Sanaa Lathan
Known for

Acting

Credits

65

Gender

Woman

Birthday

19 Sept 1971 (53)

Place of birth

New York City, New York, USA

Also known as
Sanaa McCoy Lathan

Sanaa Lathan

Biography

Sanaa McCoy Lathan (/səˈnɑ/ born September 19, 1971) is an American stage, film, television, and voice actress. She is the daughter of actress Eleanor McCoy and film director Stan Lathan. She earned bachelor's degree in English from University of California, Berkeley, and a master's degree in drama from Yale. She is best known for her roles as Robyn in The Best Man films and subsequent TV miniseries on Peacock, Naomi Hicks on Netflix's Hit & Run, Violet Jones in Nappily Ever After, Ashe Akino on Fox's drama Shots Fired, Deputy Director Natalie Austin in Now You See Me 2 (2016), Leah Vaughn in The Perfect Guy (2015), Jenelle Wilson on Showtime's drama The Affair, Mona Fredricks on Starz' drama Boss, Andrea in Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (2008), Beneatha Younger in ABC's film adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun (2008), Kenya McQueen in Something New (2006), Ann Merai Harrison in Out of Time (2004), Sidney 'Sid' Shaw in Brown Sugar (2002), Monica Wright in Love & Basketball (2000), Zora Banks in Disappearing Acts (2000), Alicia in The Wood (1999), Vanessa Brooks - the mother of Wesley Snipes' title character - in Blade (1998), and Briana Gilliam on NBC's sitcom Lateline. She had recurring roles on HBO's Succession and FX's Nip/Tuck, and starred on NBC's short-lived sitcom Built to Last. In 2022, she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, for her work on the television series Succession. Her other movie credits include With/In Vol 1 (2021) and Vol 2 (2022), American Assassin (2017), Contagion (2011), Powder Blue (2009), AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004), and more. She voiced Catwoman on HBO's animated series Harley Quinn, and Donna Tubbs on The Cleveland Show and on all Family Guy appearances. In 2004, she starred on Broadway as Beneatha Younger in A Raisin in the Sun with Sean Combs, Audra McDonald, and Phylicia Rashad, and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress. She later reprise her role in the 2008 film adaptation. In 2010, she starred in the all-black performance of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Novello Theatre in London. She earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her recurring role on Succession. She received an NAACP Image Award Nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her performance in Brown Sugar. She received a NAACP Image Award nomination for her performance in The Best Man. She earned an Essence Award for Best Actress for her performance in Disappearing Acts. She earned the 2001 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress, and a BET Award for her performance in Love & Basketball. In 2000, she was named by Ebony magazine as one of its 55 Most Beautiful People and was honored by Essence magazine and Black Entertainment Television. In 2022, she made her directorial debut with the film On the Come Up, in which she also has a supporting role.

Known for
Acting roles
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
Leap
2024The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-EatBarbara Jean Maxberry
2023Young. Wild. Free.Janice Huffman
2022On the Come UpJay
2022The Best Man: The Final ChaptersRobyn
2022The Jennifer Hudson ShowSelf
2022With/In Volume 2
2021SolosNia (voice)
2021Hit & RunNaomi Hicks
2021With/In Volume 1(segment "Leap")
2019Harley QuinnCatwoman (voice)
2019The Twilight ZoneNina Harrison
2019Native SonTrudy Thomas
2018SuccessionLisa Arthur
2018Nappily Ever AfterViolet Jones
2017American AssassinIrene Kennedy
2017Shots FiredAshe Akino
2016Now You See Me 2Deputy Director Natalie Austin
2016Approaching the UnknownCaptain Emily Maddox
2015The Perfect GuyLeah Vaughn
2014The AffairJenelle Wilson
2014RepentanceMaggie
2013The Best Man HolidayRobyn
2011ContagionAubrey Cheever
2011BossMona Fredricks
2009The Cleveland ShowDonna Tubbs (voice)
2009Powder BlueDiana
2009Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenSelf - Guest
2009Wonderful WorldKhadi
2008Tyler Perry's The Family That PreysAndrea
2008A Raisin in the SunBeneatha Younger
2006Something NewKenya McQueen
2005The Golden BlazeMonica (voice)
2004AVP: Alien vs. PredatorAlexa Woods
2003Out of TimeAnn Merai Harrison
2003Nip/Tuck
2003Jimmy Kimmel Live!Self
2002Brown SugarSidney 'Sid' Shaw
2000Curb Your EnthusiasmSibby Sanders
2000Love & BasketballMonica Wright
2000Disappearing ActsZora Banks
1999Family GuyClaire Huxtable (voice)
1999Family GuyMuhammad Ali's Wife (voice)
1999Family GuyDonna Tubbs (voice)
1999LifeDaisy
1999The Best ManRobyn
1999The WoodAlicia
1999Catfish in Black Bean SauceNina
1998BladeVanessa
1998LateLineBriana Gilliam
1997DriveCarolyn Brody
1997Miracle in the WoodsYoung Lilly
1997Built to LastLinda
1996MoeshaEbony
1995In the HouseCharese
1993Late Night with Conan O'BrienSelf - Guest
1989Family MattersAllison
1988LIVE with Kelly and MarkSelf - Guest
Credits
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
LeapDirector
2023Young. Wild. Free.Executive Producer
2022On the Come UpDirector
2022With/In Volume 2Director
2021With/In Volume 1Director
2018Nappily Ever AfterProducer
2015The Perfect GuyExecutive Producer