Dana Elaine Owens, aka Queen Latifah, began her career as a rapper. Her first single, "Wrath of My Madness," came out in 1988, followed a year later by her debut album, "All Hail the Queen." In 1991, the same year her second CD came out, she made her television debut with a guest spot on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. In 1993 came both her third CD and her first starring television role: Khadijah James on Fox's Living Single, a part she would play until the show ended in 1998.
Dana Elaine Owens, aka Queen Latifah, began her career as a rapper. Her first single, "Wrath of My Madness," came out in 1988, followed a year later by her debut album, "All Hail the Queen." In 1991, the same year her second CD came out, she made her television debut with a guest spot on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. In 1993 came both her third CD and her first starring television role: Khadijah James on Fox's Living Single, a part she would play until the show ended in 1998.
Following the end of Living Single, Latifah hosted a talk show, The Queen Latifah Show, for two seasons (a new version would premiere in 2013 and end in 2015). After that show wrapped in 2001, Latifah was cast in the film role that would catapult her to mainstream success - Matron "Mama" Morton in the musical Chicago. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.
In 2006, Latifah got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and voiced her first animated character, Ellie in Ice Age. The next year, she made her second appearance in a movie musical, starring in 2007's Hairspray. That same year, she sang at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles as the headlining act in a jazz concert (she had released an album of soul/jazz standards in 2004). Later in 2007, she released her sixth album, "Travl'lin' Light," which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
Since then, Latifah has remained active in film (including voicing Ellie in the three Ice Age follow ups to date) while also making guest appearances on shows including Entourage and 30 Rock. Latifah received her first Emmy nomination for playing Ana in the 2007 HBO movie Life Support. Most recently, Latifah could be seen on the small screen as Bessie Smith in the HBO film Bessie.
