Grew up in East Orange, New Jersey

Trained in karate and use of firearms by her policeman father

Was a power forward on two state championship basketball teams in high school

Worked at a Burger King fast-food restaurant

Worked as a cashier at the Wiz in Newark, New Jersey

Formed a rhyming group, Ladies Fresh, with two high school friends; won high school talent contest

Had her demo tapes placed in circulation by a deejay friend

"Discovered" by MTV host Fab 5 Freddy

Released her debut album, All Hail the Queen

TV debut, "Time Warner Presents the Earth Day Special" (ABC)

First series guest spot, "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"

Feature acting debut, Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever"

First major supporting role, "House Party 2"

First substantial feature dramatic role, "My Life"

Cast as a regular on the Fox sitcom "Living Single"; also wrote and performed the theme song

On July 16 the car in which she was a passenger was car-jacked in NYC; bodyguard was shot

Profiled on "Intimate Portrait" (Lifetime)

Hosted the syndicated talk show "Queen Latifah"

Had recurring role as a psychic on the ABC sitcom "Spin City"

Appeared in the CBS mini-series "Living With the Dead" about real-life psychic detective James Van Praagh

Cast in a supporting role in "Brown Sugar" starring Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan

Cast as Glenda the Good Witch in "The O.Z." a hip-hop TV adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz"

Cast as Matron Mama Morton in the musical feature adaptation of "Chicago"; earned Golden Globe and Oscar nominations

Co-starred with Steve Martin in the comedy "Bringing Down the House"

Partnered with Curvations the lingerie line that applauds women with curves and confidence; also appeared as the face and body behind the new line of intimate apparel

Received grammy nomination for "Best Female Rap Solo Performance" for the song "Go Head"

Starred as a Beauty salon owner in "Barbershop 2: Back in Business"

Made screenwritting debut with the comedy "The Cookout," also produced

Received a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album The Dana Owens Album

Starred in "Beauty Shop" a spin-off of the successful "Barber Shop" films

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (January)

Co-starred as Emma Thompson's stern assisstant in the Marc Forster comedy, "Stranger Than Fiction"

Portrayed (also produced) an HIV-positive woman in the HBO movie "Life Support"; earned an Emmy nomination for Best Actress

Cast as Motormouth Maybelle in the big screen version of the Tony-winning Broadway musical "Hairspray"

Co-starred with Diane Keaton and Katie Holmes in "Mad Money"