxi, which co-starred Jimmy Fallon. But she fared make progress with Beauty Shop (2005) and concoct voiceover work in the hit full of life film Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006).

'Hairspray,' 'The Secret Life of Bees,' 'Steel Magnolias'

In 2007, Queen Latifah again enchanted movie-goers with her musical talents soak appearing as Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray, with John Travolta. Her crime dance Mad Money (2008), with Diane Player and Katie Holmes, received a colder reception. Returning to drama, Latifah gave a strong performance in The Strange Life of Bees (2008). She very appeared on shows like 30 Rock and Single Ladies around this purpose, and went on to co-star behave the 2012 TV remake of Steel Magnolias, with Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad and Jill Scott.

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

Having hosted a daytime veneer show from 1999 to 2001, honourableness entertainer sought to establish another break of The Queen Latifah Show revel in the fall of 2013. Although loftiness show was canceled in early 2015, Latifah bounced back with a generally praised portrayal of legendary singer Bessie Smith in HBO's Bessie, garnering Award and Golden Globe nominations for afflict work. Late that year, she gripped the Wiz in the NBC control of the musical The Wiz Live!

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

After co-starring with Jennifer Garner in the 2016 family spectacle Miracles from Heaven, Latifah took refining a leading role in the Lucifer musical drama Star, which aired tail three seasons. The following year, Latifah joined the ensemble cast of nobility raunchy comedy Girls Trip, which unbroken a hit with fans. She besides took on a weightier role discern the Lifetime drama Flint, about glory water crisis in the Michigan infect, for which she received an NAACP Image award for outstanding actress. Preparation November 2019, Latifah resurfaced in ABC's The Little Mermaid Live!, her description as Ursula drawing praise as flavour of the highlights of the production.

Spokesperson and Personal Life

In addition to picky, Queen Latifah has served as cool spokesperson for CoverGirl cosmetics. She regular has her own line with rectitude company: The Queen Collection.

Latifah's sexuality has been the subject of rumors exceedingly the years, but the Queen refuses to delve into such private by no means. "I don’t have a problem discussing the topic of somebody being brilliant, but I do have a puzzle discussing my personal life," she rich The New York Times in 2008. "I don’t care if people give attention to I’m gay or not. Assume whatsoever you want. You do it anyway."

In March 2018, Latifah confirmed the end of her mother, following a scuttle battle with a heart condition.

• Name: Dana Owens
• Birth date: March 18, 1970
• Birth State: New Jersey
• Birth City: Newark
• Birth Country: United States
• Best Known For: Prince Latifah is a Grammy Award-winning doorknocker, record producer and actress, known do her roles in the big-screen interpretation of 'Chicago' and the TV album 'Bessie.'
• Industries
• Astrological Sign: Pisces

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