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Jennifer Lopez Biography

Posted by Vogt
at May 9, 2008

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A Bronx-born actress-singer-dancer of Puerto Rican descent, Jennifer Lopez quickly went from a rising starlet to leading lady, with her sultry, intelligent eyes, luxuriant wavy hair, and fluid body of legendary voluptuousness coming across well on the big screen. Lopez first won attention as a “fly girl”, one of the back-up dancers on the Fox variety series “In Living Color” and went on to act in several failed TV series before reaching the big time, leading in feature films and hitting the top of the Billboard charts. This daughter of a computer specialist and a kindergarten teacher always wanted to perform and began taking dance lessons at an early age. Lopez later danced in the European tour of “Golden Musicals of Broadway”, in the chorus behind Hinton Battle in the Japanese tour of “Synchronicity” and in numerous music videos and TV variety specials.

While she made her film debut in “My Little Girl” (1986), her real showbiz break did not come until she beat out 2,000 other aspirants, impressing choreographer Rosie Perez, and landing a spot in the chorus of “In Living Color”. Lopez stayed with the show from 1991-1993, when she elected to branch out into acting. TV roles came quickly, although the vehicles were not all that successful. She made her TV-movie debut as a nurse among crash victims in the dense Mexican jungle in “Nurses on the Line: The Crash of Flight 7″ (CBS, 1993). She went on to portray Melinda Lopez, a Latina maiden under the watchful eye of her father (Pepe Serna) in the short-lived CBS series “Second Chances” (1993-94), and repeated the role in “Hotel Malibu” (1994), an equally unsuccessful revamp of the former. She also appeared in “South Central” (Fox, 1994), as a co-worker of star Tina Lifford. In 1994, Lopez even co-hosted “Growing Up Roses” (CBS), a special recapping the best moments in Tournament of Roses Parade history.

TV proved too small a medium for Lopez, whose talent and charisma as well as hypnotic good looks cried out for the big screen. Her first feature success came with Gregory Nava’s “My Family/Mi Familia” (1995), which found her cast as the youthful version of the matriarch of the Mexican-American family, a woman who survived illegal deportation and near-drowning to return to her husband in Los Angeles. That same year, she co-starred as the pistol-packing Gloria Santiago opposite Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes in the action blockbuster “Money Train”. In 1996, she was Robin Williams’ sympathetic fifth grade teacher, (a role not specifically written for a Latina) in “Jack”, a fantasy by Francis Ford Coppola that starred Williams as a ten-year-old whose aging process is drastically accelerated.

Lopez was catapulted to prominence when she was cast in the title role of “Selena” (1997), the moving biopic about the beloved slain Tejano singer. Selena’s influential life and tragic death made for a truly compelling film, and the actress’ vibrant, intuitive portrayal set her apart from her peers and readied her for stardom. With strong reviews for her turn in the noirish thriller “Blood and Wine”, Lopez was poised for greater things, as evidenced by her casting alongside Nick Nolte and Sean Penn in Oliver Stone’s “U-Turn” (both also 1997). In 1998, Lopez solidified her leading lady status, starring opposite George Clooney in Steven Soderbergh’s subtly steamy action thriller “Out of Sight”. Displaying a winning sense of humor that added a down-to-earth charm to her undeniable sultriness, Lopez proved a good fit for heartthrob Clooney, and the two displayed the kind of onscreen fireworks that were notably missing in the actor’s prior efforts.

Winning rave reviews for her performance, Lopez was well on her way to superstardom, and made the most of her fame by releasing her debut album, a decidedly NYC-flavored dance record entitled “On the 6″ after the subway line that runs from her Bronx home into Manhattan. While the singles “If You Had My Love” and “Waiting For Tonight” tore up the charts and pumped out of nightclub speakers, Lopez was enjoying more screen success as the star of the odd sci-fi thriller “The Cell” (2000). Directed by famed commercial and music video visionary Tarsem, the film drew from various art influences, and made up for lagging plot devices with an sweet dose of eye candy. Lopez outfitted in ornate, elaborate and futuristic garb pleased audiences, though her courageous but slightly stilted performance as a child psychologist with a talent for probing the subconscious was less remarkable. In 2001, she tried her hand at fluffy romantic comedy, playing “The Wedding Planner” who quite literally falls for the groom (Matthew McConaughey). Lopez showed a surprising talent for the sillier side of things, and convincingly ditched her glamorous image for one of a frazzled workaholic prone to pratfalls and other embarrassing mishaps. Audiences flocked to the feel-good comedy, and the final week in January 2001 saw the film as well as her newly-released album “J.Lo” hit the top of their respective charts simultaneously.

Keeping up her career’s positive momentum, Lopez starred as a policewoman who falls for Jim Caviezel in the romantic thriller “Angel Eyes”(2001). In 2002, Lopez starred in Michael Apted’s thiller/drama “Enough”. In this film, Lopez played an abused woman who realized that the only way to escape her abuser (her husband) was to kill him. Both “Angel Eyes” and “Enough” performed wanly at the box office, but Lopez, who also released the poorly reviewed but popular album “This is Me…” in 2002, remained one of the most talked-about performers of her generation and a perennial fixture on magazine covers and entertainment news shows–a status that went into overdrive following her 2002 engagement to actor Ben Affleck. Her next film cast her in a mild, “Pretty Woman”-esque Cinderella mode for “Maid in Manhattan” (2002), in which she played a housekeeper at a high class New York hotel who falls for a handsome politician (Ralph Finnes).

Lopez’s public profile reached critical mass with the release of “Gigli” (2003), the mob-based action-comedy on which she first met (and presumably fell for) Affleck. After months of media hype surrounding the “Bennifer” relationship, public expectation of an on-screen romance between Lopez and Affleck was so high, the film was the subject of extensive reshooting and reconfiguring to accomodate the perceptions, although Lopez’s character was written and initially shot as a confirmed lesbian. The film, a gangster action-comedy in which Affleck plays an incompotent mob thug, was the victim of bad buzz for months before its release and received a critical drubbing–possibly even an over-harsh response–when it finally hit theaters, giving it almost “Ishtar”-like bomb status. Lopez continued to exist at the eye of the media storm when she and Affleck called off their wedding in September 2003 and split for good in early 2004, followed by press reports that she sought solace with Latin singing sensation Marc Anthony. Meanwhile, the “Bennifer” backlash was so intense, the makers of the next Affleck-Lopez collaboration, writer-director Kevin Smith’s middling romantic comedy “Jersey Girl” (2004) extremely downplayed Lopez’s involvement (and indeed, her role was small and brief, playing Affleck’s doomed wife in the film’s opening sequences). The final shocker came five months after the Lopez-Affleck split when Lopez suddenly married the newly divorced Anthony in surprise ceremony that perhaps solidified her off-screen reputation as the Elizabeth Taylor of her generation–although the couple took eight months before officially confirming their marriage and refused to discuss it further.

In midst of her busy life as a celebrity, Lopez also continued to make films: she was paired opposite Richard Gere as an icy dance instructor who rediscovers her passions as she teaches Gere’s obsessed family man how to move across the dance floor in the romance “Shall We Dance?” (2004), a role that made great use of her prowess as a dancer. In 2005 Lopez–who announced that she preferred it if the media dropped the “J-Lo” monicker–made headlines with her live duet with Anthony at the 47th annual Grammy Awards (their over-the-top, melodramatic performance of the song “Escapémonos” was snickered at by critics of her musical ability, though Anthony took home the Grammy for best Latin pop album for “Amar Sin Mentiras”) and she demonstrated her continual entreprenurial spirit with a new fragrance launch, the debut of her Sweetface clothing line (which prompted protests from animal activists due to its use of fur), and a new album, “Rebirth,” a return to club-style dance beats which launched to initially disappointing sales. Her next film, the comedy “Monster-In-Law” (2005), pitted her effectively against screen legend Jane Fonda (in her first role in 15 years): in the film Lopez’s sweet-natured temp finds the man of her dreams, only to be menaced by his meddling, over-protective mother who hopes to drive her away. Candy-sweet on the outside at first, Lopez eventually reveals the inner steel that made her more than a match for the icon Fonda. Her next film, Lasse Halstrom’s “An Unfinished Life” (2005) was released long after completion due to the complexities of the restructuring of Miramax following the departure of Bob and Harvey Weinstein, and while Lopez generally recieved good notices for her role as a widowed mother in an abusive relationship who seeks shelter with her estranged father-in-law (Robert Redford),

The actress also developed and executive produced the TV series “South Beach” (UPN, 2005 - ), an ensemble drama about three young adults whose dreams and aspirations lead them to Miami. She next was set to star in “Bridge and Tunnel” (lensed 2006), a romantic comedy in which she played a stock trader who depends on a suburban teen who day-trades on his home computer.

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Téa Leoni Biography

Posted by Vogt
at May 9, 2008

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A beautiful actress with a distinctive, honeyed, husky voice, Leoni developed an interest in acting at an early age encouraged by her grandmother, a Broadway performer. She dropped out of college to tour the world and upon her return to the US, was cast in the busted pilot “Angels ‘88″, a remake of the 1970s “Charlie’s Angels”. She made her film debut as the “dream girl” in Blake Edwards’ gender-bending “Switch” (1991). Leoni garnered rave reviews for her non-stereotypical portrayal of a flamboyant blonde bombshell in the Fox sitcom “Flying Blind” (1992-93). She was criticized for an infamous interview in connection with that show in which she said there wasn’t enough sex on TV, at least not enough “all-American, healthy, fun sex.” With her great looks and flamboyant style, Leoni landed the title role in the Fox TV-movie “The Counterfeit Contessa” (1994). As Gina, a streetwise Brooklyn woman swept into New York society and romance with an attorney when she is mistaken for an Italian countess, Leoni earned critical kudos. She and producer Chris Thompson developed the idea for “The Naked Truth” (ABC, 1995-96; NBC 1996-98) in which Leoni created the role of Nora Wilde, a formerly rich divorcee forced to become a tabloid newspaper photographer.

Leoni’s additional feature film credits include Penny Marshall’s “A League of Their Own” (1992), in which Leoni accidentally hit Madonna with a baseball. In Lawrence Kasdan’s overlong oater “Wyatt Earp” (1994), she shone as a tough frontier prostitute. Leoni co-starred with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in “Bad Boys” (1995) as a sexy crime witness who causes two Miami drug enforcement cops to exchange identities. The following year, she once again showed her sultry appeal in David O Russell’s “Flirting With Disaster.”

Leoni once again displayed her pluck as a newswoman who discovers that Earth is about to be destroyed by a meteor in “Deep Impact” (1998). By the time of its release, she had married actor David Duchovny, and she took a brief hiatus for motherhood. Returning to the big screen in 2000, Leoni lent her sexy intelligence to the role of Nicolas Cage’s wife in the holiday fantasy “The Family Man”. The next year, she was among those facing off against dinosaurs in the inevitable sequel “Jurassic Park 3.” In 2002, Leoni starred as Woody Allen’s wife in “Hollywood Ending,” where Allen played a film director who goes blind, and appeared as a celebrity with troublesome addictions in the well-regarded but little-seen “People I Know” (2002) opposite Al Pacino.

The actress next snared one of her highest-profile roles when she appeared as Adam Sandler’s high-strung, out-of-control wife Deborah Clasky in writer-director James L. Brooks’ seriocomic “Spanglish” (2004). Leoni played her character’s emotionally frayed existence at a high pitch, and somehow made her lovable at the same time, despite an abundance of tics and neuroses that seem far from the experience of a normal human being—she also delivered the most raucous orgasm sequence on film since Meg Ryan in “When Harry Met Sally.” After starring in her husband’s directorial debut, “The House of D” (2005), Leoni starred opposite Jim Carrey in the high-profile comedy, “Fun With Dick and Jane” (2005), a remake of the 1976 film starring Jane Fonda and George Segal. In the updated version, Carrey and Leoni played Dick and Jane Harper, a married couple so desperate to retain their deluxe suburban home and luxury cars after Dick loses his job that they resort to armed robbery—even if all they want is an iced mocha.

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Lil Kim Biography

Posted by Vogt
at May 9, 2008

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Kimberly Jones, professionally Lil Kim (also called The Queen Bee and The Lieutenant and The Queen Bitch such as the QB of all bitches) is a United States rapper who was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of New York City on July 11, 1976. She first appeared in the music industry in the early 1990s, as a member of the East Coast hip hop group, Junior Mafia. Kim’s songs have a reputation for being graphically sexual and explicit. Kim made her film debut in She’s All That (1999). She now lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Kim began her career as a solo artist with the 1996 release of her debut solo album, Hard Core. Hard Core was well-received critically and commercially; sales were buoyed due to her association with the Notorious B.I.G. Its first single, “No Time”, featured Puff Daddy on the chorus and became an instant hit on hip-hop radio. In early 1997, the second single, “Crush On You,” featured fellow Junior Mafia member, Lil Ceaser, and was an even bigger hit, thanks in part to the track’s memorable and colorful video.

During the summer of 1997, Kim released a remix of “Not Tonight” a very explicit track off of Hard Core, for a film soundtrack. The remix featured a sample of the disco song “Ladies’ Night” and was a girl-power anthem, featuring rhymes by Angie Martinez, Da Brat, TLC’s Lisa Lopes, and Missy Elliott, in addition to Kim. As was the case with “Crush On You,” the song and video were both hugely successful.

In 2000, Lil Kim returned, after an absence from music, with her second full-length album, The Notorious K.I.M. It was not as commercially successful as her debut album, but it spawned two moderate hit hip hop singles, “No Matter What They Say” and “How Many Licks,” which featured Sisqo on the chorus and a risque video that only had limited play on MTV.

In spring of 2001, Lil Kim teamed up with Pink, Mýa, and Christina Aguilera on a remake of Patti Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade,” for which Kim provided a new rap verse. The track was produced by hot hip-hop producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott and was featured in Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge!. The song’s memorable video featured the four singers dressed in very skimpy clothes and heavy makeup, like women who appear at the Moulin Rouge would typically be dressed. The video was Kim’s first major pop radio hit.

Most recently, Kim released her third studio album, La Bella Mafia, in spring of 2003. The first single and video, “The Jump Off” featured rapper Mr. Cheeks, and was a sizeable hit. Kim also appeared in a posthumous music video for Aaliyah, “Miss You”, in which Kim, Missy Elliott, Brandy, Tweet, DMX, Montel Williams, and several others pay tribute to the deceased star.

During the summer of 2003, “Magic Stick,” the second single from La Bella Mafia, became one of the year’s biggest hits, thanks in part to guest raps from 50 Cent. It is one of the few songs in recent years to have hit number one without the aid of a music video, and is Kim’s most successful single to date.

In the past, Kim has been featured on hit songs by Ray-J, Mobb Deep, The Lox, and the posthumous Notorious B.I.G. track, “Notorious B.I.G.” which contains an extremely blatant sample of Duran Duran’s 1980s hit, “Notorious”.

In addition to being recognized for her music, Kim is notorious for her avant garde style. In what is probably her most memorable public appearance, Lil Kim showed up at the 1999 MTV VMAs with an entire breast hanging out and only a tiny piece of fabric over the nipple. Kim’s outfit became even more controversial later that night, when she appeared on stage with Mary J. Blige and Diana Ross to present an award, and Ms. Ross reached over, cupped her hand under Kim’s exposed breast and jiggled it while both laughed heartily. It was later described as Ross getting to second base with Kim on national television.

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Sanaa Lathan Biography

Posted by Vogt
at May 9, 2008

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A graduate of the prestigious Yale School of Drama, and a wide-eyed luminous beauty with a knowing but infectious smile, actress Sanaa Lathan was poised to become a breakout star. Her career was well-paced, the performer choosing interesting and multifaceted ensemble roles that showcased her abilities before making her starring debut with the Sundance screened independent “Love and Basketball” (2000). Born into an entertainment family (her father is director Stan Lathan and her mother a professional dancer) she performed frequently in Off-Broadway and regional productions in addition to work in film and television. Pursuing a film acting career, Lathan headed to Los Angeles in 1996, and soon landed guest starring roles on TV series including ABC’s “Family Matters” and UPN’s “In the House” and “Moesha” (all 1997). That same year she co-starred as the young incarnation of Della Reese’s troubled elderly woman in the CBS TV-movie drama “Miracle in the Woods”. Lathan had a featured guest spot on ABC’s “NYPD Blue” in 1998 before scoring a regular role on an NBC show-within-a-show sitcom, playing Brianna, a booker for the a late-night news program “Lateline” (1998-1999; unaired episodes picked up by Showtime and broadcast 1999-2000). While her role was unfortunately underdeveloped, Lathan made the most of what lines she had, and emerged as an engaging presence.

In 1998, Lathan made her film debut with a role opposite Wesley Snipes and Stephen Dorff in the supernatural action film “Blade”. In 1999, she would gain recognition for her work in two African-American ensemble films, “The Wood” and “The Best Man”. In “The Wood”, Lathan played the grown up version of the protagonist’s teenage crush turned best friend. Her work in the film was memorable although it didn’t afford her much onscreen time. As Robin in “The Best Man”, she played the girlfriend of commitment-shy novelist Harper (Taye Diggs), a man bestowed with the title honor in a friend’s wedding. Lathan was subtle and insinuating in the role, creating a strong, well-rounded and entirely sympathetic character. That same year she appeared as Eddie Murphy’s love interest in the prison buddy comedy “Life”. Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “Love and Basketball” (2000), a time-spanning look at the growth of a romantic relationship and the development of a star athletes, paired Lathan with “The Wood” co-star Omar Epps, each playing talented basketball players who become childhood friends and come closer through their respective trials to make the big time, ultimately coming to question which of the two titular things is more important. “Love and Basketball” was a challenge for Lathan, who had no real life basketball experience. Tireless training helped her to get to a skill level that would facilitate filming, and the buzz surrounding this well-crafted breakout film propelled the beautiful and talented actress into the spotlight. Later that year, she reteamed with Prince-Bythewood, co-starring in the director’s adaptation of Terry McMillan’s “Disappearing Acts” (2000), an HBO original film.

In 2002, Lathan reunited with Taye Diggs and the director of “The Wood” (Rick Famuyiwa) to film “Brown Sugar”, a romantic comedy that also featured Mos Def. The actress then secured a high profile, breakthrough role opposite Denzell Washington in director Carl Franklin’s crime thriller “Out of Time” (2003), playing Washington’s high school sweetheart, with whom he becomes embroiled in an adulterous affair. Between film projects, Latham kept busy on the stage, starring opposite Billy Crudup in the New York Shakespeare Festival’s Central Park production of “Measure for Measure” in the summer of 2001; and in 2003, she starred opposite Sean Combs and Phyllicia Rashad in the Broadway production of “A Raisin in the Sun,” for which she received a Tony nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play. That triumph was immediately followed by a turn as the leader of an archeological expedition caught up in a war between extraterrestrial baddies in the fushion franchise “Alien Vs. Predator” (2004).

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