<p id=”par-1_76″>Sanaa Lathan’s <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/actors/?swcfpc=1″>acting</a> career spans over two decades as she’s made significant contributions to film and television. The NYC native first gained widespread recognition for her role in the 2000 romantic drama <em><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/love-basketball-20-years-later-the-cast-is-still-scoring-points-in-hollywood.html/”>Love & Basketball</a></em>. <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/did-sanaa-lathan-date-her-love-basketball-co-star.html/”>Lathan’s portrayal of Monica Wright</a> earned her critical acclaim and a devoted fan base. Her versatility as an actor was further showcased in movies like <em>Brown Sugar</em> and<em> Alien vs. Predator</em>, where she demonstrated her ability to seamlessly transition between genres.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Sanaa-Lathan-Love-and-Basketball.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Actor Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan play basketball outside on set of ‘Love & Basketball'” class=”wp-image-3681886″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan on set of ‘Love & Basketball’ circa 2000 | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-2_34″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/sanaa-lathan-what-is-the-love-and-basketball-actress-doing-now.html/”>Twenty-four years after <em>Love & Basketball</em></a>, Sanaa Lathan is celebrating another project. The 52-year-old looked glowing and gorgeous at the premiere of <em>Young.Wild.Free.</em>, where her presence highlighted her enduring star power and timeless beauty.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Sanaa-Lathan-1.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=’Wearing a black strapless dress, Sanaa Lathan poses for photos at the BET+ “Young. Wild. Free.” premiere’ class=”wp-image-3681895″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Sanaa Lathan at BET+ “Young. Wild. Free.” LA premiere | Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for BET+</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-3_73″>The BET original film stars Brandon Huffman as Algee Smith. A high school senior, Smith meets a vibrant, daring teenager named Cassidy (Sierra Capri), who encourages him to take more risks, leading the pair down an increasingly dangerous path. <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/sanaa-lathan-had-to-train-5-hours-a-day-before-landing-her-love-and-basketball-role.html/”>Lathan stars</a> as Janice Huffman, Brandon’s mother who’s struggling to make ends meet amid mental health issues and parenting three children. <em>Young.Wild.Free.</em> also stars Mike Epps as the father of Janice’s two youngest kids.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-3″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Young-Wild-Free-cast-BET-Sanaa-Lathan.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”The cast of Young Wild Free stands together on the red carpet before the premiere” class=”wp-image-3681889″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Algee Smith, Sierra Capri, Thembi Banks, Sanaa Lathan, Isa Eden, Tamala Jones, and Jeremiah King at BET+ “Young. Wild. Free.” premiere | Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for BET+</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-4_78″>Lathan told <a href=”https://deadline.com/2024/06/bet-sundance-feature-acquisition-young-wild-free-trailer-1235969360/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Deadline</a> that she thoroughly enjoyed playing her character, Janice. “Starting out in the theater, one of the joys of acting to me is to really transform,” Lathan explained. “I love playing the romantic lead, the ingenue, but sometimes the juiciest fun that you can have is really creating a character that’s very, very different from yourself; this film was the perfect opportunity to do that. Janice’s plight is the plight of so many women in America.”</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-4″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Sanaa-Lathan-Young-Wild-Free-1.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Actor Sanaa Lathan holds a microphone and claps onstage after the Young Wild Free premiere” class=”wp-image-3681890″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Sanaa Lathan | Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for BET+</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-5_73″>On June 25, Sanaa Lathan posed with her castmates and director, Thembi Bank, at LA’s DGA Theater Complex. The group smiled for the cameras as they answered audience questions. Lathan, in particular, looked radiant in a black strapless dress. The asymmetrical hemline and sheer mesh overlay added a fun touch. <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/the-best-man-the-final-chapters-everything-we-know-about-series-so-far.html/”><em>The Best Man</em> star</a> wore her hair in a trendy bob. Lathan opted for sparkly silver eyeshadow and a graphic double-eyeliner look. </p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-5″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/BET-Young-Wild-Free.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Wearing a black dress, Sanaa Lathan sits in the audience at a movie theatre after the Young Wild Free premiere” class=”wp-image-3681891″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Sanaa Lathan at DGA Theater Complex on June 25, 2024 | Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for BET+</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-6_62″>Lathan has been making the media rounds to promote <em>Young.Wild.Free.</em> She’s posted photos with Mario Lopez on Access Hollywood and shared the trailer on her <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/p/C8nw4gBp_0r/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Instagram</a>. Lathan captioned it, “From #Sundance to @betplus! Proud to be a producer and play mama #Janice alongside @itsalgee @thesierracapri & @therealmikeepps. Can’t wait for y’all to see @thembibanks incredible vision and go on the journey of #YoungWildFree. This Thursday June 27th on #betplus.”</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-6″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Sanaa-Lathan.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Actor Sanaa Lathan wears a white jacket and white earrings as she walks the red carpet for Disney” class=”wp-image-3681887″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Sanaa Lathan at 2024 Disney Upfront on May 14, 2024 | John Nacion/FilmMagic</figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-7_52″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/sanaa-lathan-explains-she-nearly-passed-love-and-basketball.html/”>Lathan also has another project</a> coming out this summer. <em>The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat</em> is an upcoming American drama film about three friends known as “The Supremes” who, for decades, weather life’s storms together through marriage, children, happiness, and loss. The movie will be available to stream on Hulu beginning August 23.</p>