Everything about Gabrielle Union totally explained
Gabrielle Monique Union (born
October 29,
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 also 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 also starred with
L.L. Cool J and
Meagan Good in
Deliver Us from Eva in 2003.
Biography
Early life
Union was born in
Omaha, Nebraska, the daughter of Theresa and Sylvester Union. She was raised
Catholic. 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 and a year round athlete participating in soccer, basketball, and track. During this time, Union dated current Dallas Mavericks star point guard
Jason Kidd.
Career
Union originally intended to become a lawyer in college. She 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 a modeling agency to earn extra academic credits. She was asked by the agency to sign on with them as a new model. She needed money to pay off some college loans and debts, so she eventually agreed to become a fashion model.
Union started her acting career in minor roles. Most were in teen movies like
10 Things I Hate About You and
Love and Basketball. She also appeared in the television show
Sister, Sister as Vanessa. In 2000, Union landed the role of Isis in the cheerleading movie
Bring it On opposite Kirsten Dunst.
Bring It On helped push Union out 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. The film received fair reviews from critics and it showed that Union was a leading lady. But first, Union landed the role of
Oscar nominee Will Smith's girlfriend Syd in the film
Bad Boys II, a box office success grossing over $273 million worldwide. Union then 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 also 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 Washington 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".
In 2008, Union appeared on
Ugly Betty as Renee,
Wilhelmina Slater's (
Vanessa Williams) sister and
Daniel Meade's (
Eric Mabius) love interest.
Personal life
In 1992, Union was attacked, beaten and
raped at her part-time job at a shoestore. Her attacker later turned himself in and was sentenced to 33 years in prison. She has since become an advocate for victims of
sexual assault.
In
May 2001, Union married
NFL player
Chris Howard of the
Jacksonville Jaguars; In
November 2005, the couple separated; the divorce was finalized in
April 2006.
Awards and nominations
- BET Awards
- 2005, Best Actress (Nominated)
- 2004, Best Actress (Nominated)
- 2003, Best Actress (Nominated)
Black Reel Awards
Image Awards
- 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 Film Festival
- 2006, Best Actress Neo Ned (Winner)
Filmography
She's All That (1999)
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
H-E Double Hockey Sticks (1999)
Love & Basketball (2000)
Bring It On (2000)
Friends (2001)
The Brothers (2001)
Two Can Play That Game (2001)
Welcome to Collinwood (2002)
Abandon (2002)
Deliver Us from Eva (2003)
Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)
Bad Boys II (2003)
Ride or Die (2003)
Breakin' All the Rules (2004)
Something the Lord Made (2004)
Neo Ned (2005)
The Honeymooners (2005)
Say Uncle (2005)
Running with Scissors (2006)
Constellation (2007)
Daddy's Little Girls (2007)
The Box (2007)
The Perfect Holiday (2007)
Meet Dave (2008)
Cadillac Records (2008)Further Information
Get more info on 'Gabrielle Union'.
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