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In the 2000 film Love & Basketball, Sanaa Lathan was in her late twenties. Born in 1971, Lathan went on to win an NAACP Image Award and a BET Award for her role as Monica Wright in the film. She also earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress. Lathan had to undergo training with a basketball coach to prepare for her role as a basketball player, as she had never played the sport before. The romantic sports comedy, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, has since become a cult classic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of release | 2000 |
| Sanaa Lathan's age at release | 28 or 29 |
| Lathan's character | Monica Wright |
| Lathan's profession | Actress |
| Lathan's basketball experience | None |
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What You'll Learn
Sanaa Lathan's age in 'Love & Basketball'
In the 2000 film Love & Basketball, Sanaa Lathan was in her late twenties, having been born on September 19, 1971. The film was Lathan's fourth feature film, and she played Monica Wright, a female basketball player who falls in love with her next-door neighbour, Quincy McCall (played by Omar Epps).
Lathan had to train with a basketball coach to prepare for her role as Monica, as she had never played basketball before. She said that she was "nervous about the basketball because [she] really wasn’t a basketball player", but her dance background allowed her to "mimic" a basketball player's movements. She also reflected on the difficulty of the auditioning process, stating that she had to "go through so much to get the part".
Despite the film's success, Lathan said that she was “miserable” while filming Love & Basketball. She told CBS Los Angeles that she felt that the director, Gina Prince-Bythewood, didn't initially want her to star in the film: "I was miserable. I can laugh about it now... It’s almost like she hired me because she couldn’t find somebody else. There wasn’t a lot of joy and there wasn’t a lot of trust in me."
However, Lathan's performance in the film earned her a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress, and a BET Award. The film has since become a cult classic, and Lathan has reflected on its lasting impact on pop culture, crossing "racial and cultural lines".
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Lathan's feelings about filming the movie
In an interview with CBS Los Angeles, Sanaa Lathan opened up about her feelings while filming the 2000 movie "Love & Basketball", revealing that she had a tough time and was "miserable". She questioned whether director Gina Prince-Bythewood wanted her to star in the film, as she had never played basketball before and had to go through a lot to get the part. Lathan shared that she bonded with Prince-Bythewood throughout the shooting of the movie and told her about her emotions. She also revealed that she had to train for five hours a day before getting the job.
Despite the challenges, Lathan's performance in "Love & Basketball" earned her several accolades, including the NAACP Image Award and a BET Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, as well as an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress. The film has also become a cult classic, with Lathan's portrayal of Monica Wright, a female basketball player struggling to pursue her dreams, resonating with audiences and contributing to the film's enduring popularity.
Lathan also recalled filming the final scene of "Love & Basketball" during an actual WNBA game, where she had only one take to get it right. She expressed her nerves about filming in a real stadium with real players and felt the pressure of getting the shot perfect. This scene, which took place after Monica marries Quincy and they have a baby girl, added to the authenticity of the film and showcased Lathan's commitment to her role.
In the years following the film's release, Lathan and Prince-Bythewood maintained a positive relationship, reuniting at a WNBA game in 2024, 25 years after filming their iconic WNBA scene. Despite the initial challenges Lathan faced, she went on to achieve success in both film and theatre, showcasing her versatility and talent as an actress.
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![Love & Basketball (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81CCJa84-6L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Love & Basketball [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61bmMWstU8L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Lathan's basketball training
Sanaa Lathan, born on September 19, 1971, was 28 or 29 years old when she starred in the 2000 American romantic sports drama film "Love & Basketball". Lathan plays Monica Wright, a female basketball player who falls in love with her next-door neighbour, Quincy McCall (acted by Omar Epps), as they both pursue their basketball careers.
Lathan had no prior basketball experience before taking on the role of Monica. In fact, she had dance training. To prepare for the film, Lathan underwent two months of basketball training under a private coach. Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film's writer and director, auditioned more than 700 people for the part, and it ultimately came down to Lathan and Niesha Butler, a star player at Georgia Tech. Prince-Bythewood paired Lathan with a basketball coach and Butler with an acting coach, and Lathan ultimately won the role.
Lathan's performance in "Love & Basketball" earned her the 2001 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress, and a BET Award. The film received positive reviews from critics, with praise directed at the performances of Lathan and Epps, Prince-Bythewood's direction and script, and the emotional weight of the film.
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![Love & Basketball (Movie & Music Edition) [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81HifXfisvL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Love & Basketball (The Criterion Collection) [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71kSF1JtaGL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Lathan's co-stars
In the 2000 film Love & Basketball, Sanaa Lathan was 28 or 29 years old during filming, as she was born on September 19, 1971.
Lathan starred as Monica Wright, an aspiring basketball player and the next-door neighbour of Quincy McCall, played by Omar Epps. Epps and Lathan had previously worked together in the 1994 baseball movie Major League II, where they played teammates. Prior to filming, the two had started dating, unbeknownst to the film's director, Gina Prince-Bythewood.
Epps played the role of a boy striving to be better than his NBA star father. Lathan's performance earned her the 2001 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress, and a BET Award.
Other co-stars include Gabrielle Union, who played Quincy's high school love interest. Union had originally auditioned for the lead role of Monica. Alfre Woodard, Debbi Morgan, Dennis Haysbert, and Harry J. Lennix, who played Monica's father, were also part of the supporting cast.
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![Love and Basketball [VHS]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/518RVD7BCTL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Love & Basketball (2000) (Criterion Collection) UK Only [Blu-ray] [2021]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/818N65h6i9L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Awards and nominations for her performance
Sanaa Lathan was 28 or 29 years old when she starred in the 2000 film Love & Basketball. Lathan played Monica Wright, a female basketball player who falls in love with her next-door neighbour, Quincy McCall (played by Omar Epps), as the two pursue their individual dreams of becoming basketball stars.
Lathan's performance in Love & Basketball earned her several awards and nominations. In 2001, she won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture and the BET Award for Best Actress. That same year, she also received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actress. In 2021, Love & Basketball was added to the Criterion Collection, and in 2023, the film was selected for the Library of Congress' National Film Registry for its "cultural, historic, and aesthetic importance".
Lathan's performance in Love & Basketball was well-received by critics. Film critic Desson Thomson of The Washington Post wrote, "Love and Basketball had moments of such tenderness and sophistication, complimented by such romantic dreaminess between lead performers Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan". Rachel Deahl of AllRovi gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and complimented Epps and Lathan on their performances.
While Lathan's performance in Love & Basketball garnered critical acclaim, she revealed in an interview with CBS Los Angeles that she had a tough time filming the movie. She questioned whether director Gina Prince-Bythewood wanted her to star in the film, saying, "I was miserable". Despite this, Lathan is proud to have played a "fierce character" in a beloved movie, and she is grateful for the impact it has had on pop culture.
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Frequently asked questions
Sanaa Lathan was 28 or 29 years old when she starred in Love & Basketball. The film was released in 2000 and Lathan was born in 1971.
Sanaa Lathan was 27 or 28 years old when she filmed Love & Basketball. Lathan said she was miserable while filming the movie, which was released in 2000, and she was born in 1971.
Sanaa Lathan was 29 years old when Love & Basketball came out in 2000. Lathan, who is from New York City, was born in 1971.
Assuming the film was released at the beginning of the year, Sanaa Lathan would have been 28 years old in 2000. Lathan was born in 1971, so she would have turned 29 later that year.
