5 ON THE GO! Hot … And Rising! - African American actresses - Brief Article

Ebony, July, 2000

Nia Long

ONE opened on Broadway in the Disney/Elton John Aida and critics said she was the best thing about the multimillion-dollar production. Another specializes in making little-heralded movies (Soul Food, The Best Man) major moments. Still another is a TV star with an electric aura that makes photographers run over superstars in order to take her photograph at major openings. These are among the five brightest stars of the celebrity class of 2000. All are hugely talented, all are pleasing to the eye, and all are a step or perhaps less than a step away from superstardom.

Blessed with girl-next-door good looks and a bewitching charm, Nia Long thrives on versatility. The Brooklyn native first caught America's attention as Cuba Gooding Jr.'s girlfriend in Boyz N the Hood and later became a teen icon on the soap opera Guiding Light. Today, Long is known for her feature-film finesse. She can steam up the screen as a vixen in romantic comedies such as The Best Man, transform into an edgy Sister-friend in sci-fi dramas such as Stigmata or take us from laughter to tears in family movies such as Soul Food. Named for Nia, a Kwanzaa principle that means purpose, the actress is confident about her life's direction, which includes a relationship with a successful Los Angeles businessman. She can next be seen starring in the comedy Held Up with Jamie Foxx.

Heather Headley

Whenever actress Heather Headley hits center stage in any production, audiences and critics go crazy. At the tender age of 25, Broadway's newest sensation has appeared in two of the biggest shows in Broadway history and now commands top billing in the title role of Aida, a Disney Theatrical Production based on the Verdi opera, with music By Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice. This island beauty was born in Trinidad but moved to the States with her parents when she was 15. After her junior year at Northwestern University, she joined the cast of Ragtime and from there she was chosen for The Lion King. Headley, who is single and who lives in the New York area, says she doesn't have time for a serious relationship. Right now, she says, "Aida is my boyfriend." In March she opened on Broadway in the musical Aida with rave reviews for her performance. One newspaper said everything that is right about the musical "can be summed up in two words: Heather Headley."

Michael Michele

Known for her grace and poise, Michael Michele has become a TV darling, winning fans for her performance on ER and for her earlier role as detective Rene Sheppard on Homecide: Life on the Street. She has also captivated audiences in movies such as The Sixth Man and her feature-film debut New Jack City. The product of an interracial marriage (her mother is Black; her father is White), she was named for her mother's best friend, Michael Ann. She is a big supporter of organizations that inspire urban youths. The Indiana native is among this year's most promising leading ladies and is a particular favorite of photographers who have made her one of the pin-ups of the year.

Lisa Raye

The movie industry has been abuzz about Lisa Raye since her breakthrough role as "Diamond" in Ice Cube's The Players Club. The rising star began her career as a model in her Chicago hometown, appearing in EBonY and other national publications as a model for Supreme Beauty haircare products, while attending classes at Eastern Illinois University. She later gained visibility in music videos and guest appearances on TV shows such as Martin and In the House. Raye continues to gain acclaim for her work. After The Players Club, she co-starred in The Wood with Taye Diggs and Omar Epps. She also plays a leading' role to her 10-year-old daughter, Kaienja. The single mom is dating Miami Dolphins back Tony Martin. Raised a Baptist, she now practices Buddhism. She enjoys cooking and working out in Tae Bo classes.

Sanaa Lathan

Sanaa Lathan turned a lot of heads with her sexy, steamy bathtub scene with Taye Diggs in the hit film The Best Man. The California native also gave well-received performances in The Wood, Life and Blade. The daughter of actor Stan Lathan, Sanaa is a graduate of the prestigious Yale School of Drama, where she starred in Twelfth Night and other dramas. She also starred in a variety of off-Broadway productions. On the small screen, she was a regular on the NBC series Lateline and appeared on NYPD Blue and in the CBS movie Miracle in the Woods.