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Gabrielle Union - Biography |
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Gabrielle Union had planned on
attending law school, but began acting after the modeling agency she
interned with as a college junior asked to represent her. She then won a
series of small roles in television and film, including Love and
Basketball, 10 Things I Hate About You (both 1999), and a part on the
short-lived series City of Angels (2000). But her career really took off
after her breakthrough portrayal of a sassy cheerleading captain from
Compton in the late-summer surprise hit Bring It On (2000).
It's interesting that cheerleading would be the activity that helped
launch Union's star. The Omaha, NE, native was born October 29, 1973, and
spent much of her youth playing sports, from soccer to basketball to
track. She attended high school in Nebraska, where she was an all-star
point guard, and after graduating, moved to Los Angeles to attend school
at U.C.L.A.
After graduating with honors, Union chose to forego law school, stay in
L.A., and concentrate on her acting career, which took off after her
sparring with cheerleading rival Kirsten Dunst in Bring It On. After that
film's release, Union won a substantial role in The Brothers and was
slated to appear with an all-star cast in Welcome to Collinwood, as well
as in Oscar-winner Stephen Gaghan's directorial debut Abandon. Her future
film line up looking ever more impressive, Union took her biggest role to
date as the acerbic titular character in the comedy Deliver Us from Eva.
Subsequently slated to appear in Cradle 2 the Grave and Bad Boys II, it
appeared as if Union's film career was just warming up. |
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Gabrielle Union - Personal Quotes |
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"I have no problem with that!
I'd rather be that than Quasimodo. Or a method actor" - on her
status as a sex symbol
"Thank God for J-Lo. All of a sudden big asses are de rigueur."
"I'm a Catholic girl from Omaha, and then all of a sudden they
spring this scene on me. Afterwards I had to go to confession. I
said, "Forgive me Father, for I have just bared my ass in front of
the world. How many Hail Marys will it take to absolve me of that!"
- on her strip scene in Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)
"After Halle Berry does her films and Latifah does her films, it's
left to all the black, Latino and Asian actresses to fight over a
couple of roles. I opted for some TV. There just not a ton of work
in film."
"Halle's success has come more from blockbusters. But, yes, she is a
source of inspiration. When she makes money, black actors make
money."- On Halle Berry's success
"I didn't want to act. I thought it was a cheesy profession--but
when I was a junior, I got an internship at a modeling agency. When
my internship ended, they said, 'We'd be interested in representing
you.' I was like, 'If you think someone will pay me to be cheesy,
sure, whatever!' "
"I have the Samuel Jackson mentality, of working as much as
possible. I think about Halle [Berry] and [Queen] Latifah, and they
are the only two black actresses that work consistently. It scares
me."
"I like directors who have worked as actors. They know the
experience."
"I still hear things like 'Gabrielle, you gave the best read! If we
decide to go black, you're at the top of the list.' I've actually
been told, 'Gabrielle, you're absolutely perfect for the role, but
the role is a girl who's most popular in school.' I've been to the
point where I brought in my yearbook. 'See how popular I was? It
really can happen.' "
"I want to be Miss USA or Miss America. I would bring the trophy
back to Nebraska. My interests are agriculture and corn. Hey, I'm
just riding this train as long as I can. As long as I'm having fun,
I'll do it. When it stops being fun, I'll try something else. Maybe
I'll open up a chain of Popeye's Chicken."- On what she'll do next
"It is all that an actress can hope for. The experience was very
organic. I was able to be creative. In comedies, you go for the
joke, and embellish. Action films are about action. They're not
about performances."
"The black community in Hollywood is very small and close-knit.
Everyone has a common goal: to make a two-hour movie in 30 days. We
watch each others' scenes. There is a natural chemistry. You can't
have a crazy diva walking around saying, "As long as I'm lit well .
. ." Or, "I only care if I do well." |
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Gabrielle Union - Filmography |
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Starship Dave (2008)
Football Wives (2007) (TV) .... Chardonnay Lane
The Box (2007/II) .... Det. Cris Romano
Perfect Christmas (2007) .... Nancy
Daddy's Little Girls (2007) .... Julia
... aka Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls (USA: complete title)
Running with Scissors (2006) .... Dorothy
"Night Stalker" .... Perri Reed (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
- What's the Frequency, Kolchak? (2006) TV Episode .... Perri Reed
- Timeless (2006) TV Episode .... Perri Reed
- Into Night (2006) TV Episode .... Perri Reed
- The Sea (2006) TV Episode .... Perri Reed
- The Source (2005) TV Episode .... Perri Reed
(5 more)
"Family Guy" .... Shauna Parks (1 episode, 2005)
... aka Padre de familia (USA: Spanish title)
- Peter's Got Woods (2005) TV Episode (voice) .... Shauna Parks
Say Uncle (2005) .... Elise Carter
The Honeymooners (2005) .... Alice Kramden
Neo Ned (2005) .... Rachael
Constellation (2005) .... Carmel Boxer
Something the Lord Made (2004) (TV) .... Clara Thomas
Breakin' All the Rules (2004) .... Nicky Callas
"The West Wing" .... Meeshel Anders (1 episode, 2004)
- The Benign Prerogative (2004) TV Episode .... Meeshel Anders
Ride or Die (2003) .... Masked Woman
... aka Hustle and Heat (Canada: English title: DVD title) (USA: DVD
title)
... aka Ride or Die (UK: video title)
Bad Boys II (2003) .... Syd
... aka Good Cops: Bad Boys II (Malaysia: English title)
Cradle 2 the Grave (2003) .... Daria
Deliver Us from Eva (2003) .... Evangeline 'Eva' Dandrige
"The Proud Family" .... Iesha / ... (1 episode, 2003)
- Hooray for Iesha (2003) TV Episode (voice) .... Sunny
Stevens/Iesha
Abandon (2002) .... Amanda Luttrell
Welcome to Collinwood (2002) .... Michelle
... aka Safecrackers oder Diebe haben's schwer (Germany)
Two Can Play That Game (2001) .... Conny Spalding
"Friends" .... Kristin Lang (1 episode, 2001)
- The One with the Cheap Wedding Dress (2001) TV Episode ....
Kristin Lang
The Brothers (2001/I) .... Denise Johnson
Close to Home (2001) (TV)
"City of Angels" .... Dr. Courtney Ellis (11 episodes, 2000)
- SWAT's Happening (2000) TV Episode .... Dr. Courtney Ellis
- Smoochas Gracias (2000) TV Episode .... Dr. Courtney Ellis
- Saving Faces (2000) TV Episode .... Dr. Courtney Ellis
- The Lone Free Ranger (2000) TV Episode .... Dr. Courtney Ellis
- Nathan's Hot Dog (2000) TV Episode .... Dr. Courtney Ellis
(6 more)
Bring It On (2000) .... Isis
"Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane" .... Lana (1 episode, 2000)
... aka Zoe (Australia) (USA: new title)
... aka Zoe... (USA: promotional abbreviation)
- Too Much Pressure (2000) TV Episode .... Lana
"The Others" .... Lindsay (1 episode, 2000)
- Theta (2000) TV Episode .... Lindsay
Love & Basketball (2000) .... Shawnee
... aka Love and Basketball (USA: closing credits title)
"ER" .... Tamara Davis (1 episode, 2000)
- Family Matters (2000) TV Episode .... Tamara Davis
H-E Double Hockey Sticks (1999) .... Gabrielle
"Grown Ups" .... Marcus's Date (1 episode, 1999)
- Pilot (1999) TV Episode .... Marcus's Date
"Clueless" .... Lydia (1 episode, 1999)
- Prom Misses, Prom Misses (1999) TV Episode .... Lydia
10 Things I Hate About You (1999) .... Chastity
She's All That (1999) .... Katie
"7th Heaven" .... Keesha Hamilton (5 episodes, 1996-1999)
... aka 7th Heaven: Beginnings (USA: rerun title)
... aka Seventh Heaven
- The Tribes That Bind (1999) TV Episode .... Keesha Hamilton
- It Takes a Village (1998) TV Episode .... Keesha Hamilton
- Happy's Valentine (1997) TV Episode .... Keesha Hamilton
- America's Most Wanted (1997) TV Episode .... Keesha Hamilton
- The Color of God (1996) TV Episode .... Keesha Hamilton
"The Steve Harvey Show" .... Naomi Parson (1 episode, 1998)
- The He-Man, Player-Hater's Club (1998) TV Episode .... Naomi
Parson
"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" .... N'Garen (1 episode, 1997)
... aka DS9 (USA: promotional abbreviation)
... aka Deep Space Nine (USA: short title)
... aka Star Trek: DS9 (USA: short title)
- Sons and Daughters (1997) TV Episode .... N'Garen
"City Guys" .... Katisha Grant (1 episode, 1997)
- The Date (1997) TV Episode .... Katisha Grant
"Sister, Sister" .... Shawn / ... (2 episodes, 1997)
- Show Me the Money (1997) TV Episode .... Shawn
- Guardian Angel (1997) TV Episode .... Vanessa
"Hitz" .... Soul (1 episode, 1997)
- The Godfather: Not the Movie (1997) TV Episode .... Soul
"Dave's World" .... Carly (1 episode, 1997)
- Oh Dad, Poor Dad (1997) TV Episode .... Carly
"Smart Guy" .... Lydia (1 episode, 1997)
- Don't Do That Thing You Do (1997) TV Episode .... Lydia
"Goode Behavior" .... Tracy Monaghan (3 episodes, 1996)
- Goode Grades (1996) TV Episode .... Tracy Monaghan
- Goode Golly, Miss Molly (1996) TV Episode .... Tracy Monaghan
- Goode and Scared (1996) TV Episode .... Tracy Monaghan
"Saved by the Bell: The New Class" .... Jennifer (1 episode, 1996)
- The Tall and the Short of It (1996) TV Episode .... Jennifer
"Malibu Shores" .... Shannon Everette (1 episode, 1996)
- The Competitive Edge (1996) TV Episode .... Shannon Everette
"Moesha" .... Ashli (1 episode, 1996)
- Friends (1996) TV Episode .... Ashli |
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Gabrielle Union - Related Links |
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Wikipedia: Gabrielle Union
YouTube: Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union at Babemania.com
Top Celebrities Sites:
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