More Queen Latifah Bios & Profiles

The most recent Queen Latifah biography is published on the main page.

Biography #2 (for The Cookout)

In 2003, Latifah received rave reviews, an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe nomination and a SAG Award nomination for her portrayal as Mama Morton in Miramax's CHICAGO. Following CHICAGO, she also starred in Disney's box office hit BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE, on which she also acted as executive producer.

Latifah will continue her string of successes in 2004 with starring roles in Fox's TAXI, with Jimmy Fallon, MGM's BEAUTYSHOP (a spin-off of the hit BARBERSHOP), Paramount's action film BAD GIRLS (which Latifah will also produce), with Jada Pinkett Smith, and Miramax's remake of the Korean film MY WIFE AS A GANGSTER.

Queen Latifah is also one of music's most well respected rappers. From her ground breaking 1989 debut All Hail the Queen, which set the visual and contextual standard for female rappers, to her bold foray into R&B, Latifah continues to define what a woman in the music industry should be. She has earned three Grammy nominations as well as a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rap Performance in 1994.

In the fall of 2004, Latifah will once again return to the music scene with two brand new albums, one demonstrating her singing talents and the other her rapping talents. As Latifah demonstrated both in LIVING OUT LOUD (1998) and her Oscar-nominated performance in CHICAGO (2002), her vocal talent is as impressive as her acting. Teaming up with Grammy Award-winning producer Arif Mardin, Latifah will present a collection of new songs as well as covers of timeless classics. On the highly anticipated rap album, Latifah will collaborate with Missy Elliot, as well as a slew of new artists off of her Flavor Unit label, including Cole, Gotti and Picasso.

Flavor Unit Entertainment, a production company owned and operated by Queen Latifah and her partner Sha-Kim Compere, is quickly establishing itself as one of the most important production companies in the film industry. Following the box office hit BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE, Flavor Unit will produce MY WIFE AS A GANGSTER for Miramax, BEAUTY SHOP for MGM, and BAD GIRLS at Paramount with Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Overbrook. Flavor Unit is also producing a number of projects in which Latifah will not star, including THE COOKOUT with Lion's Gate, MY PEOPLE MY PEOPLE with Hyde Park, and JUST RIGHT with Disney.

For two years, Queen Latifah hosted a one-hour syndicated talk show appropriately titled, Queen Latifah. Queen Latifah's first experience with television was the series Living Single, which was a huge success and is currently in syndication.

Since her screen debut in Spike Lee's 1992 film JUNGLE FEVER, her film career has taken off. She starred in SET IT OFF, which earned her a nomination for a Spirit Award in the Best Actress category; she also co-starred with Holly Hunter and Danny DeVito in the critically acclaimed LIVING OUT LOUD. In 1999, she was seen in Universal's THE BONE COLLECTOR, directed by Philip Noyce and starring Denzel Washington. In 2002, she co-stared with Taye Diggs and Sana Latham in Fox Searchlight's BROWN SUGAR.

In addition to music, film and television, Queen Latifah has also written a book about self-esteem titled Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman.

Queen Latifah is diligent in her pursuit of excellence, as evidenced by the awards she has received for her work in film and music. Her sincere concern for others is revealed by the generous amount of time and money that she donates to worthwhile charitable organizations. Every year, Queen Latifah serves as co-chairman for the Lancelot H. Owens Scholarship Foundation, Inc. Established by her mother, Rita Owens, to perpetuate the memory of a loving son and brother, the foundation provides scholarships to students who excel scholastically but are limited in financial resources.

Bio courtesy Lionsgate Films for "The Cookout" (16-Sep-2004)

Biography #3 (for Chicago)

Queen Latifah: musician; television and film actress; talk show host; a label president; an artists manager; an author and entrepreneur. Blessed with style and substance, Queen Latifah has blossomed into a one-woman entertainment conglomerate. Heralded by the press and the industry as a force to be reckoned with, she is a talent to be watched. Latifah has quite simply done it all and shows no sign of slowing down.

The big screen is keeping Latifah extremely busy this year. Latifah could most recently be seen in Fox Searchlight' s romantic comedy hit Brown Sugar in which she co-starred with Taye Diggs and Sanaa Latham. After she wrapped the Brown Sugar and Chicago, Latifah moved on to Disney' s comedy Bringing Down the House, which she not only stars in, but also acts as executive producer. The story focuses on the average man played by Steve Martin who falls in love with a convict over the internet (Latifah).

Of course, Latifah could not ignore the small screen either. She will also be seen in a film for CBS entitled Talking to Heaven in which she stars opposite Ted Danson. Queen Latifah is also one of music' s most well respected rappers. From her ground breaking 1989 debut All Hail the Queen, which set the visual and contextual standard for female rappers, to her bold foray into R&B, Latifah continues to define what a woman in the music industry should be. She has earned three Grammy nominations as well as a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rap Performance in 1994. On Christmas day, Latifah will once again return to the music scene with a brand new album demonstrating both her rapping and singing talents. This highly anticipated album will include collaborations with a slew of new artists off of her Flavor Unit label including Cole, Gotti and Picasso.

And then there' s Flavor Unit Entertainment, a company owned and operated by Queen Latifah and her partner Sha-Kim Compere. The company is based in New Jersey and manages some of the biggest names in music.

For two years, Queen Latifah hosted a one-hour syndicated talk show appropriately entitled Queen Latifah. This exciting daily strip offered a mix of celebrities and entertainment, as well as real people and relatable issues. It was honest, real, frank, positive and fun, with a passion and a point of view all of its own -- focusing on resolutions as opposed to problems.

That was not Queen Latifah' s first experience with television. Her first series Living Single was a huge success and is currently in syndication. From the small screen Latifah made a leap to film and her acting skills have earned her the status of leading lady.

Since her screen debut in Spike Lee' s 1992 film Jungle Fever, her film career has taken off. She starred in Set It Off, which earned her a nomination for a Spirit Award in the Best Actress category and co-starred with Holly Hunter and Danny DeVito in the critically acclaimed Living Out Loud. In 1999, she was seen in Universal' s The Bone Collector, directed by Philip Noyce and starring Denzel Washington.

In addition to music, film and television, Queen Latifah has also written a book on self-esteem entitled Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman. Queen Latifah is diligent in her pursuit of excellence, as evidenced by the awards she has received for her work in film and music. Her sincere concern for others is revealed by the generous amount of time and money that she donates to worthwhile charitable organizations. Every year Queen Latifah serves as co-chairman for the Lancelot H. Owens Scholarship Foundation, Inc. Established by her mother, Rita Owens, to perpetuate the memory of a loving son and brother, the foundations provides scholarships to students who excel scholastically, but are limited in financial resources.

Bio courtesy Miramax for "Chicago" (01-Jan-2000)