Its funny, when youre growing up, people dont emphasize to you, Hey you, and only you, can create the life you want for yourself. And watching Monica up on the screen, it kind of made me realize that. And so seeing Monica, who from the very beginning of the movie, she knows what she wants, and she is strong and aggressive, and she is about going after it no matter what anybody else has to say about it. Sanaa has become an icon and appeared in other top films such as: Alessandra Brawn: family, dating, net worth, Will Arnett relationship. While Monica and Quincy are falling in love, theyre also trying to navigate the pressures that come with trying to make a career out of something that they love, basketball. But its so basic, you know? And, as expected, people called me crazy. | MC Lytes, I think Lyte as a Rock, when she then is the older character, when shes Sanaa Lathan, and shes schooling girls on the basketball court at school. Finally I demanded that if you want me to continue, youll have to get me a basketball coach. And theres a competition to their relationship, too, around it. Tamani: [laughs] That is exactly how I felt. Its just going in the direction of things you love, youll discover things about yourself. And even seeing this movie, theres the way in which she always knew she wanted to be a basketball player. Lathan has bagged accolades throughout her career due to her outstanding movies and TV shows roles. No, I love the way that ended, because its like she fought for what she wanted, and she got what she wanted. Other things in my life at the time just the misery, too [laughs] was making me feel like that. Set in Los Angeles (where Prince-Bythewood ran track at the University of California), it uses the intimately personal to memorably open up a larger, richer world. Not easybut possible. [laughs] I dont enjoy the marketing aspect. By the end of shooting, we were cool and very close, she said. People talk about Harvard like its the pinnacle thing you can achieve. Check out this article to know more about her age, height, net worth, children, marriage and career. For me, I cant go any further without just talking about Sanaa Lathan, who I absolutely love. 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. Yes. The two were co-casts and dated during the filming of Love & Basketball. And if those fears and insecurities are alive within us, and especially if we are unaware of them, of course theyre gonna be passed on to our children. The entertainment industry has continued to be among the best paying industries. No, Im gonna be in the NBA. Contribute to Atlanta Black Star today and help us share our narratives. Prince-Bythewood: We'd go back and forth on the lot. And Sanaa looked great in the movie and she could do things really well, like dribbling [two] basketballs at the same time. Lathan: That two-ball scene that I'm in -- one of my bones to pick with Gina is that she put it in a silhouette. And because of that people don't think it's really me. 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 Lathan is opening up about her miserable experience working on Love & Basketballconsidered one of the best sports rom-coms ever. And really it wasnt even hiding its at the center of the movie. Monica Wright (played by Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy McCall (played by Omar Epps) are sometimes friends, enemies, lovers, and competitors. Comments will be open until 12 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday so please swing by, we need everyone off the bench. She made her first TV show appearance as Charese on the sitcom,In The House in 1996. Im curious to see if I like it as much now as I did then. The On Being Project is located on Dakota land. She is the daughter of Stan Lathan and Eleanor McCoy. Thats already stressful enough, without the added pressures that their parents bring. There wasnt a lot of joy and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. Im still working to be free, still learning how to live outside of fear as I shape my professional space as an author. The other challenge was the actress had never played basketball prior to the film. It was the basketball.. Later, she went to the University of California, Berkeley, where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in English. It took me there. There wasnt a lot of joy, and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. Thats the thing, because Monica has to stand alone in herself many a time, when people dont believe in her. Im riding my own bike. And then a fight breaks out. The story of April Bowlby, PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Kenyas #1 news app. Im Lily Percy. How evident were her talents? Throughout the movie, its song after song. 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. Through my novels, I hope to pass on the same message that Love & Basketball gifted me with 20 years ago: feel free to be yourself and create the life you want. Sanaa Lathan is an American actress. Yes, she dated and married Shemar Moore, an American actor and former. I also grew up in the church, and that was my experience, as well. 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. Fifteen years ago on Tuesday, Love & Basketball debuted in theaters. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. She doesnt get there that dayher team loses the game. 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. It took dismissing the pressures from everyone else and standing strong in herself. Sanaa Lathan is opening up about her miserable experience working on Love & Basketball considered one of the best sports rom-coms ever. So I wasnt worried about that. Her typical diet plan is as follows . And it not only has to do with work or even her relationship in general, but I think its relevant to every part of our humanity, what we believe and what we value. With many theaters closed and the industry on effective hold, audiences have been streaming and often yawning the hours away. However, she got through it all by totally mastering Monica when it came to the actual acting. And the fact that she was female and that she was Black and I wasnt using words like representation or feminism back then, but its like, you feel the energy just the same. Epps, now 41, and Lathan, now 43, led the romantic drama as childhood sweethearts Quincy McCall and Monica Wright, respectively. Predator, Love & Basketball, Brown Sugar and The Family That Preys. 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 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. 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. And we all have to balance that, I think, with our careers and our work. WebMonica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) have wanted to be professional basketball stars since they were kids. Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. But you cannot be successful if you are absolutely miserable. How can I shape my life according to what I love, even more? I had no idea what I wanted to be. Percy: Poetic Justice, I remember going with my girlfriends to see that. It took dismissing the pressures from everyone else and standing strong in herself. Moreover, she earned a Master's Degree in Drama at Yale University. Its been years since Ive seen Love & Basketball, and Im eager to revisit it. And I love what you say here. Percy: Yeah, and one of the things that the movie shows, which honestly Im your same age, and so I saw the movie and had this very all I focused on was the love story, at the time. Liara Tamani: That I was completely lost. OK. I wasnt thinking about the director or the writer. Percy: Theres such intention behind it, because Gina chooses that song at the beginning as this kind of entryway into this childhood, this suburban childhood that these kids are experiencing. Following the recognition, she appeared in Life film in 1999, together with co-stars Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy. Theres still a chance! she yells, defending her dream. And its one of the reasons why, no matter what the dialogue is, she just brings such depth to it. Tamani: But my father was a lawyer, and I was expected to follow in his footsteps. Her mother is Eleanor McCoy, an actress and dancer well known for performing on Broadway with Eartha Kitt. Well, I feel like we cant talk about our favorite scenes without talking about the end scene. Predator, Love & Basketball, Brown Sugar and The Family That Preys. And she has to go through it. 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. Percy: But that was also kind of radical, because when I watch it now Im like, this dude he was being set up to play in the NBA, and he actually ends up leaving college to go play for the Lakers. Percy: You write about it in that same essay for Time. That song played, and I was like, ooh. In 2018, her net worth was estimated at$4 million. And like you said, when she went on to play overseas, its probably not just Q, Quincy she was missing, its her friends and family from home. Shes living a life of her own, one she created. Percy: Youre a parent too. Im still working to be free, still learning how to live outside of fear as I shape my professional space as an author. Still, during an appearance on Strong Black Leads Surviving The No, the actress revealed that her break-out role almost didnt happen. Percy: So Im curious, as we end our conversation Im sure youve seen this movie many more times since that first time. I was uncomfortable inside hersad, confused and anxious. 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. Writer Liara Tamani first saw the movie in 2000 when she was a reluctant student at Harvard Law School. When she would go in for basketball auditions, she said it would go horribly. Those are your words. What kind of fool drops out of Harvard Law School? And I was on the verge of dropping out of the audition process. Growing up, she took part in gymnastics and dance and also indulged in performing arts and athletics. An American music entrepreneur, Steve started dating the gorgeous Lathan in 2009 and broke up in early 2010. Man, girls cant play no ball! huffs her neighbor, Quincy. Of course, we are going to be directing them and trying to direct them, according to our fears and insecurities. 'We Are Perpetual Foreigners.' 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. All Rights Reserved. In the films most memorable scene, Quincy challenged Monica to a steamy game of one-on-one strip basketball. And I think about yourself and what you had to go through in order to really understand your identity as a writer. A Love and Basketball film without Sanaa Lathan seems almost unimaginable. With The Old Guard, she became the first Black woman to direct a big comic-book movie. Tendaji Lathan, Colette Lathan, Lilane Lathan, Arielle Lathan. Its almost like she hired me because she couldnt find somebody else, so there wasnt a lot of joy and there wasnt a lot of trust in me. 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? Monica may know what she wants in life, but getting it isnt easy. I felt empowered. Percy: I think its the connection to yourself that youre describing, right? I really learned a big life lesson when I was actually auditioning for Love and basketball, the actress began in the two-minute clip. 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. Her second affair was with Omar Epps, an actor, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. And then one night, I sat down at my drafting table and started writing. 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. I went to church. She is a big user of coconut oil and uses it on her hair, her skin, as a makeup remover, and for cooking. And even though Im so very conscious of that, she still has people-pleaser in her. I taught dance, which was, whoo! In order to maintain a calm and level-headed state of mind, she practicesTranscendental Meditation for 20 minutes on a daily basis. In the end, he wins, but he chooses Monica instead, and the movie closes with her playing for the WNBA, with the name Wright-McCall on the back of her jersey. Yes, the two were in a relationship in 2005. Stan worked behind the scenes for PBS television. Tamani: It formed right at the end, and she added it right at the end. Liara Tamani is the author of the acclaimed Calling My Name, which was a 2018 PEN America Literary Award Finalist and SCBWI Golden Kite Finalist, and All the Things We Never Knew, which was a 2020 Kirkus Best YA Book of the Year. No. Shes the author of the books All the Things We Never Knew and Calling My Name. It was like she was showing me parts of myself Id forgotten about, ignored or maybe never knew were there. That mastery had led me to the most prestigious law school in the country. I was miserable [laughs]. The whole song theyre very, very intentional with the music, and it was a beautiful thing to experience, for sure. Sanaa Lathan Monica Wright: Omar Epps Quincy Be the first to get hottest news from our Editor-in-Chief, Check your email and confirm your subscription. Tamani: Oof, yes. I dont know!, Tamani: But I think its part of the human condition. Im gonna be the first girl in the NBA, she says. For those seeking summertime movie fun, this has been an interminable season of discontent. What song would we cue up right here for you? She obtained abachelorsdegreeinEnglish from theUniversity of California, Berkeley. Gina and the producers really wanted a basketball player that could act as opposed to an actress they could teach to play basketball. She cant play! So there was a lot of crying, a lot of crying behind the scenes for me.. 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. And I soon found out and soon realized that she really wasnt wanting to hire me.. Tamani: For Monica, its like with her choosing herself over Quincy. PAY ATTENTION: Help us change more lives, join TUKO.co.kes Patreon programme. But her vision of herself as a ball player holds strong. And we also produce other podcasts you might enjoy, like On Being with Krista Tippett, Poetry Unbound, and Becoming Wise. Tamani: And thats a part of her strength. And without having the bravery to at least move in that direction, that discovery doesnt take place. So you have to start defining that for yourself. 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. 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. 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. They were together in the year 2005. Watch on. 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. | By continuing to use this website, you agree to our cookie and, Sanaa Lathan Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Clare McConnell Height, Weight, Age, Boyfriend, Family, Jorma Tommila Height, Weight, Age, Wife, Family, Aksel Hennie Height, Weight, Age, Wife, Net Worth, Family, Lucia Lachkovi Javorekov Height, Weight, Age, Boyfriend, Bio, Veronika Rajek Height, Weight, Age, Net Worth, Boyfriend, Family, A. R. Ameen Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Toby Smiles Height, Weight, Age, Disability, Family. Love & Basketball (2000) Official Trailer - Sanaa Lathan, Omar Epps Basketball Movie HD. 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. Im Lily Percy, and welcome to our last episode together. Very few of us actually have that. And really, this could go on forever, because much like yourself, I love the movie. The two dated during the, Did Sanaa Lathan have a baby with Denzel Washington? That mastery had led me to the most prestigious law school in the country. Tamani: You cannot. Does Sanaa Lathan have kids? [laughs]. Become TUKO.co.ke ambassador get a branded T-shirt, hoodie or water bottle at our TUKO Shop! But I hated this sanitized, diminished version of myself. This is our last episode of This Movie Changed Me, and I want to say thank you. Sanaa Lathan makes her like "Love & Basketball," "Succession" and "A Raisin In The Sun." Youre gonna be my cheerleader, Quincy replies before Monica beats him to the basket. I hope you are, too. WebLove & Basketball (2000) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. She is best pals with actressRegina Hall. 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. She wanted a basketball player who could act the role. Percy: because this movies set in the mid-90s. 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 went straight to 7th grade after she completed her 5th grade. I cant my future cannot be here. Thats how I felt. She gets to the point where she knows it, she makes this decision with me, but yet, I was like the default. They were like, OK, cool. The siblings are Tendaji Lathan, Colette Lathan, Lilane Lathan, and Arielle Lathan. Sanaa has appeared in numerous films and television series, taking great acting and voicing roles. Co-starring Omar Epps Percy: Harvard, no less. An American actor and former fashion model, Shemar is one of Lathan's boyfriend. After finishing my first year of law school, I didnt go back. Here I am, nobody knows me really, and she has to hire me. When she did, she said she felt like she was somewhat unwanted, which is why filming, for her, wasnt as enjoyable as people might have thought it was. But then, who is gonna drop out of law school? Unfortunately, no. Sanaa used to do roller skating daily when in third grade. Trending :Joanna Gaines || Pat Sajak || Brandi Love || Kamala Harris || Elizabeth Warren ||. It felt like being united with a huge piece of my identity. And I feel like most of my adult life has been reminding myself not to be afraid. WebShemar Moore and Sanaa Lathan were married in 1991 the couple filed for divorce in 1996. When Gina Prince-Bythewoods Love & Basketball was released 20 years ago, it was celebrated as a mainstream romantic film featuring Black characters, but I treasured it for so much more. 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. If she wins, he calls off his wedding to his girlfriend (Tyra Banks). Atlanta Black Star is a narrative company. 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. Sanaa Lathan has bagged significant roles in TV series. Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. [music: Love and Happiness by Al Green]. Sanaas father is Stan Lathan. Viewing Party! I want her to be free. And every time, I ask myself, How can I be more free? 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Tamani: Just Love & Happiness, because that is what its about. And each scene unfolds the movie opens up and the kids are there, and she walks over and wants to play ball with her neighbors. It was a big deal for her and nobody knows me then really. Tamani: It rings that way. 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. 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. It was a situation where Gina [Prince-Bythewood], the director, did not want an actress who could play basketball. 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? Magazines, Digital [laughs]. We had other Black love movies at the time, like Love Jones and even Brown Sugar. 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? Image by Grace J. Kim, All Rights Reserved. That scene, to this day, its so groundbreaking and unexpected. She was recognized off-Broadway and on the Los Angeles stage. But the gray gloominess that hung over New England was becoming hard to distinguish from the gloom I felt in myself. And I was just at that point where this motivated me to start doing that. Special thanks to Grace J. Kim, who created the beautiful artwork for all of our episodes this season. April 16, 2020 11:41 AM EDT. She was sort of like a safety net, and because of that, she had to fight pretty hard to get the role. Shes feminine simply by being who she is. She wasnt auditioning a lot of actresses. Thats hard., They also surrounded me in all of the basketball scenes with real ball players, she added. How has it changed for you as youve gotten older, as youve become this well, youve become a mother, first of all. Sanaa in Swahili means work of art and beauty. Some of her notable film credit includes the box-office hit The Best Man and its 2013 sequel, Alien vs. They, however, kept the relationship professional during the production and release of the movie but eventually split. And, depending on how things pan out, it might be the top recruiting class in the nation. What is Sanaa Lathans net worth? [laughs] Its funny now, but it wasnt, then. And Im really, really excited to take you back in time to the year 2000. Parental pressure is something that the writer Liara Tamani knows very well. 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! They would always do a basketball audition for me, which was just the worst. The two dated in the year 2006. Im so curious if thats something that strikes you. My latest is the love story of two high school basketball players. She ended up training five hours a day for a while before actually getting the job. Required fields are marked *. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital On top of that, Quincy will be playing there, too. Shes living a life of her own, one she created. During her youth she was fully immersed in the entertainment industry and learned early on that she wanted a career in the Arts. Work is not the only thing. 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. Her brother Tendaji Lathan is a well-known DJ. 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. Exactly. Is this just our lot? 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. Percy: I love that. Sign up to receive The Atlanta Black Star Newsletter in your inbox. Find those wherever you like to listen, or visit us at onbeing.org to find out more. But the freedom and aliveness that came with being more at home in myself kept me pushing forward. 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. A young, brown-skinned girl wearing an L.A. Lakers cap and a cant-tell-me-nothing attitude. Were gonna do what you need, she says, No. Ryan Garcia's kids, wife, baby mamas, and his dating life. The native New Yorker has appeared in several cult classics, but after what seemed to be a difference in creative direction, Lathan revealed that she almost gave up on the role L&B altogether. We were looking forward to it for weeks, just because it was a love movie, and a love movie featuring Black characters. 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. 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. She has her career, and she has her family, and she has her man supporting her. Percy: Oh, I so relate to that. And Id love for you to just close your eyes and think about where you were when you first saw that movie, how you were feeling, who you were with any memories that come to mind. Awards and nominations This site uses cookies to serve you better. And that was a beautiful and inspiring thing.
