Sanaa Lathan

Sanaa McCoy Lathan, born September 19, 1971, is a renowned American actress. Daughter of actress Eleanor McCoy and film director Stan Lathan, she carved a niche for herself in Hollywood after debuting in popular shows like In the House, Family Matters, NYPD Blue, and Moesha. Her film career gained traction post-1998, with significant roles in the superhero film Blade followed by The Best Man, Love & Basketball, Disappearing Acts, and Brown Sugar. In 2004, her performance in the Broadway revival of A Raisin in the Sun piqued critics’ attention and earned her a Tony Awards nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play. Lathan’s career witnessed a considerable trajectory with starring roles in Alien vs. Predator, The Family That Preys, and in the Christmas-themed sequel of The Best Man, The Best Man Holiday. In 2022, she bagged a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her commendable work in the television series Succession.

As a voice actress, Lathan lent her voice to Donna Tubbs in The Cleveland Show and Catwoman on Harley Quinn between 2009 and 2013. Her notable film credits include performances in Out of Time, Something New, Wonderful World, Contagion, Repentance, The Perfect Guy, and Now You See Me 2. Lathan began her journey as a director with the film On the Come Up in 2022. She was born and educated in New York City, attended the University of California and Yale University, earned a Master's degree in drama, and began her acting career following her training at Yale. Despite her challenging adolescence, Lathan developed a tight-knit relationship with her family later in life.