QUEEN LATIFAH

Queen Latifah is an Academy Award-nominated and Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning artist, actress, producer, label president, author and entrepreneur. Currently, Latifah executive produces and stars as Robyn McCall on CBS’ hit drama THE EQUALIZER.

Latifah received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe nomination and a SAG nomination for her portrayal of Mama Morton in the feature musical “Chicago” and an Emmy Award nomination, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award for her role in the cable film “Life Support.” Additionally, Latifah earned an Emmy Award nomination, Golden Globe nomination and SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for her role in the HBO film “Bessie,” which she also produced through her own banner.

Latifah’s additional topline credits include “Living Single” on television, and the feature films “Girls Trip,” “Hairspray,” “Taxi,” “Set It Off,” “Last Holiday,” “Barber Shop 2: Back in Business,” and voicing the character Ellie in the “Ice Age” film series.

In 1995, Latifah and her producing partner, Shakim Compere, founded Flavor Unit Entertainment. The pair has produced the hit feature comedies “Bringing Down the House,” “Beauty Shop,” “The Perfect Holiday,” “The Cookout” and “Just Wright,” as well as “Bessie” and “Life Support.” Separately, Latifah executive produced the highly successful 2020 cable television film “The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel.”

Flavor Unit will next partner with Netflix on the film “The End of the Road” for which Latifah will both executive produce and star. Additionally, she recently headlined the Netflix sports drama “Hustle” opposite Adam Sandler, along with Ray Giarratana’s “The Tiger Rising.”

Latifah is an advocate for scleroderma-associated interstitial lung disease, as her mother suffered from and later succumbed to the disease. In 2021, she produced the documentary “Beyond Breathless” to bring awareness to the illness, educate the public and share her personal experience living with her mother’s sickness.

Born and raised in Newark, N.J., Latifah began her foray into the entertainment industry as a signed rapper, releasing her first album at 19 years old. She revolutionized the hip-hop industry, rapping about topics surrounding her experience as a Black woman. Dubbed the “Queen of Jazz-Rap,” Latifah has released seven studio albums, sold nearly 2 million records worldwide and is the first female hip-hop recording artist to be nominated for an Academy Award. Latifah is currently working to bring affordable housing to her hometown of Newark through co-founding the new development Rise Living in collaboration with Life Assets Development, Gonsosa and the BlueSugar Corporation.

Birth Name: Dana Elaine Owens
Nickname: Hip-Hop’s First Lady
Height: 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)