Sanaa Lathan On Rebelling Against The Idea Of Pursuing An Acting Career
Sanaa Lathan is a timeless beauty who starred in many cult classics such as The Best Man and Love & Basketball. I mean, who can forget the scene where Sanaa's character, Monica, played Omar Epps' character, Quincy, one-on-one for his heart? Sanaa has starred in many other roles since then, but whether it's a TV show or film, the 50-year-old has always been able to capture our attention with her passion and talent. So, can you imagine someone else in these memorable roles?
Well, according to the L.A. native, acting was something that she ran from when she was younger. In fact, she wanted to become a lawyer instead. Sanna was interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter and made this surprising revelation. However, the reason why is something that many of us can relate to when we were kids.
"You always want to do the opposite of what your parents do," she said. If you don't know by now, Sanna comes from a very respected and talented family. Her mother, Elenor McCoy, is a highly regarded Broadway actress/dancer, and her father, Stan Lathan, is a legendary TV director. She talked about being in her mother's stomach while she was on the Broadway stage.
She said, "I was in her stomach when she was a dancer in the original Alvin Ailey company. Then she plopped me out and put me under the piano during dance rehearsals — I was running around backstage at The Wiz; I was around Eartha Kitt when I was just a baby."
However, the early exposure to acting didn't convince her to follow in her mother's footsteps professionally. It actually took a recruiter from the Yale School of Drama to give it a real chance. "[Yale] made me really kind of admit to myself I wanted it and gave me the courage to pursue it," she said.
Now that she has conquered the acting world, she is ready for a new challenge. If you're thinking that she's now following in her father's footsteps, then you are right. The Nappily Ever After star can now add "director" to her resume.
After working on a short film about her and her dog during the pandemic lockdown, Sanaa will now be directing her first feature film, an adaptation of Angie Thomas' novel On the Come Up.
"I want to be challenged and to use all of my talent. I have a lot to give," she said. Right now, you can catch Sanaa in HBO's hit show Succession and if you're a big fan of The Best Man films like we are, then you're also waiting on the new series to be released.
Featured image by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for NAACP
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Tracey Edmonds Dropped Her 'Anti-Aging' Self-Care Routine & We're Taking Notes
Aging is a beautiful process.
While society tends to pressure women to spend hundreds on nips, tucks, and miracle creams in search of the fountain of youth, adopting simple habits into our everyday lives can be the hidden key to aging gracefully.
From exercise, regular sleep, and a consistent skincare routine, these pillars of a healthy lifestyle can help us ease into every stage of life that lies ahead. And when we see women like Emmy award-winning producer, Tracey Edmonds glowing and growing through her phases of life, we can’t help but to take notes. That’s why we’re breaking down the 57-year-old’s top anti-aging tips on how to live a vibrant and healthy life.
Tracey Edmonds: 'My Anti-Aging Self-Care Routine'
Stay Hydrated with Lemon and Coconut Water:
“Water not only keeps you energized, but it also cleanses you out — so you need to be drinking at least eight cups of water a day,” Tracey says in her video. “The other thing that you can add to water, which is actually amazing for you, is adding a squeeze of lemon or even a bit more to your water every single day.
“Lemon water is great for removing toxins, and it also tastes really good. It's very refreshing, and it gives you that extra little burst of energy… it'll kind of almost wake you up a little bit,” she shares. “Coconut water has all the benefits of regular water and additional ones. It helps with high blood pressure, and it's great for digestion.”
Exercise 3-5 Times a Week:
“We have to get our exercise in at least three to five times a week,” she advises. “Cardio is so important and it's great for heart health. When you get your body going and your energy flowing, you work better, you think better, you're more focused. So getting cardio is super important.”
Get Your Stretch On:
“I do a lot of stretching at least three times a week,” she says. “It's great for slowing down the aging process and keeping your body really agile with movement. And again, stretching is good for energy flow as well; it clears your chakra so that everything flows better in your body.”
Regular Cardio:
“Anything that actually gets your heart going is great for you. My cardio routine is running or walking on a treadmill at least three times a week. I run a mile each time I'm on the treadmill, so if you can do a mile each time you're on the treadmill, you are looking good, and your energy’s flowing, and keeping your body super healthy.”
Getting a Full Night’s Rest:
“I get at least eight hours of sleep. And yeah, it's hard sometimes, especially when you're working, and you have things on your mind, or you're going through things with your personal life,” she says. “Sometimes when I have problems sleeping, I turn on my sound machine and listen to the sound of a river going by or something that helps relax my mind and removes all the other noise going on in my mind — like all the worries and anxieties and the work issues.”
Self-Care for Your Soul
“I do a lot of meditating and praying,” Tracey shares. “I meditate before I go into prayer and what that is for me is my time to spend with myself and with God. During my meditation/prayer sessions, I block out everything else. I find a really quiet spot, I close my eyes, and I just get in tune with God and where I need to go with my life. I solve problems a lot of times while I'm meditating and praying on them, and come out of meditation and prayer feeling clearer and more focused.”
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Featured image by Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images
