Queen Latifah
- Born: 18 Mar, 1970
"You gotta let 'em know/you ain't a bitch or a 'ho" was the catchphrase from the first single released by this proud and dignified female rapper. Tall (5'9"), solidly built and strikingly attractive, Queen Latifah made a name for herself in music before successfully segueing to acting. Her strong, Afrocentric, feminist image led to bit parts in several films ("Jungle Fever" 1991; "Juice" 1992) where she felt typecast in "those screamin', shoutin' roles." Latifah was convincing as a serenely nurturing nurse tending to the dying Michael Keaton in "My Life" (1993). She also had a memorable supporting role in "Set It Off" (1996), a gal-pal film about friends who become bank robbers. As Cleo, a brazen, hard-working lesbian coping ...
FAMILY & COMPANIONS
- father Lancelot H Owens: separated from Rita Owens when Latifah was nine years old; trained Latifah and brother Lance in karate and use of guns
- mother Rita Owens: born in 1949; once ran a jazz and poetry club in Newark, New Jersey; senior vice president of Flavor Unit, Latifah's recording label, talent management and video production company, based in Jersey City, New Jersey
- brother Lancelot H Owens: born c. 1969; killed in an off-duty motorcycle accident 1992; "Winky's Theme" was dedicated to him on Latifah's album "Black Reign"
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