Essence is a monthly magazine for African-American women between the ages of 18 and 49. The magazine covers fashion, lifestyle and beauty with an intimate girlfriend-to-girlfriend tone, and their slogan "Fierce, Fun, and Fabulous" suggests the magazine's goal of empowering African American women. The topics the magazine discusses range from celebrities, to fashion, to point-of-view pieces addressing current issues in the African American community.

History[link]

Edward Lewis, Clarence O. Smith, Cecil Hollingsworth, Jonathan Blount and Denise M. Clark founded Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) in 1968, and it began publishing Essence magazine in May 1970. Its initial circulation was approximately 50,000 copies per month, subsequently growing to roughly 1.6 million.^[2] Gordon Parks served as its editorial director during the first three years of its circulation.

In 2000, Time Inc. purchased 49 percent of Essence Communication inc, a publishing company that publishes magazines aimed at African American women, namely Essence and Suede magazines. In 2005 Time Inc. made a deal with Essence Communication Inc. to purchase the remaining 51 percent it did not already own. The deal placed the ownership of the 34-year-old Essence magazine, one of the United State’s leading magazines for women of color, under white ownership. ^[3]

Contents[link]

The magazine features sections called Celebrity, Fashion, Beauty, Hair, Love, and Point-of-View^[4]. The magazine has covered topics from family, to social issues in the African American community, to African American women in the military, to being HIV positive. Celebrities like Michelle Obama and Whitney Houston have graced the cover and been featured in the magazine through interviews and photo spreads. ^[5]Originally launched primarily as a fashion magazine, Essence has grown to be a guideline for African American women in many aspects of life.

Frequent contributors, including the current editor and chief Constance C.R. White and, provide advice for the business-minded black woman, helping them to reach their full potential. ^[6]The section named "Tanisha's Tips", written by the magazine's senior editor of personal finance and careers, gives tips on workplace conduct and how to handle a rough job.^[4]

Circulation[link]

• Rate Base 1,600,000^[2]
• Subscriptions 78%
• Single-Copy Sales 22%

Essence Music Festival[link]

The Essence Music Festival is the nation’s largest annual gathering of African American musical talent, and has been going on annually for 18 years in New Orleans, bringing more than 400,000 people. The festival is a three-day event, which has cultural celebrations and empowerment seminars with nights of musical performances, and there are often awards given out honoring prominent musicians in the African American community. The festival is held every Fourth of July weekend, and has featured some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Prince, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Lionel Richie and others.^[7]

In 2007, presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton made special appearances at The Essence Music Festival, and in 2009 the festival was held in honor of Barack Obama’s inauguration and presidency, with Beyoncé as the headliner.^[8] In 2008, after partnering with Essence to develop and tape a co-branded special presentation Black in America: Reclaiming the Dream, CNN reported live on-site throughout the Music Festival weekend.

Activism[link]

In January 2005 Essence launched a twelve-month initiative to combat misogyny in hip hop culture.^[2] The campaign, entitled "Take Back the Music", was intended to inspire public dialogue about the portrayal of black women in rap music.^[9] Essence also works to empower women through the magazine, instilling confidence in full figured African American women, and giving tips on how to love their hair, and their body, by holding a Young Women’s Leadership Conference, and releasing a book in 2009 entitled “Essence presents: The Black Woman’s Guide to Healthy Living.^[10]

Awards[link]

Black Women In Hollywood[link]

Essence magazine holds an award ceremony annually to honor black women who have achieved success in Hollywood.

[edit] Essence Literary Awards

Essence magazine hosted the first-annual Essence Literary Awards in New York City on 7 February 2008. The awards were created to celebrate both emerging and established African-American authors in nine categories: Fiction, Memoir, Inspiration, Non-fiction, Current Affairs, Photography, Children’s Books, Poetry and Storyteller of the Year.

Praise[link]

In 2008, Essence won twelve New York Association of Black Journalists awards in the Investigative, General Feature, International, Business/Technology, Science/Health, Arts and Entertainment, Personal Commentary, Public Affairs and Online categories. The same year, Essence also won an American Magazine Vanguard Award (AVMA), recognizing the magazines that are innovating beyond just the printed word.^[10]

Controversy[link]

The purchase of Essence Communications Inc. marks the first time an African American magazine would be owned by a white man, sparking controversy because of the company's 34 years under African American ownership.^[3]

The magazine also started controversy in 2011 when the editor in chief Constance C.R. White announced that the magazine's new managing editor was a white male by the name of Michael Bullerdick. White assured readers that Bullerdick has no control over the content of the magazine and is only to oversee the day-to-day operations of the magazine. ^[11] In April of 2012 Bullerdick parted way with the magazine after politically conservative views that run counter to what Essence has historically stood for were discovered on his private Facebook page.^[12]

Editors[link]

• Ruth Ross (1970)
• Ida Lewis (1970–1971)
• Marcia Ann Gillespie (1971–1980)
• Susan L. Taylor (1981–2000)
• Monique Greenwood (2000)^[13]
• Diane Weathers (2000–2005)^[14][15]
• Angela Burt-Murray (2005–2010)
• Constance C. R. White (2011-present)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Essence Magazine website
• Essence Music Festival website

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Nia Long
Long in 2012
Born	(1970-10-30) October 30, 1970 (age 41) Brooklyn, New York, United States
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1986–present

Nia Talita Long (born October 30, 1970) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Third Watch, and the films Boyz n the Hood, Boiler Room, Soul Food, Love Jones, The Best Man, Big Momma's House, and Are We There Yet?.

Early years[link]

Long was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Talita, a teacher and printmaker, and Doughtry "Doc" Long, a high school teacher and poet. Her family is of Afro-Trinidadian descent.^[1][2][3] Her name, Nia, is one of the seven days of Kwanzaa, which means purpose in Swahili. Long was only two years old when her parents were divorced. She moved to Iowa City, Iowa, where her mother studied fine arts. Long subsequently moved to a South Los Angeles neighborhood when she was seven year old, where her mother was supposed to get married. The wedding was called off, but Talita had fallen in love with L.A. and they stayed.^[4] Long's father currently resides in Trenton, New Jersey. Long's half-sister is comedienne Sommore, one of the stars of The Queens of Comedy.

Long attended the Roman Catholic school St. Mary's Academy^[5] and studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar, and acting. She graduated from Westchester High School in 1989. Due to the lack of employment opportunities in the arts in Los Angeles when Long and her mother first arrived there, Long's mother took various low-paying jobs (despite having two master's degrees). The family suffered through financial struggle for years.

Career[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (August 2010)

Long's acting coach was Betty Bridges, better known as the mother of Diff'rent Strokes star Todd Bridges. Her earliest role was in the Disney television movie, The B.R.A.T Patrol alongside Sean Astin, Tim Thomerson and Brian Keith. Her first notable role on television was a three-year contract role as Kathryn "Kat" Speakes on the soap opera Guiding Light. Long portrayed Kat from 1991 to 1994. From 1994 - 1995, she played Will Smith's girlfriend and fiancée Beulah "Lisa" Wilkes on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Jada Pinkett-Smith was originally supposed to play Lisa, but was too short for the role (opposite a 6'2" Will Smith), thus leaving Nia to take the part. In 2003, she joined the cast of the drama Third Watch, where she played NYPD Officer Sasha Monroe, continuing until the series finale in 2005. In 2005 and 2006, Long appeared on Everwood, and appeared on Boston Legal during its 2006-2007 season. Long also starred in Big Shots from 2007-2008 alongside Michael Vartan and Dylan McDermott.

Long appeared in supporting roles in a number of movies such as Boyz n the Hood, Friday, and Made in America. Long played a leading role, or a member of the primary ensemble, in several films, including Soul Food, Love Jones, Boiler Room, Big Momma's House, Are We There Yet?, and The Best Man. Ice Cube has starred with her in four films, while (fellow Westchester High alum) Regina King has starred with her in two. Long starred alongside Michael Beach in Soul Food and in the TV series Third Watch.

Long appears in the video for Kanye West's "Touch the Sky". She directed Yolanda Adams's music video for "This Too Shall Pass". She won a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2004 for her performance on Third Watch. Long co-directed and appeared in Ashanti's music video, "Baby". She also made a guest appearance on the successful sitcom Living Single during its first season. She then got in contact with Gina Wilson because she wanted to become an actress also.

Personal life[link]

Long and her former long-time boyfriend and fellow actor Massai Z. Dorsey have a son, Massai Zhivago Dorsey II, born on November 26, 2000. Dorsey and Long were engaged to be married, but the pair have since ended their relationship.^{[citation needed]}

With regard to being a working mother, Long says "she is up for the challenge so long as it does not require disturbing her family's well-being". "If I’m gonna hustle, I want to hustle in one place... I uprooted everything, moved to New York for two years, moved back and it was great but I really am enjoying the stability."

Nia Long gave birth to her second child, a boy named Kez Sunday Udoka on November 7, 2011.^[6] The baby's father is Long's boyfriend NBA Basketball player Ime Udoka.

Filmography[link]

Television[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nia Long

• Nia Long at the Internet Movie Database
• Ask Men - Nia Long
• Nia Long poses nude for PETA

Sanaa Lathan
Lathan at the premiere of Wonderful World, April 2009
Born	Sanaa McCoy Lathan (1971-09-19) September 19, 1971 (age 40)[1] New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actress/Voice actress
Years active	1996–present

Sanaa McCoy Lathan (born September 19, 1971) is an American actress and voice actress. She has starred in numerous movies, including the box-office hits Love & Basketball, Alien vs. Predator, Something New, and The Family That Preys. Lathan was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance on Broadway in A Raisin in the Sun. In 2010 she starred in the all-black performance of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Novello Theatre in London.^[2]

Early life[link]

Lathan was born in New York City and attended Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics. Her first name means "brilliance" in Arabic and "work of art" in Swahili.^[3] She is of African American descent.^[4][5] Her mother, Eleanor McCoy, was an actress and dancer^[6] who performed on Broadway with Eartha Kitt. Her father, Stan Lathan, worked behind the scenes in television for PBS, as well as a producer on shows such as Sanford & Son and Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam. Her brother is Tendaji Lathan (a DJ).

She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in English. Lathan contemplated a career in law, but instead enrolled at the Yale School of Drama.

Career[link]

Following her training at Yale, where she studied with Earle R. Gister and performed in a number of Shakespeare's plays, Lathan earned acclaim both off-Broadway and on the Los Angeles stage. Encouraged by her father to make Los Angeles her professional base, the young actress found early television roles on episodes of such shows as In the House, Family Matters, NYPD Blue, and Moesha. During that same period, she won raves and a Best Actress nod from the Los Angeles NAACP Theatrical Award Committee for her performance in To Take Arms.

In 1998, Lathan earned a degree of recognition with her role as the mother of Wesley Snipes' title character in Blade. She followed this the subsequent year with a role in Life with Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy and back-to-back turns in The Best Man and The Wood. The Best Man was a comedic ensemble film, starring Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau Jr., and Morris Chestnut. The Best Man went on to become one of the top ten highest grossing African American films in history and Lathan received a NAACP Image Award nomination for her performance. The Wood, another ensemble film starring Diggs and Omar Epps, cast her as the love interest of Epps. Lathan and Epps were reunited onscreen in Gina Prince-Bythewood's Love & Basketball, this time playing a couple as passionate about basketball as they are about each other. In reality, the couple was also dating at the time. The film served as a break-out role for Lathan, who played a leading character instead of the girlfriend of one. Her performance in Love & Basketball earned her the 2001 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, as well as an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress and a BET Award.

In 2000, Lathan appeared in the Off-Broadway production of "The Vagina Monologues" along with Teri Garr and Julianna Margulies.

Lathan at the 2010 Comic Con in San Diego.

In 2001, Lathan earned additional acclaim for her work in the multicultural comedy Catfish in Black Bean Sauce. Next was her second collaboration with Prince-Bythewood: Disappearing Acts; it is based on a novel by Terry McMillan. In the HBO movie, Lathan is cast as an aspiring singer/songwriter in love with a carpenter, played by her ‘’Blade’’ co-star Wesley Snipes. For her work in the film, Lathan earned an Essence Award for Best Actress, as well as the added assurance of a very busy work schedule. That year, she was named by Ebony magazine as one of its 55 Most Beautiful People and was honoured by Essence magazine and Black Entertainment Television.

In 2002, Lathan starred in the romantic comedy, Brown Sugar, alongside Diggs, Queen Latifah, and Mos Def. Lathan’s performance earned an NAACP Image Award Nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture. The film also received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Motion Picture.

In 2004, Lathan starred on Broadway in A Raisin in the Sun with Sean Combs, Audra McDonald, and Phylicia Rashad. Lathan received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress for her portrayal of Beneatha Younger. Several years later, Lathan reprised the role in a critically acclaimed ABC Network production of A Raisin in the Sun.

Lathan subsequently starred in several major Hollywood films, including Alien vs. Predator, which was Lathan's biggest role to date. Alien vs. Predator was a major success grossing over $171 million worldwide. Out of Time was also an important role for Lathan as she played the plot-twist antagonist, sharing the screen with protagonist Denzel Washington.

In 2006, Lathan co-starred with Simon Baker in Something New, a romantic comedy about an interracial relationship. Lathan appeared in a recurring role as Michelle Landau in another interracial relationship as the much younger wife of a Texas businessman (Larry Hagman) during the fourth season of the television series, Nip/Tuck.

Lathan played Andrea in Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys. The film also features Alfre Woodard and Kathy Bates; it was released in the U.S. on September 12, 2008.

Lathan with Matthew Broderick at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Wonderful World.

In 2009, Lathan co-starred with Matthew Broderick in the drama Wonderful World. She also began voicing the character Donna Tubbs on The Cleveland Show.

Lathan is currently playing the title role in Second Stage Theatre's By The Way, Meet Vera Stark by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage co-starring Stephanie J. Block, and David Garrison closing June 12.

In 2011, Lathan co-starred in the Stephen Soderbergh thriller Contagion alongside Matt Damon, Jude Law, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Bryan Cranston, and Laurence Fishburne.

Filmography[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

• BET Award

• 2001, Best Actress: (Winner)

• Black Movie Awards

• 2006, Best Actress: Something New (Nominated)

• Black Reel Award

• 2008, Best Actress: The Family That Preys (Nominated)
• 2006, Best Actress: Something New (Nominated)
• 2004, Best Actress: Out of Time (Winner)
• 2003, Best Actress: Brown Sugar (Nominated)
• 2001, Best Actress: Love & Basketball (Winner)
• 2001, Best Actress in a TV Movie/Mini-Series: Disappearing Acts (Nominated)

• Image Awards

• 2009, Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie/Mini-Series: A Raisin in the Sun (nominated)
• 2007, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Something New (Nominated)
• 2007, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Nip/Tuck (Nominated)
• 2004, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Out of Time (Nominated)
• 2003, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Brown Sugar (Nominated)
• 2001, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Love & Basketball (Winner)
• 2000, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: 'The Best Man' (Nominated)

• Independent Spirit Awards

• 2001, Best Female Lead: Love & Basketball (Nominated)

• Theatre World Award

• 2004 A Raisin in the Sun (Winner)

• Tony Award

• 2003, Best Featured Actress in a Play: A Raisin in the Sun (Nominated)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sanaa Lathan

• Sanaa Lathan at the Internet Movie Database
• Sanaa Lathan at AskMen.com

Interviews

• Essence Interview (September, 2008)
• MSNBC interview (February 2, 2006)
• MetroMix interview (February 2, 2006)
• BlackFilm interview (January, 2006)
• Latino Review interview (August, 2004)
• BlackFilm interview (August, 2004)

Gabrielle Union
Union in February 2009
Born	Gabrielle Monique Union (1972-10-26) October 26, 1972 (age 39) Omaha, Nebraska U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1993–present
Spouse	Chris Howard 2001-2006 (divorced)

Gabrielle Monique Union (born October 26, 1972) is an American actress and former model. Among her notable roles is as the cheerleader opposite Kirsten Dunst in the film Bring it On. Union starred opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in the blockbuster film Bad Boys II and played a medical doctor in the CBS drama series City of Angels. She starred with LL Cool J in Deliver Us from Eva in 2003.

Early life[link]

Union was born in Omaha, Nebraska. She is the daughter of Theresa (née Glass), a former dancer, social worker, and phone company manager, and Sylvester C. Union, an AT&T manager and military sergeant.^[1][2][3] She was raised Catholic.^[4] At the age of eight, her family moved to Pleasanton, California, where she grew up and attended Foothill High School. In high school, Union was an all-star point guard in basketball and a year-round athlete, also playing in soccer and ran track.

Career[link]

Union attended the University of Nebraska before moving on to Cuesta College. She eventually transferred to UCLA and earned a degree in sociology. While studying there, she interned at the Judith Fontaine Modeling & Talent Agency to earn extra academic credits. Invited by the agency's owner, Judith Fontaine, Union started working as a model to pay off college loans.^[5]

Union started her acting career in minor roles. Most were in teen movies such as 10 Things I Hate About You and Love and Basketball. In 1997, Union appeared in the sixth-season episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Sons and Daughters" as the Klingon N'Garen.^[6] She also appeared in Sister, Sister as Vanessa, in Smart Guy as Denise, and in five episodes of 7th Heaven as Keesha Hamilton.

In 2000, Union landed the role of Isis in the cheerleading movie Bring it On opposite Kirsten Dunst. Bring It On helped push Union into the mainstream and she began gaining more exposure. This led to Union being cast in the CBS television drama City of Angels as Dr. Courtney Ellis.

Union was cast in her first leading role in the 2003 film Deliver Us from Eva with rapper L.L. Cool J. This was her second time working with the rapper since making a cameo in his video "Paradise" in 2002. The film received fair reviews from critics and it showed that Union was a leading lady. Union landed the role of Will Smith's girlfriend Syd in the film Bad Boys II, a box office success grossing over $273 million worldwide. Union starred with Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx in the film Breakin' All the Rules in 2004.

Union starred in the short-lived 2005 ABC series Night Stalker. She has also starred in the independent drama films Neo Ned and Constellation, the latter of which was released to theaters. She won an award for Best Actress in Neo Ned at the Palm Beach International Film Festival, and the film received awards at several festivals.

She starred in the 2005 remake of The Honeymooners with comedian Cedric The Entertainer. In 2006, she starred as Busta Rhymes' love interest in the music video for Rhymes' "I Love My Chick". Union starred in the 2007 films Daddy's Little Girls by Tyler Perry (released on Valentine's Day) and the Christmas film The Perfect Holiday which opened on December 12.

In an interview with Art Nouveau Magazine, Union complained about the lack of roles for black actresses and actors in Hollywood: "There used to be [roles] specifically written black, if you knew Denzel was doing a movie you knew his wife, girl or love interest was going to be black [but] that’s not necessarily the case anymore. You’re in that room with every amazingly talented actress of every hue, and it’s a dogfight, it’s hard".^[7]

In 2008, Union appeared on Ugly Betty for 3 episodes (36-38) as Renee, Wilhelmina Slater's (Vanessa L. Williams) sister and Daniel Meade's (Eric Mabius) love interest. She also made a cameo appearance in the music video for Ne-Yo's "Miss Independent".

She joined the cast of the U.S. television series Life on NBC and appeared in four episodes prior to the cancellation of series in May 2009.^[8] She appeared in the ABC series FlashForward alongside John Cho and Joseph Fiennes as Zoey Andata, a role for which she got nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Current and upcoming projects[link]

In 2012, she worked with Tyler Perry on the romantic comedy Good Deeds playing the role of Natalie, the soon to be wife of Perry's character Wesley Deeds.^[9] She now appears in Steve Harvey's movie Think Like A Man, another romantic comedy which is based on his book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. The movie debuted at #1 during the weekend of April 20, 2012.

In 2012 she began as the star of the BET network show Being Mary Jane.^[10]

Personal life[link]

In 1992 at age 19 Union was attacked and raped^[11] at her part-time job in a shoe store. Her attacker later turned himself in and was sentenced to 33 years in prison. She has since become an advocate for survivors of assault.^[12]

On May 5, 2001, Gabrielle married Chris Howard; they divorced in 2006. She dated American football player Jonathan Borrero in 2007. She is now dating Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade.^[13]

Awards and nominations[link]

• MTV Awards
  • 2005, Best Actress (2004, Best Actress (nominated)
  • 2003, Best Actress (nominated)

• Black Reel Awards
  • 2009, Best Ensemble: Cadillac Records (winner)
  • 2005, Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy: Breakin' All the Rules (nominated)
  • 2005, Best Supporting Actress in a TV Movie/Mini-Series: Something the Lord Made (nominated)
  • 2004, Best Actress: Deliver Us From Eva (nominated)
  • 2002, Best Supporting Actress: The Brothers (nominated)
  • 2001, Best Supporting Actress: Bring It On (winner)she is a leader in herlife and history

• Image Awards 2005-
  • 2005, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Breakin' All the Rules (nominated)
  • 2005, Outstanding Actress in a TV Movie/Mini-Series: Something the Lord Made (nominated)
  • 2004, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Deliver Us From Eva (nominated)
  • 2004, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Bad Boys II (nominated)

• Palm Beach International Film Festival
  • 2006, Best Actress Neo Ned (winner)

Filmography[link]

Television[link]

• Family Matters - TV series (1993)
• Saved by the Bell: The New Class - TV series (1995–1996)
• Moesha - TV series (1996)
• Malibu Shores - TV series (1996)
• Goode Behavior - TV series (1996)
• 7th Heaven - TV series (1996–1999)
• Smart Guy - TV series (1997)
• Dave's World - TV series (1997)
• Hitz - TV series (1997)
• Sister, Sister - TV series (1997)
• City Guys - TV series (1997)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - TV series (1997)
• The Steve Harvey Show - TV series (1998)
• Clueless - TV series (1999)
• Grown Ups - TV series (1999)
• H-E Double Hockey Sticks - TV film (1999)
• ER - TV series (2000)
• The Others - TV series (2000)
• Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane - TV series (2000)
• City of Angels - TV series (2000)
• Close to Home - TV film (2001)
• Friends - TV series (2001)
• The Proud Family - TV series (2003)
• The West Wing - TV series (2004)
• Something the Lord Made - TV film (2004)
• Family Guy - TV series (2005)
• Night Stalker - TV series (2005–2006)
• Football Wives - TV film (2007)
• Ugly Betty - TV series (2008)
• The BET Honors - TV film (2010)
• Life - TV series (2009)
• FlashForward - TV series (2009–2010)
• Army Wives - TV series (2010)
• "NTSF:SD:SUV"-TV series (2011)
• Half the Sky - TV Documentary (in production, 2012)^[16]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Gabrielle Union at the Internet Movie Database
• Gabrielle Union at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)

]

Will Smith
Smith in 2011
Born	Willard Christopher Smith, Jr. (1968-09-25) September 25, 1968 (age 43) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Other names	The Fresh Prince
Occupation	Actor, producer, rapper
Years active	1985–1993, 1997–2005 (rapping), 1990–present (acting)
Spouse	Sheree Zampino (m. 1992–1995) «start: (1992)–end+1: (1996)»"Marriage: Sheree Zampino to Will Smith" Location: (linkback:http://en-wiki.pop.wn.com/index.php/Will_Smith) Jada Pinkett Smith (m. 1997) «start: (1997)»"Marriage: Jada Pinkett Smith to Will Smith" Location: (linkback:http://en-wiki.pop.wn.com/index.php/Will_Smith)
Children	Trey Smith Jaden Smith Willow Smith
Website
www.willsmith.com

Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. (born September 25, 1968),^[1] also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood.^[2] Smith has been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards, two Academy Awards, and has won multiple Grammy Awards.

In the late 1980s, Smith achieved modest fame as a rapper under the name The Fresh Prince. In 1990, his popularity increased dramatically when he starred in the popular television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The show ran for nearly six years (1990–1996) on NBC and has been syndicated consistently on various networks since then. In the mid-1990s, Smith moved from television to film, and ultimately starred in numerous blockbuster films. He is the only actor to have eight consecutive films gross over $100 million in the domestic box office and the only one to have eight consecutive films in which he starred open at #1 spot in the domestic box office tally.^[3]