Queen Latifah

Acting · Born 1970-03-18 in Newark, New Jersey, USA

Biography

Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970), known professionally as Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, actress, and singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1989 and released her debut album All Hail the Queen on November 28, 1989, featuring the hit single "Ladies First". Nature of a Sista' (1991) was her second and final album with Tommy Boy Records. Latifah starred as Khadijah James on the Fox sitcom Living Single from 1993 to 1998. Her third album, Black Reign (1993), became the first album by a solo female rapper to receive a RIAA certification, and spawned the single "U.N.I.T.Y.", which was influential in raising awareness of violence against women and the objectification of Black female sexuality. The record won a Grammy Award and peaked at No. 23 on…

Filmography

• Stranger Than Fiction as Penny Escher
• Chicago as Matron Mama Morton
• The Secret Life of Bees as August Boatwright
• Set It Off as Cleo
• Juice as Ruffhouse M.C.
• Last Holiday as Georgia Byrd
• Miracles from Heaven as Angela Bradford
• Hustle as Teresa Sugerman
• Ice Age: The Meltdown as Ellie (voice)
• Sphere as Alice 'Teeny' Fletcher

TV

• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Marissa Redman
• Maya and the Three as Gran Bruja (voice)
• Star as Carlotta Brown
• The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
• The Daily Show as Self
• The Critic as Queen Latifah (voice)
• LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self - Guest
• Today as Self
• The Tyra Banks Show
• Spin City as Robin Jones