Queen Latifah's Most Memorable Roles (VIDEO)

Since breaking into the music business in 1989 with her debut opus All Hail the Queen, Queen Latifah (born Dana Elaine Owen) has blossomed into a household name across the entertainment industry. In addition to producing an array of television shows and films via her production company, Flavor Unit Entertainment, the Grammy Award-winning rapper earned an Academy Award-nomination for her performance as Matron Mama Morton in the blockbuster movie musical Chicago.

In celebration of the New Jersey native’s 42nd birthday we take a look at some of her most memorable roles as an actress.

Let us know your favorite Queen Latifah role in the comments section.

WATCH:

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• Khadijah James - 'Living Single'

• Cleopatra 'Cleo' Sims - 'Set It Off'

• Ruffhouse M.C. - 'Juice'

• Lashawn - 'Jungle Fever'

• Zora - 'House Party 2'

• Leslie Wright - 'Just Wright'

• Matron Mama Morton - 'Chicago'

• Aunt ShaNeequa - 'Scary Movie 3'

• Motormouth Maybelle - 'Hairspray'

• Gina Norris - 'Beauty Shop'

Comments

[Better B Good 2me]

05:06 PM on 03/19/2012

O.k., I take that back. I enjoyed her in Chicago.(no pun)

[Better B Good 2me]

05:04 PM on 03/19/2012

Most memorable roles.... rapper/singer. Stick to what works.

[Cakey4814]

02:21 PM on 03/19/2012

Happy Birthday Queen and wish you many more to come.

[LVNVprog]

09:43 AM on 03/19/2012

The Heading is misleading and implies she died. What a horrible way to get you to click on it. I do remember The Sponsor when it came up - McDonalds - I'll skip them this week.

[maybesomeday]

12:34 AM on 03/19/2012

I think anything she touches is gold with one exception. Can't recall the name of the movie but it was a group of women who robbed a bank and she played a gay woman. At the end of the movie she is shot and killed in a hail of bullets by the police.

I think that movie was her way of coming out without ever saying the words which is fine by me but the movie was forgettable.

[Cakey4814]

02:17 PM on 03/19/2012

Oh no...you're talking about Set It Off and that, in my opinion, was one of her best roles and one of my favorite movies..

[cheo]

09:00 PM on 03/18/2012

Since I haven't seen them all I have to go with "Mama" in Chicago. She is tremendously talented.

[Poboy]

01:48 PM on 03/18/2012

While I'm impressed with her acting abilities, she delivers not only on her lines but also on the characters she portrays, I'm most impressed, and surprisingly so, on her singing, not rapping.

I fell in love with her OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE on "Trav'lin' Light."

http://www.amazon.com/Queen-Latifah-Poster-Travelin-Light/dp/B001OC1T6W

From the time I first time saw her in her video "Ladies First," until this album, she has captivated me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCR1akhEfvQ

In EVERY role she has played, in EVERY rap she has done and EVERY song she has sung, she has been outstanding.

Without reservation, without hesitation, and without consternation,

Let's all HAIL THE QUEEN.

[FloridaLAW]

04:20 PM on 03/18/2012

you can hail her, not me

[roch20]

12:59 PM on 03/18/2012

In my humble opinion, Latifah is a very good definition of a successful business woman.

[FloridaLAW]

12:01 PM on 03/18/2012

I'm not a fan of hers and I resent the fact that the white establishment has decided that she is an example of Black beauty. There are so many extraordinarily beautiful Black woman out there but somehow it is always the overweight, non-threatening sisters that make it into the mainstream. Not h8ting on her but I don't think she's an example of Black beauty.

[Poboy]

06:17 PM on 03/18/2012

btw, she appears to be beautiful inside and out.

And talented too.

[FloridaLAW]

07:02 PM on 03/18/2012

you are entitled to your opinion, I respect that.

[Bernard Gabriel Pelaire]

09:13 AM on 03/19/2012

Rihanna? Whitney? Beyonce? Alicia Keys? Overweight, non-threatening?

[Mrs Putrid Festring]

11:33 AM on 03/18/2012

I was hoping the article was about her finally coming out. Poor thing.

[Andrew Schmitt]

08:20 AM on 03/19/2012

why poor thing? you need more gays in the world?

[Mrs Putrid Festring]

09:03 AM on 03/19/2012

well, I guess we know where you're coming from

[firewmn]

11:18 AM on 03/18/2012

I love Queen Latifah..! Especially love her in "last holiday", "bringing Down the house"..! She cracks me Up..!

[olafTheAwesome]

10:59 AM on 03/18/2012

I'll raise my glass to her. Happy 42nd! Long live the Queen!

[bstonblkm1]

10:34 AM on 03/18/2012

pretty impressive for black gay woman in these times

[CAMBEL]

11:13 AM on 03/18/2012

Except she won't admit she is gay. So for now, it's just pretty impressive for a black woman.

[firewmn]

12:29 PM on 03/18/2012

Your comment is lazy and racist...

[Rangergirl]

10:25 AM on 03/18/2012

I am a huge fan of Queen. I think her voice is wonderful. I especially loved it when she sang classic 40-50 standards. Chicago was one of my favorite films. Very talented.