Line #31 Creator/SanaaLathan


1	[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/slathan_2828.jpg]]
2
3	Sanaa [=McCoy=] Lathan (born September 19, 1971 in New York City) is an American actress.
4
5	She's best known for her leading role as Monica Wright in ''Film/LoveAndBasketball'', starring opposite Creator/OmarEpps, and also for her role as Sidney in ''Brown Sugar'' opposite Creator/TayeDiggs. She has also appeared on television, previously in sitcom roles and most notably as Michelle Landau in ''Series/NipTuck'', and she has also been a voice actor in animated projects (most famously as Donna Tubbs on ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow''). She also has been in several notable stage productions, most notably in ''Theatre/ARaisinInTheSun'' on Broadway in 2004.
6
7	----
8	!!Filmography:
9	* ''Film/{{Blade}}'' (1998)
10	* ''Life'' (1999)
11	* ''Film/TheBestMan'' (1999)
12	* ''Film/TheWood'' (1999, cameo role)
13	* ''Catfish in Black Bean Sauce'' (1999)
14	* ''Film/LoveAndBasketball'' (2000)
15	* ''Disappearing Acts'' (2000)
16	* ''Brown Sugar'' (2002)
17	* ''Film/OutOfTime'' (2003)
18	* ''Film/AVPAlienVsPredator'' (2004)
19	* ''Film/SomethingNew'' (2006)
20	* ''Film/TheFamilyThatPreys'' (2008)
21	* ''Theatre/ARaisinInTheSun'' (2008)
22	* ''Wonderful World'' (2009)
23	* ''Film/Contagion2011''
24	* ''The Best Man Holiday'' (2013)
25	* Selina Kyle[=/=]ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} in ''[[WesternAnimation/HarleyQuinn2019 Harley Quinn]]'' (2020)
26	* ''Series/{{Succession}}'' (2021)
27	----
28	!!Tropes applicable to her:
29	* ActionGirl: Plays this role sometimes, most notably in ''Love and Basketball'' and ''AVP: Alien Vs. Predator''.
30	* BlackGalOnWhiteGuyDrama: ''Something New'' has her character in this situation. In real life, Sanaa has dated white men before; she once gave [[http://www.the411online.com/lathan.html an interview]] describing how one such relationship turned out.
31	* DyeingForYourArt: She gained 20 pounds for her role in ''Disappearing Acts'', and had to train in basketball for a year before filming ''Love and Basketball''.
32	* GenderBlenderName: She's played characters named Sidney (''Brown Sugar'') and Robin (''The Best Man''), both gender-neutral variants.
33	* MeaningfulName: Her name is Swahili for "work of art" and "beauty."
34	* PlayingAgainstType: She's known for playing headstrong, independent but ultimately good-hearted women; however, at least two of her starring roles were as major antagonists, and [[http://lasvegasblackimage.com/2011/06/sanaa-lathan-acting-her-best/ she has indicated]] that she wouldn't mind playing the role of a prostitute.
35	--> ''I am not interested in portraying negative images. I also believe in reflecting all of humankind. I think that is what makes acting fun. I have played evil characters, and I have played a lot of ingénue types. If people look at me as a positive role model, that is great. That makes me feel good.''
36	* RomanceOnTheSet: She went into an actual relationship with Creator/OmarEpps after their on-screen chemistry in ''Love and Basketball''.
37	* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: She's played this role in a few movies. ''Disappearing Acts'' and ''Something New'' are just two examples.
38	* TypeCasting: As [[http://www.answers.com/topic/sanaa-lathan this article]] shows, she managed to avert this following the success of ''Love and Basketball'', where she got several offers to star in girlfriend roles.
39	--> ''I was offered a lot of girlfriend roles, but I wanted to do something that felt good in my gut. The only power you have as an actor is to say no.''

Context Creator / SanaaLathan