When it comes to the list of Black actresses who command a presence on-screen, actress, rapper, and overall megastar Queen Latifah is one of the first to come to mind. From her debut starring role as the beloved Khadijah on FOX’s Living Single in 1993 to her most recent lead part at The Equalizer in the CBS drama of the same name, the New Jersey native, who’s also a singer and producer, has had an impressive, career spanning the course of three decades.
In celebration of the Emmy-award winning actress’s 51st birthday, we take a look at some of her most iconic roles to date.
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01
Cleo – ‘Set it Off’
This one goes without saying. You can’t think of Set It Off without thinking of Latifah’s notable character, Cleo. She was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film and set the tone for her ability to tackle even bigger starring roles moving forward.
05
Gina – ‘Beauty Shop’
Gina was first introduced in the 2004 sequel Barbershop 2: Back in Business before Beauty Shop debuted in 2005. In Beauty Shop, Latifah plays a hairdresser making her way through the trials of being a successful business owner. Her role earned nominations for NAACP and BET awards.
09
Georgia – ‘Last Holiday’
In the romcom Last Holiday, Latifah plays Georgia, a saleswoman who is forced to change her life and decides to live freely after receiving an unfavorable health diagnosis. In the film, she also starred as the love interest of LL Cool J, which made for an instant classic.
TOPICS: Queen Latifah
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