Sanaa Lathan Wiki, Bio, Age, Net Worth, and Other Facts

Below is a compiled list of the most interesting facts about Sanaa Lathan. Check it out!

Sanaa Lathan, the daughter of Actress Eleanor McCoy and Director Stan Lathan, was raised in both New York City and Los Angeles. During her youth she was fully immersed in the entertainment industry and learned early on that she wanted a career in the Arts. Sanaa pursued studies at the University of California at Berkeley where she received a BA, and Yale School of Drama where she received a MFA. Sanaa began her career by performing in New York stage productions. She eventually moved to California where she made several television appearances, before landing her first movie role in Drive. She went on to land roles in Blade, Daisy, The Wood, and The Best Man. She received her breakout lead role when she appeared in the acclaimed romantic drama, Love & Basketball where she played (“Monica”) followed by the box office hit Alien vs. Predator. In 2017 Sanaa starred in the TV miniseries Shots Fired and was nominated by the NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress. In 2018 Sanaa began her journey as a producer as she played the lead in the Netflix original Nappily Ever After. Throughout her career Sanaa simultaneously has performed in stage plays such as the Broadway production A Raisin in the Sun which also led to a Tony Award nomination. Additionally, Sanaa has been nominated by The NAACP for Best Actress for her work in the production To Take Arms, the Image Honor for Best Supporting Actress in a motion picture for her role in The Best Man and the Image Award for Best Actress in a motion picture for her excellent performance in Love & Basketball.

Interesting Facts about Sanaa Lathan

She is African-American.
Graduated from the University of California-Berkeley with a B.A. in English.
Friends with Gabrielle Union.
Says her name is pronounced Sa-NA, “like Sinatra without the tra”.
Her name is Swahili for “art” but can be loosely interpreted as “artwork” or “work of art”.
Best friend of Regina Hall.
Sister of Tendaji Lathan.
Alfre Woodard has played Sanaa’s mother in three different films: Something New (2006), Love & Basketball (2000) and The Family That Preys (2008).
Gained 20 pounds for her role in Disappearing Acts (2000).
Sanaa was raised partly in Beverly Hills with her father, director Stan Lathan, and partly in New York with her mother, Eleanor McCoy, a Broadway stage actress.
Yale School of Drama graduate.
Appearing on Broadway as Beneatha in “Raisin In The Sun”. [April 2004]

Personal Quotes by Sanaa Lathan

When you have a play, you have to be on every night.
Sanaa Lathan

People make jokes about how black people are the first ones to be killed off.
Sanaa Lathan

The Alien is gross, scary. There is something in a human being that looks at them and sees it as a cockroach. You can never feel nurturing towards the cockroach.
Sanaa Lathan