Tessica Burley

1. SANAA LATHAN Tessica Burley

2. Biography • Sanaa McCoy Lathan was born on September 17, 1971 in New York. Her name is Swahili for “work of art” or “beauty.” • Her parents Eleanor McCoy and Stan Lathan both worked in the show business. • Therefore, she has been exposed to entertainment at a young age.

3. Biography • Sanaa has four siblings, an older brother named Tendaji and three younger sisters Lilian, Arielle, and Colette. • Her mother Eleanor was a Broadway actress/dancer. Sanaa stated “My mother was actually dancing when she was pregnant with me.”

4. Biography • Her father moved to Beverly Hills while her mother stayed in New York. Sanaa’s time was divided among the two. • Finally when she was in the 10th grade she settled down in New York and attended an arts high school. • The divorce only made her stronger. It encouraged her to build competiveness and self awareness.

5. College Career • Sanaa started her college career at the University of California at Berkley in the liberal arts division studying English. It was there that she performed in the Black Theater Workshop. • By the time graduation approach Sanaa was looking towards becoming a lawyer. “I just like the way it sounded,” Sanaa confessed. • However, a recruiter encouraged her to apply to Yale School of Drama. It was there that she earned her MFA (Master of Fine Arts).

6. Acting Career • Sanaa first tried to make her acting career on Broadway. However, her career wasn’t taking off like she wanted it to. • With the encouragement of her father Sanaa moved to Los Angeles in search a career in film and television. There she started her career in television. • In 1996 she made appearances on Moesha and In the House. She also guest stared on Family Matters in 1997 and NYPD Blue in 1998. She starred in two short TV series Built to Last and LateLine.

7. Furthering Her Career • Sanaa got her first movie role in 1997 in the movie Drive. Then she played Wesley Snipes mother in Blade in 1998. • It was in the movie The Wood that she meet actor Omar Epps. These two soon became a couple. Their relationship lasted a couple of years.

8. Furthering her career • In 1999 she appeared in Life, Catfish in Black Bean Sauce, and The Best Man. • In 2000 she starred in Love and Basketball with boyfriend Epps. Her movie career is still growing today. Her role in this movie won Sanaa many awards.

9. Love and Basketball • Monica (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy (Omar Epps) have wanted to be professional basketball stars since they were kids. • However, Monica has to work hard to establish herself, while Quincy is born with natural star potential. • As the two struggle to reach their goals of playing professionally, they must also deal with their emotions for each other.

10. Other Appearances • She has made appearances on several different television shows. Some shows she has appeared on is • The Oprah Winfrey Show • The Tyra Banks Show • HBO First Look • The Directors • The Sharon Osbourne Show • Out of Time: Crime Scene • The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson • Travis Smiley

11. Disappearing acts • Franklin Swift (Wesley Snipes) is a struggling construction worker trying to keep his mind off romance. • Zora Banks (Sanaa Lathan) is a woman who is working as a teacher with a promising musical career.

12. Disappearing acts • The last thing either of them needs is a lover. When they meet one afternoon in Brooklyn, New York, neither one can walk away. • Now, they must confront the financial and social challenges that test the strength of their love.

13. Awards • Sanaa have been nominated and won numerous awards which includes: • Best Performance by and Actress • Black Reel in 2004 and 2001 • Acapulco Black Film Festival • Image Awards • BET Awards

14. More info • Thanksgiving Project