• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Red Carpet

Reel Life: Queen Latifah

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
By · Updated October 29, 2020
01
Big Screen Debut

Spike Lee handpicked Queen Latifah to portray attitudinal waitress, Lashawn, in “Jungle Fever.” She was the perfect choice.

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
02
On the Run

Latifah certainly got folks talking when she portrayed a gun-toting lesbian by the name of Cleo in the heist film, “Set It Off.” Jada Pinkett-Smith, Kimberly Elise and Vivica A. Fox co-starred.

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
03
The Blues

Latifah released the jazz blues singer within when she portrayed lounge singer, Liz Bailey, in the 1998 drama, “Living Out Loud.”

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
04
Bedside Manner

Who wouldn’t want to tend to Denzel Washington’s needs? In “The Bone Collector,” Latifah portrayed his attentive nurse, Thelma. Angelina Jolie co-starred.

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
05
For the Kids

Latifah loves the kids, as she proved with her role in “The Country Bears.”

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
06
Back to Her Roots

In the hip-hop themed romantic comedy, “Brown Sugar,” Latifah is courted by an up-and-coming rapper portrayed, hilariously, by Mos Def.

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
07
Chi-Town

Latifah earned a well-deserved Oscar nomination for her spirited portrayal of Matron Mama Morton in “Chicago.”

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
08
Bringing the Laughs

Latifah starred alongside Steve Martin and Eugene Levy for “Bringing Down the House.” She also produced the film, which grossed over $100 million.

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
09
Parody

Always down for a good laugh, Latifah joined the cast of “Scary Movie 3” with Eddie Griffin.

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
10
Hair Business

Ice Cube couldn’t protect Cedric the Entertainer from Latifah’s constant wrath in “Barbershop 2: Back in Business.”

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
11
Press n’ Curl

After starring in the second installment of Ice Cube’s “Barbershop” franchise, Latifah opened her own “Beauty Shop.”

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
12
In the Driver’s Seat

Henry Simmons joined Latifah for the action comedy, “Taxi.”

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
13
Hip-Hop Duo

Latifah was joined by fellow rapper-turned-actor, LL Cool J, for the live-your-dreams-now adventure, “Last Holiday.”

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
14
Life Is…

“Stranger Than Fiction,” starred Latifah as a publishing representative who is charged with helping a client push through writer’s block. Will Ferrell and Emma Thompson co-starred in the quirky drama.

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
15
Animated

Latifah has been a part of the “Ice Age” franchise from the very beginning. In the third installment, her character, Ellie, the mammoth, preps to be a mommy.

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
16
Beehive’d Beauty

Latifah virtually stole the show as Motormouth Maybelle in the period musical, “Hairspray,” co-starring John Travolta. Rumor has it that a sequel is in the works.

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
17
Sisterhood

Latifah was joined by Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys for the film adaptation of the bestselling novel, “The Secret Life of Bees.”

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
18
Flowers & Candy

This year, Latifah joined the ensemble cast for the romantic comedy, “Valentine’s Day,” which co-starred Jamie Foxx.

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
19
The Perfect Holiday

Queen Latifah plays the kind and all-knowing angel, “Mrs. Christmas,” opposite actor Terrence Howard.

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
20
Money, Money, Money!

In the hilarious comedy, “Mad Money,” Queen Latifah and her two counterparts plot to steal Federal money that is going to be destroyed.

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
21
Love and Basketball

Queen Latifah plays Leslie Wright, a physical therapist, who ends up falling for her client, basketball player Scott McKnight in “Just Wright.”

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
22
Joyful Sounds

Queen takes control of a Gospel choir and sings her heart out alongside Dolly Parton, in the upcoming film, “Joyful Noise.”

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
23
Animated
Reel Life: Queen Latifah
24
Animated
Reel Life: Queen Latifah
25
Big Screen Debut

Spike Lee handpicked Queen Latifah to portray attitudinal waitress, Lashawn, in “Jungle Fever.” She was the perfect choice.

Reel Life: Queen Latifah
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now