Sanaa Lathan

Did You Know?

• Her name is pronounced "sa-NAA." That's a short A sound. It is Swahili for "work of art."
• Sanaa's father is Stan Lathan, a PBS television executive. Her mother is Broadway stage actress Eleanor McCoy.
• Her parents divorced and Sanaa was forced to live her life on both coasts as her father lived in Beverly Hills and her mother remained in New York.
• Sanaa graduated from the University of California at Berkley with an English degree. She thought her next step would belaw school but she took the advice of a recruiter and auditioned for the Yale School of Drama. She graduated from there three years later.
• Sanaa grew up taking dance and gymnastic lessons.
• Sanaa currently dates her Love & Basketball co-star Omar Epps.
• Sanaa starred in her brother Tendaji's directorial debut movie, "The Smoker."
• Sanaa gained 20 pounds for her role as Zora in the made-for-tv HBO movie Disappearing Acts, in which she co-stars with Wesley Snipes.

Actor Credits

1. Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (2008)
2. A Raisin in the Sun (2008)
3. Nip/Tuck: The Complete Fourth Season (2007)
4. Something New (2006)
5. Alien Vs. Predator (2004)
6. Lateline: The Complete Series (2004)
7. Out of Time (2003)
8. Brown Sugar (2002)
9. Disappearing Acts (2001)
10. Catfish In Black Bean Sauce (2001)
11. Love & Basketball (2000)
12. The Best Man (1999)
13. Blade (1998)
14. Miracle In The Woods (1997)

See Star Profiles