Sanaa McCoy Lathan (/səˈnɑ/ born September 19, 1971) is an American stage, film, television, and voice actress. She is the daughter of actress Eleanor McCoy and film director Stan Lathan. She earned bachelor's degree in English from University of California, Berkeley, and a master's degree in drama from Yale.
She is best known for her roles as Robyn in The Best Man films and subsequent TV miniseries on Peacock, Naomi Hicks on Netflix's Hit & Run, Violet Jones in Nappily Ever After, Ashe Akino on Fox's drama Shots Fired, Deputy Director Natalie Austin in Now You See Me 2 (2016), Leah Vaughn in The Perfect Guy (2015), Jenelle Wilson on Showtime's drama The Affair, Mona Fredricks on Starz' drama Boss, Andrea in Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (2008), Beneatha Younger in ABC's film adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun (2008), Kenya McQueen in Something New (2006), Ann Merai Harrison in Out of Time (2004), Sidney 'Sid' Shaw in Brown Sugar (2002), Monica Wright in Love & Basketball (2000), Zora Banks in Disappearing Acts (2000), Alicia in The Wood (1999), Vanessa Brooks - the mother of Wesley Snipes' title character - in Blade (1998), and Briana Gilliam on NBC's sitcom Lateline.
She had recurring roles on HBO's Succession and FX's Nip/Tuck, and starred on NBC's short-lived sitcom Built to Last. In 2022, she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, for her work on the television series Succession.
Her other movie credits include With/In Vol 1 (2021) and Vol 2 (2022), American Assassin (2017), Contagion (2011), Powder Blue (2009), AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004), and more. She voiced Catwoman on HBO's animated series Harley Quinn, and Donna Tubbs on The Cleveland Show and on all Family Guy appearances.
In 2004, she starred on Broadway as Beneatha Younger in A Raisin in the Sun with Sean Combs, Audra McDonald, and Phylicia Rashad, and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress. She later reprise her role in the 2008 film adaptation. In 2010, she starred in the all-black performance of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Novello Theatre in London.
She earned a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her recurring role on Succession. She received an NAACP Image Award Nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her performance in Brown Sugar. She received a NAACP Image Award nomination for her performance in The Best Man. She earned an Essence Award for Best Actress for her performance in Disappearing Acts. She earned the 2001 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture, an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress, and a BET Award for her performance in Love & Basketball.
In 2000, she was named by Ebony magazine as one of its 55 Most Beautiful People and was honored by Essence magazine and Black Entertainment Television.
In 2022, she made her directorial debut with the film On the Come Up, in which she also has a supporting role.
2024
as Barbara Jean Maxberry
2023
as Janice Huffman
2022
as Robyn
2022
as Jay
2022
2021
as Naomi Hicks
2021
as (segment "Leap")
2021
as Nia (voice)
2019
as Catwoman (voice)
2019
as Nina Harrison
2019
as Trudy Thomas
2018
as Violet Jones
2018
as Lisa Arthur
2017
as Irene Kennedy
2017
as Ashe Akino
2016
as Captain Emily Maddox
2016
as Deputy Director Natalie Austin
2015
as Leah Vaughn
2014
as Jenelle Wilson
2014
as Maggie
2013
as Robyn
2011
as Mona Fredricks
2011
as Aubrey Cheever
2009
as Donna Tubbs (voice)
2009
as Diana
2009
as Khadi
2008
as Andrea
2008
as Beneatha Younger
2006
as Kenya McQueen
2005
as Monica (voice)
2004
as Alexa Woods
2003
as Ann Merai Harrison
2003
2002
as Sidney 'Sid' Shaw
2000
as Zora Banks
2000
as Sibby Sanders
2000
as Monica Wright
1999
as Robyn
1999
as Alicia
1999
as Daisy
1999
as Nina
1999
as Claire Huxtable (voice)
1999
as Muhammad Ali's Wife (voice)
1999
as Donna Tubbs (voice)
1998
as Vanessa
1998
as Briana Gilliam
1997
as Young Lilly
1997
as Linda
1997
as Carolyn Brody
1996
as Ebony
1995
as Charese
1989
as Allison