Dana Elaine Owens
- Born:
- March 18, 1970, Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Rapper, Singer, Actress, Producer, Talk Show Host
Early Life and Education
- Born to Rita Owens, a teacher, and Lancelot Owens Sr., a police officer.
- Raised in East Orange, New Jersey.
- Attended Irvington High School.
- Nicknamed "Latifah" (Arabic for "delicate" or "kind") by a cousin.
- Formed the hip-hop group Ladies Fresh in high school.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began her music career as a beatboxer for the Flavor Unit.
- Signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1989 and released her debut album, All Hail the Queen.
- Transitioned to acting in the early 1990s, gaining recognition for her role in the sitcom Living Single (1993-1998).
- Received critical acclaim for her performance in the film Chicago (2002), earning an Academy Award nomination.
- Developed her own production company, Flavor Unit Entertainment.
- Hosted her own daytime talk show, The Queen Latifah Show, from 1999 to 2001 and again from 2013 to 2015.
- Starring in and executive producing CBS's reboot of "The Equalizer" (2021-present) solidifying her influence in television.
Notable Works
Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | All Hail the Queen | Tommy Boy Records |
| 1991 | Nature of a Sista | Tommy Boy Records |
| 1993 | Black Reign | Motown Records |
| 1998 | Order in the Court | Motown Records |
| 2004 | The Dana Owens Album | A&M Records |
| 2009 | Persona | Flavor Unit/Universal Motown |
Filmography (Selected)
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Jungle Fever | LaShawn |
| 1996 | Set It Off | Cleopatra "Cleo" Sims |
| 2002 | Chicago | Matron "Mama" Morton |
| 2006 | Last Holiday | Georgia Byrd |
| 2007 | Hairspray | Motormouth Maybelle |
| 2017 | Girls Trip | Sasha Franklin |
Legacy and Impact
Dana Elaine Owens, known professionally as Queen Latifah, has carved a significant place in both the music and film industries. Considering the scope of her impact, an overview of "a biography latifah pictures queen" must acknowledge her influence on female rappers and her success in breaking down barriers for African American women in Hollywood. Her versatile career, spanning music, film, and television, has made her a respected and influential figure in popular culture.