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Queen Latifah Biography

Birth Name:Dana Elaine Owens

Birth Place:Newark, New Jersey, United States

Profession Actress, Soundtrack, Producer, Music department, Writer

Fast Facts

In 2006, she became the first hip-hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 2017, she received the American Black Film Festival Entertainment Icon Award
In 2017, she received the Revolt Icon Award for her career in entertainment
Before becoming a hip-hop artist, she briefly worked at Burger King
Made her acting debut in a production of "Godspell" in the ninth grade
Quote: "I’ve always envisioned myself with a big family․ To me, it’s the most unselfish thing you could do, to be a parent․ It’s not about you at all․ It’s about what you can give to support this child․"
Quote: "My parents told me to truly accomplish things in my life, there would be times I would have to stand alone․ It may be scary, but that's what it requires․ So the times I had to stand alone, I got it․"
Quote: "I really don't know how to be anyone else, and whenever I try to be anyone else, I fail miserably․ Or I disappoint myself․ It doesn't build my self-esteem, and it doesn't help me grow at all․"
Founded the management and production company Flavor Unit Entertainment, and continues to manage her own career
R&B and soul singer and actress who became rap's top female artist with the release of her first album, "All Hail the Queen․"
Was personally asked by Maya Angelou to recite one of her poems at Michael Jackson's memorial service, since she was unable to attend
Aspired to be a marine biologist as a kid
Her stage name, "Latifah," is an Arabic word meaning "delicate, sensitive and kind․"
Met and befirended fellow rapper MC Lyte at the age of 17
Once worked as a manager for artists LL Cool J, Naughty By Nature and Outkast

Awards

1994Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
1995Blimp Award-Favorite Television Actress: nominated
1996Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
1996Blimp Award-Favorite Television Actress: nominated
1997Black Film Award-Best Actress: winner
1997Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Female: nominated
1997Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
1997Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
1998Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
1999Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Television Movie or Mini-Series: nominated
1999Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2000Black Reel-Theatrical - Best Supporting Actress: nominated
2000Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2002ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2002ACCA-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2003Oscar-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2003Actor-Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture: winner
2003Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2003BAFTA Film Award-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
2003BET Award-Best Actress: winner
2003Black Reel-Theatrical - Best Supporting Actress: winner
2003Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: winner
2003Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2003Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
2003Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2003MTV Movie Award-Best Female Performance: nominated
2003OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Adapted Song: nominated
2003PFCS Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
2003Golden Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2003Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Breakout Star - Female: nominated
2003Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Chemistry: nominated
2003Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Actress - Drama/Action Adventure: nominated
2003Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Actress - Comedy: winner
2004BET Comedy Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Box Office Movie: winner
2004BET Comedy Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Box Office Movie: nominated
2004Black Reel-Film: Best Actress: nominated
2004Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: winner
2004Blimp Award-Favorite Movie Actress: nominated
2004MTV Movie Award-Best Fight: nominated
2004MTV Movie Award-Best Female Performance: nominated
2004Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Actress - Comedy: nominated
2004Stinker Award-Worst On-Screen Couple: winner
2004Special Mention Award-: winner
2005BET Award-Best Actress: nominated
2005BET Comedy Award-Outstanding Writing for a Theatrical Film: nominated
2005BET Comedy Award-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Theatrical Film: nominated
2005Black Movie Award-Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
2005Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Actress: Comedy: nominated
2005Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Hissy Fit: nominated
2005Teen Choice Award-Choice Rap Artist in a Movie: nominated
2006BET Award-Best Actress: nominated
2006Black Movie Award-Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: nominated
2006Black Reel-Best Actress: nominated
2006Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2006Teen Choice Award-Movies - Choice Liplock: nominated
2006Teen Choice Award-Movies - Choice Actress: Comedy: nominated
2007Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Actress: nominated
2007Hollywood Film Award-Ensemble of the Year: winner
2007Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2007Blimp Award-Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie: winner
2007OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie: nominated
2007Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2007WFCC Award-Best Music: winner
2008Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2008Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: winner
2008BET Award-Best Actress: nominated
2008Black Reel-Best Actress: winner
2008Critics Choice Award-Best Song: nominated
2008Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: winner
2008Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2008Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
2008Gracie-Outstanding Female Lead - Drama Series or Special: winner
2008Hollywood Film Award-Ensemble Acting of the Year: winner
2008Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2008Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: winner
2008Vision Award-Best Performance - Drama: nominated
2008OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
2008OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Adapted Song: nominated
2008Ensemble Cast Award-: winner
2008Prism Award-Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2009Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2010Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Actress: Romantic Comedy: nominated
2011Black Reel-Best Actress: nominated
2011Black Reel-Best Song: nominated
2011Black Reel-Best Film: nominated
2011Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: nominated
2013BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film: nominated
2013Black Reel-Outstanding Television or Mini-Series Performance, Female: nominated
2013Black Reel-Best Voice Performance: nominated
2013Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
2013Vision Award-Best Performance - Drama: nominated
2015Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actress in a Movie/Limited Series: nominated
2015Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actress: nominated
2015Image Award-Outstanding Host in a Talk, Reality, News/Information or Variety Series: nominated
2015INOCA TV-Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie: nominated
2015OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Television Movie: winner
2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie: nominated
2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: winner
2016Black Reel-Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series: winner
2016Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2016GMS Award-Best Song/Recording Created for Television: nominated
2016Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: winner
2016Vision Award-Best Performance - Drama: winner
2016Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2017All Def Movie Award-Best Smash in a Motion Picture: winner
2018Black Reel-Outstanding TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
2018Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
2018Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited Series or Dramatic Special: winner
2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Television Movie: nominated
2020Black Reel-Outstanding TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
2021Black Reel-Outstanding Actress, Drama Series: nominated
2021People's Choice Award-The Female TV Star of 2021: nominated
2021People's Choice Award-The Drama TV Star of 2021: nominated
2022BET Award-Best Actress: nominated
2022Black Reel-Outstanding Actress, Drama Series: nominated
2022CCA Super Award-Best Actress in an Action Series: nominated
2022Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2022People's Choice Award-The Comedy Movie Star of 2022: nominated
2022People's Choice Award-The Female Movie Star of 2022: nominated
2023CCA Super Award-Best Actress in an Action Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie: nominated
2023Family Film Award-Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film: winner
2023Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2024Astra TV Award-Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Drama Series: nominated
2024Black Reel-Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series: nominated
2024Black Reel-Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series: nominated
2024CCA Super Award-Best Actress in an Action Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie: nominated
2024Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2024OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
2025Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: winner
2026Image Award-Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series: nominated