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Sanaa Lathan
Actor

Sanaa Lathan

19 Sep 1971Born
55Age
53Credits
New York City, New York, USABirthplace

Biography

Sanaa McCoy Lathan (/səˈnɑ/ born September 19, 1971) is an American stage, film, television, and voice actress. She is the daughter of actress Eleanor McCoy and film director Stan Lathan. She earned bachelor's degree in English from University of California, Berkeley, and a master's degree in drama from Yale.

She is best known for her roles as Robyn in The Best Man films and subsequent TV miniseries on Peacock, Naomi Hicks on Netflix's Hit & Run, Violet Jones in Nappily Ever After, Ashe Akino on Fox's drama Shots Fired, Deputy Director Natalie Austin in Now You See Me 2 (2016), Leah Vaughn in The Perfect Guy (2015), Jenelle Wilson on Showtime's drama The Affair, Mona Fredricks on Starz' dra

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ma Boss, Andrea in Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (2008), Beneatha Younger in ABC's film adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun (2008), Kenya McQueen in Something New (2006), Ann Merai Harrison in Out of Time (2004), Sidney 'Sid' Shaw in Brown Sugar (2002), Monica Wright in Love & Basketball (2000), Zora Banks in Disappearing Acts (2000), Alicia in The Wood (1999), Vanessa Brooks - the mother of Wesley Snipes' title character - in Blade (1998), and Briana Gilliam on NBC's sitcom Lateline.

She had recurring roles on HBO's Succession and FX's Nip/Tuck, and starred on NBC's short-lived sitcom Built to Last. In 2022, she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, for her work on the television series Succession.

Her other movie credits include With/In Vol 1 (2021) and Vol 2 (2022), American Assassin (2017), Contagion (2011), Powder Blue (2009), AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004), and more. She voiced Catwoman on HBO's animated series Harley Quinn, and Donna Tubbs on The Cleveland Show and on all Family Guy appearances.

In 2004, she starred on Broadway as Beneatha Younger in A Raisin in the Sun with Sean Combs, Audra McDonald, and Phylicia Rashad, and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress. She later reprise her role in the 2008 film adaptation. In 2010, she starred in the all-black performance of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Novello Theatre in London.

She earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her recurring role on Succession. She received an NAACP Image Award Nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her performance in Brown Sugar. She received a NAACP Image Award nomination for her performance in The Best Man. She earned an Essence Award for Best Actress for her performance in Disappearing Acts. She earned the 2001 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress, and a BET Award for her performance in Love & Basketball.

In 2000, she was named by Ebony magazine as one of its 55 Most Beautiful People and was honored by Essence magazine and Black Entertainment Television.

In 2022, she made her directorial debut with the film On the Come Up, in which she also has a supporting role.

Known for

Filmography

  1. TBALeapFilm: Director
  2. TBAA Blue ButterflyFilm: Emily
  3. TBATyler Perry's Madea's Family AffairFilm: Angela Brooks (Estate Attorney)
  4. TBATiltFilm
  5. TBAUnsung HollywoodSeries (1 episode)
  6. 2024The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-EatFilm: Barbara Jean Maxberry
  7. 2023Young. Wild. Free.Film: Janice Huffman
  8. 2022The Best Man: The Final ChaptersSeries: Robyn (8 episodes)
  9. 2022On the Come UpFilm: Jay, Director
  10. 2021Hit & RunSeries: Naomi Hicks (7 episodes)
  11. 2021With/In Volume 1Film: (segment "Leap"), Director
  12. 2021SolosSeries: Nia (voice) (1 episode)
  13. 2019Harley QuinnSeries: Catwoman (voice) (9 episodes)
  14. 2019The Twilight ZoneSeries: Nina Harrison (1 episode)
  15. 2019Native SonFilm: Trudy Thomas
  16. 2018Nappily Ever AfterFilm: Violet Jones
  17. 2018SuccessionSeries: Lisa Arthur (4 episodes)
  18. 2017American AssassinFilm: Irene Kennedy
  19. 2017Shots FiredSeries: Ashe Akino (10 episodes)
  20. 2016Approaching the UnknownFilm: Captain Emily Maddox
  21. 2016Now You See Me 2Film: Deputy Director Natalie Austin
  22. 2015The Perfect GuyFilm: Leah Vaughn
  23. 2014The AffairSeries: Jenelle Wilson, Janelle Wilson (11 episodes)
  24. 2014RepentanceFilm: Maggie
  25. 2013The Best Man HolidayFilm: Robyn
  26. 2011BossSeries: Mona Fredricks (10 episodes)
  27. 2011ContagionFilm: Aubrey Cheever
  28. 2009The Cleveland ShowSeries: Donna Tubbs (voice) (88 episodes)
  29. 2009Powder BlueFilm: Diana
  30. 2009Wonderful WorldFilm: Khadi
  31. 2008Tyler Perry's The Family That PreysFilm: Andrea
  32. 2008A Raisin in the SunFilm: Beneatha Younger
  33. 2006Something NewFilm: Kenya McQueen
  34. 2005The Golden BlazeFilm: Monica (voice)
  35. 2004AVP: Alien vs. PredatorFilm: Alexa Woods
  36. 2003Out of TimeFilm: Ann Merai Harrison
  37. 2003Nip/TuckSeries: Michelle Landau (12 episodes)
  38. 2002Brown SugarFilm: Sidney 'Sid' Shaw
  39. 2000Disappearing ActsFilm: Zora Banks
  40. 2000Curb Your EnthusiasmSeries: Sibby Sanders (2 episodes)
  41. 2000Love & BasketballFilm: Monica Wright
  42. 1999The Best ManFilm: Robyn
  43. 1999The WoodFilm: Alicia
  44. 1999LifeFilm: Daisy
  45. 1999Catfish in Black Bean SauceFilm: Nina
  46. 1999Family GuySeries: Claire Huxtable (voice), Muhammad Ali's Wife (voice), Donna Tubbs (voice) (1 episode)
  47. 1998BladeFilm: Vanessa
  48. 1998LateLineSeries: Briana Gilliam (12 episodes)
  49. 1997Miracle in the WoodsFilm: Young Lilly
  50. 1997DriveFilm: Carolyn Brody
  51. 1996MoeshaSeries: Ebony (2 episodes)
  52. 1995In the HouseSeries: Charese (1 episode)
  53. 1989Family MattersSeries: Allison (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.