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Sanaa McCoy Lathan (/sΙΛnΙ/ born September 19, 1971) is an American stage, film, television, and voice actress. She is the daughter of actress Eleanor McCoy and film directorΒ Stan Lathan. She earned bachelor's degree in English fromΒ University of California, Berkeley, andΒ 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 ofΒ 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 theΒ Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, for her work on the television seriesΒ 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 inΒ A Raisin in the Sun with Sean Combs,Β Audra McDonald, andΒ 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 aΒ 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 anΒ Essence AwardΒ for Best Actress for her performance in Disappearing Acts. She earned the 2001Β NAACP Image AwardΒ for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, anΒ Independent Spirit AwardΒ nomination for Best Actress, and aΒ BET Award for her performance in Love & Basketball.
In 2000, she was named byΒ EbonyΒ magazine as one of itsΒ 55 Most Beautiful PeopleΒ and was honored byΒ EssenceΒ magazine andΒ Black Entertainment Television.
In 2022, she made her directorial debut with the filmΒ On the Come Up, in which she also has a supporting role.
