Category: Girls

Britney Spears
Spears in 2013
Born	Britney Jean Spears (1981-12-02) December 2, 1981 (age 42) McComb, Mississippi, U.S.
Education	Professional Performing Arts School Parklane Academy[1]
Occupations	Singer songwriter dancer actress
Years active	1992–present
Works	Discography songs unreleased videography
Spouses	Jason Allen Alexander ​ ​ (m. 2004; ann. 2004)​ Kevin Federline ​ ​ (m. 2004; div. 2007)​ Sam Asghari ​ ​ (m. 2022; sep. 2023)​
Children	2
Parents	Jamie Spears Lynne Spears
Relatives	Bryan Spears (brother) Jamie Lynn Spears (sister)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Pop dance-pop electropop teen pop
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Jive RCA
Musical artist
Website	britneyspears.com britney.com
Signature

Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Spears has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. She has earned numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy Award, 15 Guinness world records, six MTV Video Music Awards, seven Billboard Music Awards (including the Millennium Award), the inaugural Radio Disney Icon Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her heavily choreographed music videos earned her the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

After appearing in stage productions and television series, Spears signed with Jive Records in 1997 at age fifteen. Her first two studio albums, ...Baby One More Time (1999) and Oops!... I Did It Again (2000), are among the best-selling albums of all time and made Spears the best-selling teenage artist of all time. With first-week sales of over 1.3 million copies, Oops!... I Did It Again held the record for the fastest-selling album by a female artist in the United States for fifteen years. Spears adopted a more mature and provocative style for her albums Britney (2001) and In the Zone (2003), and starred in the 2002 film Crossroads. She was executive producer of her fifth studio album, Blackout (2007), often referred to as her best work.^[2] Following a series of highly publicized personal problems, promotion for the album was limited, and Spears was involuntarily placed in a conservatorship.

Subsequently, Spears released the chart-topping albums, Circus (2008) and Femme Fatale (2011), the latter of which became her most successful era of singles in the US charts. With "3" in 2009 and "Hold It Against Me" in 2011, Spears became the second artist after Mariah Carey in the Billboard Hot 100's history to debut at number one with two or more songs. She embarked on a four-year concert residency, Britney: Piece of Me, at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas to promote her next two albums Britney Jean (2013) and Glory (2016). In 2019, Spears' legal battle over her conservatorship became more publicized and led to the establishment of the #FreeBritney movement.^[3] In 2021, the conservatorship was terminated following her public testimony in which she accused her management team and family of abuse.^[4]

In the United States, Spears is the fourth best-selling female album artist of the Nielsen SoundScan era,^[5] as well as the best-selling female album artist of the 2000s.^[6][7][8] She was ranked by Billboard as the eighth-biggest artist of the 2000s.^[9] Spears has had six number-one albums on the Billboard 200^[10] and five number-one singles on the US Billboard Hot 100: "...Baby One More Time", "Womanizer", "3", "Hold It Against Me", and "S&M (Remix)". Other hit singles include "Oops!... I Did It Again", "I'm a Slave 4 U", "Toxic", "Gimme More", and "Piece of Me". "...Baby One More Time" was named the greatest debut single of all time by Rolling Stone in 2020. In 2004, Spears launched a perfume brand with Elizabeth Arden, Inc.; sales exceeded $1.5 billion as of 2012^[update].^[11] Forbes listed Spears as the world's highest-paid female musician in 2001 and 2012.^[12][13] By 2012, she had topped Yahoo!'s list of most searched celebrities seven times in twelve years.^[14] Time named Spears one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2021. Spears placed first in the Time reader poll.^[15][16]

Life and career[edit]

1981–1997: Early life, family, and career beginnings[edit]

Britney Jean Spears was born on December 2, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi,^[17] the second child of James "Jamie" Parnell Spears and Lynne Irene Bridges.^[18] Her maternal grandmother, Lillian Portell, was English and born in London, and one of Spears' maternal great-grandfathers was Maltese.^[19] Her siblings are Bryan James Spears and Jamie Lynn Spears.^[20] In her memoir The Woman in Me, Spears wrote that her paternal grandmother, Emma Jean Spears, was sent to an asylum by Spears' paternal grandfather. Their three-day-old baby had died and Emma Jean was overwhelmed by grief. While at the asylum, she was put on lithium; subsequently, she shot herself over the child's grave.^[21]

Born in the Bible Belt, where socially conservative evangelical Protestantism is a particularly strong religious influence,^[22] she was baptized as a Southern Baptist and sang in a church choir as a child.^[23] As an adult, she has studied Kabbalist teachings.^[24] On August 5, 2021, Spears announced that she had converted to Catholicism. Her mother, sister, and nieces Maddie Aldridge and Ivey Joan Watson, are also Catholic.^[25] However, on September 5, 2022, after Spears' ex-husband, Kevin Federline, and youngest son did an interview defending her father's actions during her conservatorship, she stated: "I don't believe in God anymore because of the way my children and my family have treated me. There is nothing to believe in anymore. I'm an atheist y'all".^[26]

At age three, Spears began attending dance lessons in her hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana, and was selected to perform as a solo artist at the annual recital. Aged five she made her local stage debut, singing "What Child Is This?" at her kindergarten graduation. During her childhood, she also had gymnastics and voice lessons and won many state-level competitions and children's talent shows.^[27][28][29] In gymnastics, Spears attended Béla Károlyi's training camp.^[30] She said of her ambition as a child, "I was in my own world, ... I found out what I'm supposed to do at an early age".^[28]

When Spears was eight, she and her mother Lynne traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, to audition for the 1990s revival of The Mickey Mouse Club. Casting director Matt Casella rejected her as too young, but introduced her to Nancy Carson, a New York City talent agent. Carson was impressed with Spears' singing and suggested enrolling her at the Professional Performing Arts School.^[31]

Spears was hired for her first professional role as the understudy for the lead role of Tina Denmark in the off-Broadway musical Ruthless! She also appeared as a contestant on the popular television show Star Search and was cast in a number of commercials.^[32][33] In December 1992, she was cast in The Mickey Mouse Club alongside Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling, and Keri Russell. After the show was canceled in 1994, she returned to Mississippi and enrolled at McComb's Parklane Academy. Although she made friends with most of her classmates, she compared the school to "the opening scene in Clueless with all the cliques. ... I was so bored. I was the point guard on the basketball team. I had my boyfriend, and I went to homecoming and Christmas formal. But I wanted more."^[28][34]

In June 1997, Spears was in talks with manager Lou Pearlman to join the female pop group Innosense. Lynne asked family friend and entertainment lawyer Larry Rudolph for his opinion and submitted a tape of Spears singing over a Whitney Houston karaoke song along with some pictures. Rudolph decided that he wanted to pitch her to record labels, for which she needed a professional demo made. He sent Spears an unused song of Toni Braxton; she rehearsed for a week and recorded her vocals in a studio. Spears traveled to New York with the demo and met with executives from four labels, returning to Kentwood the same day. Three of the labels rejected her, saying that audiences wanted pop bands such as the Backstreet Boys and the Spice Girls, and "there wasn't going to be another Madonna, another Debbie Gibson, or another Tiffany."^[35]

Two weeks later, executives from Jive Records returned calls to Rudolph.^[35] Senior vice president of A&R Jeff Fenster said about Spears' audition that "it's very rare to hear someone that age who can deliver emotional content and commercial appeal ... For any artist, the motivation—the 'eye of the tiger'—is extremely important. And Britney had that."^[28] Spears sang Houston's "I Have Nothing" (1992) for the executives, and was subsequently signed to the label.^[36] They assigned her to work with producer Eric Foster White for a month; he reportedly shaped her voice from "lower and less poppy" delivery to "distinctively, unmistakably Britney".^[37] After hearing the recorded material, president Clive Calder ordered a full album. Spears had originally envisioned "Sheryl Crow music, but younger; more adult contemporary". She felt secure with her label's appointment of producers, since "It made more sense to go pop, because I can dance to it—it's more me."^[28] She flew to Cheiron Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, where half of the album was recorded from March to April 1998, with producers Max Martin, Denniz Pop, and Rami Yacoub, among others.^[28]

1998–2000: ...Baby One More Time and Oops!... I Did It Again[edit]

After Spears returned to the United States, she embarked on a shopping mall promotional tour, titled L'Oreal Hair Zone Mall Tour, to promote her upcoming debut album. Her show was a four-song set and she was accompanied by two back-up dancers. Her first concert tour followed, as an opening act for NSYNC.^[38] Her debut studio album, ...Baby One More Time, was released on January 12, 1999.^[28] It debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and was certified two-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America after a month. Worldwide, the album topped the charts in fifteen countries and sold over 10 million copies in a year.^[39] It became the biggest-selling album ever by a teenage artist.^[29]

"...Baby One More Time" was released as the lead single from the album on September 29, 1998. Originally, Jive Records wanted the associated music video to be animated; however, Spears rejected this idea, and suggested the final concept of a Catholic schoolgirl.^[37] The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, topping the chart for two consecutive weeks in January–February 1999. It sold more than 10 million copies, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time.^[40][41] "...Baby One More Time" later received a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.^[42] The title track also topped the singles chart for two weeks in the United Kingdom, and became the fastest-selling single ever by a female artist, shipping over 460,000 copies.^[43] It would later become the 25th-most successful song of all time in British chart history.^[44] Spears is the youngest female artist to have a million seller in the UK.^[45] The album's third single "(You Drive Me) Crazy" became a top-ten hit worldwide and further propelled the success of the ...Baby One More Time album. The album has sold 30 million copies worldwide,^[46] making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. It is the best-selling debut album by any artist.^[47][48]

On June 28, 1999, Spears began her first headlining ...Baby One More Time Tour in North America, which was positively received by critics.^[49] It also generated some controversy due to her racy outfits.^[50] An extension of the tour, titled (You Drive Me) Crazy Tour, followed in March 2000. Spears premiered songs from her upcoming second album during the show.^[34]

Oops!... I Did It Again, Spears' second studio album, was released in May 2000. It debuted at number one in the US, selling 1.3 million copies, breaking the Nielsen SoundScan record for the highest debut sales by any solo artist.^[51] It has sold over 20 million copies worldwide to date,^[52] making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone said that "the great thing about Oops! – under the cheese surface, Britney's demand for satisfaction is complex, fierce and downright scary, making her a true child of rock & roll tradition."^[53] The album's lead single, "Oops!... I Did It Again", peaked at the top of the charts in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and many other European nations,^[45][54] while the second single "Lucky", peaked at number one in Austria, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland. The album as well as the title track received Grammy nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, respectively.^[55]

The same year, Spears embarked on the Oops!... I Did It Again Tour, which grossed $40.5 million; she also released her first book, Britney Spears' Heart to Heart, co-written with her mother.^[29][56] On September 7, 2000, Spears performed at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. Halfway through the performance, she ripped off her black suit to reveal a sequined flesh-colored bodysuit, followed by heavy dance routine. It is noted by critics as the moment that Spears showed signs of becoming a more provocative performer.^[57] Amidst media speculation, Spears confirmed she was dating NSYNC member Justin Timberlake.^[29] Spears and Timberlake both graduated from high school via distance learning from the University of Nebraska High School.^[58][59] She also bought a home in Destin, Florida.^[60] In her 2023 memoir, Spears revealed that she had an abortion during late 2000 while dating Timberlake after he said they were not prepared for parenthood.^[61][62] Spears called the abortion "one of the most agonizing things I have ever experienced in my life."^[63]

2001–2002: Britney and Crossroads[edit]

In January 2001, Spears hosted the 28th Annual American Music Awards, starred at Rock in Rio alongside NSYNC, and performed as a special guest in the Super Bowl XXXV halftime show headlined by Aerosmith and NSYNC.^[64][65] In February 2001, she signed a $7–8 million promotional deal with Pepsi, and released another book co-written with her mother, A Mother's Gift.^[29] Her third studio album, Britney, was released in November 2001, with a funkier sound inspired by hip hop artists such as Jay-Z and the Neptunes.^[66] Britney debuted at number one in the Billboard 200 and reached top five positions in Australia, the United Kingdom, and mainland Europe, and has sold 10 million copies worldwide.^[45][67][68]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called Britney "the record where she strives to deepen her persona, making it more adult while still recognizably Britney. ... It does sound like the work of a star who has now found and refined her voice, resulting in her best record yet."^[69] It was nominated for the Grammy awards for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Overprotected", and in 2007 it was named one of the best albums of the preceding 25 years by Entertainment Weekly.^[70][71] The lead single, "I'm a Slave 4 U", became a top-ten hit in several countries.^[72]

Spears' performance of the single at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards featured a caged tiger (wrangled by Bhagavan Antle) and a large albino python draped over her shoulders.^[73] It was harshly received by animal rights organization PETA, who claimed the animals were mistreated and scrapped plans for an anti-fur billboard that was to feature Spears.^[57] Jocelyn Vena of MTV summarized Spears' performance at the ceremony, saying, "draping herself in a white python and slithering around a steamy garden setting – surrounded by dancers in zebra and tiger outfits – Spears created one of the most striking visuals in the 27-year history of the show."^[74]

To support the album, Spears embarked on the Dream Within a Dream Tour. The show was critically praised for its technical innovations, the pièce de résistance being a water screen that pumped two tons of water into the stage.^[75][76] The tour grossed $43.7 million, becoming the second highest-grossing tour of 2002 by a female artist, behind Cher's Farewell Tour.^[77] Her career success was highlighted by Forbes in 2002, as Spears was ranked the world's most powerful celebrity.^[78] Spears also landed her first starring role in Crossroads, released in February 2002. Although the film was largely panned, critics praised Spears' acting and the film was a box office success.^[79][80][81] Crossroads, which had a $12 million budget, went on to gross over $61.1 million worldwide.^[81]

In June 2002, Spears opened her first restaurant, Nyla, in New York City, but terminated her relationship in November, citing mismanagement and "management's failure to keep her fully apprised".^[82] In July 2002, Spears announced she would take a six-month break from her career; however, she went back into the studio in November to record her new album.^[83] Spears' relationship with Justin Timberlake ended after three years.^[84] In November 2002, Timberlake released the song "Cry Me a River" as the second single from his solo debut album. The music video featured a Spears look-alike and fueled the rumors that she had been engaging in an affair,^[85][86] fueled by further rumors of possible relationships involving Timberlake's choreographer Wade Robson and Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst.^[87] Spears had initially denied the allegations of a possible affair involving Durst, despite the two being spotted together on multiple occasions; even claiming the two had a friendly connection.^[88] Though in 2022, she later admitted to engaging in an affair with Robson.^[89] As a response, Spears wrote the ballad "

Gabrielle Union
Union in 2018
Born	Gabrielle Monique Union (1972-10-29) October 29, 1972 (age 51) Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Education	University of California, Los Angeles (BS)
Occupations	Actress author
Years active	1993–present
Spouses	Chris Howard ​ ​ (m. 2001; div. 2006)​ Dwyane Wade ​ (m. 2014)​
Children	1
Relatives	Saweetie (cousin)[1]

Gabrielle Monique Union-Wade (née Union; born October 29, 1972)^[2] is an American actress. Her career began in the 1990s, when she made dozens of appearances on television sitcoms, prior to landing supporting roles in 1999 teen films She's All That and 10 Things I Hate About You. She rose to greater prominence the following year, after she landed her breakthrough role in the teen film Bring It On.

Union is known for her performances in the romantic comedy films The Brothers (2001), Deliver Us from Eva (2003), Daddy's Little Girls (2007), Think Like a Man (2012) and Think Like a Man Too (2014). She also had starring roles in the CBS medical drama series City of Angels (2000) and in the films Bad Boys II (2003), Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), Neo Ned (2005), Cadillac Records (2008), Top Five (2014), Breaking In (2018), and The Perfect Find (2023). She has also co-starred in the films The Birth of a Nation (2016), Almost Christmas (2016) and Sleepless (2017).

Union starred as the lead characters in BET drama series Being Mary Jane (2013–2019), for which she has received an NAACP Image Award, and in the crime series L.A.'s Finest (2019–2020). Outside of acting, Union has written four books: two memoirs, titled We're Going to Need More Wine (2017) and You Got Anything Stronger? (2021), and two children's books, titled Welcome to the Party (2020) and Shady Baby (2021).

She has also been an outspoken advocate for issues involving women's health, LGBTQ+ equality, and violence against women, and was awarded the President's Award from the NAACP Image Awards, alongside her husband Dwyane Wade for their humanitarian efforts.^[3] Union was included on Time's list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.^[4]

Early life[edit]

Union was born on October 29, 1972, in Omaha, Nebraska, the daughter of Theresa (née Glass), a phone company manager and social worker, and Sylvester E. Union, a military sergeant.^[5][6] She was raised Catholic.^[7] During her childhood, she was taught to be "an independent woman, standing on my own two feet, and that's the road I opted to take."^[8] According to Union, her mother taught her to have a "world perspective" and took her to a gay pride parade at the age of eight after the family moved to Pleasanton, California.^[9] She attended Foothill High School^[10] where she was a year-round student athlete, competing in Varsity soccer, track, and basketball.^[11] Union dated fellow student Jason Kidd during her junior year.^[12]

Union's parents divorced after 30 years of marriage. She said, "They handled their divorce and our subsequent transition into a blended family with grace, dignity and respect. They always put us first and didn't involve us. I'm lucky that I can just mirror what my parents did and always put the kids first. They're pretty awesome. I'm lucky."^[13]

Union grew up with self-esteem issues relating to colorism, as one of the few African-American children in her environment.^[14] When Union was younger, she believed that "blonde was the ideal of beauty, and if I looked nothing like that, then I must be ugly."^[15] On her college football memories, Union reflected, "In my family if you couldn't talk Cornhusker football—that means knowing the Blackshirt defense, knowing the I-back formation—then you don't get to have an opinion. When I first toured the Nebraska campus and I saw Turner Gill walk, I freaked out. That was like the biggest star-struck moment I've probably ever had in my life. But it's because I grew up in a household that always talked specifically Cornhusker football and Big 8 sports at the time."^[16]

During the summer before starting her sophomore year of college at UCLA, at the age of 19, Union was attacked and raped at gunpoint at her part-time job at a Payless shoe store by a robber.^[17] Union has stated that she would not have survived the attack had it not been for lessons she learned by watching Oprah Winfrey's talk show.^[18] She later successfully sued Payless for negligence, alleging that the store failed to warn employees about the assailant, who had been positively identified robbing another Payless location prior to when he raped her.^[19]

Union has a bachelor's degree in sociology from UCLA.^[20][21]

Career[edit]

Early roles[edit]

Union started her acting career with minor roles. Her first audition was for Saved by the Bell.^[22] In 1997, Union appeared in the sixth-season episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine—"Sons and Daughters" as the Klingon N'Garen. She also appeared in Moesha as Ashli, Sister, Sister as Vanessa, in Smart Guy as Denise, and in five episodes of 7th Heaven as Keesha Hamilton. She also appeared on an episode of Friends, "The One with the Cheap Wedding Dress", as Kristen, a love interest to both Ross and Joey. Other earlier roles included teen movies such as She's All That and 10 Things I Hate About You.^[22]

2000–2009[edit]

Union appeared in the 2000 film Love & Basketball. She then played the role of Isis in the cheerleading movie Bring It On, which helped push Union into the mainstream.^[23] Bring It On led to Union being cast in the CBS television drama City of Angels as Dr. Courtney Ellis. In 2001, Union was featured in The Brothers and was seen as having a "beguiling sincerity, even when she's fudging the truth."^[24] Union was cast in her first leading role in the 2003 film Deliver Us from Eva. When casting Eva, director Gary Hardwick was looking for an actress capable of instantly changing "from funny to caustic and dramatic." Hardwick had previously worked with Union in The Brothers and believed she was perfect for the role of Eva.^[25] Union's role in the film was met with praise, with Dustin Putman of All-Reviews.com writing that she was "the star attraction, and the number-one reason to even consider seeing the film."^[26] Union drew influence from her father for the "stern" look she had in the film, admitting that she had stolen it from him.^[25]

In 2003, Union landed the role of the main character Mike Lowrey's girlfriend, Syd, in the film Bad Boys II, a box-office success grossing more than $273 million worldwide. Union felt that she had been "blessed" with her role in the film, feeling it elevated her career.^[27] That same year, she lent her voice to the animated television series The Proud Family. The following year, she appeared in Something the Lord Made. Union also starred in the 2004 film Breakin' All the Rules, which was unpopular with critics.^[28][29] She appeared in the 2005 film Neo Ned, portraying an African-American woman with delusions that she is Adolf Hitler. She and co-star Jeremy Renner were noted by Mark Olsen of the Los Angeles Times as having "a strange, offbeat chemistry that drives the film".^[30] She won an award for Best Actress in Neo Ned at the Palm Beach International Film Festival, and the film received awards at several festivals.

She starred in the 2005 remake of The Honeymooners.^[31] That year, Union also starred in the short-lived ABC series Night Stalker. She called the series a "reworking" rather than a remake. Union admitted that at the time of getting the script she was turned off, but she became interested after reading the script at her agent's insistence. She then met with series creator Frank Spotnitz and executive producer Daniel Sackheim, who told her they thought of her anytime they thought of the character.^[32] In 2006, she starred in the music video for Busta Rhymes' "I Love My Bitch".^[33]

Union starred in the 2007 film Daddy's Little Girls by Tyler Perry. The role in which she played Julia Rossmore, a romantically challenged attorney, was written with her in mind.^[34] Before working with Perry, she went to see his stage show to both understand him and his audience.^[35] She filmed Daddy's Little Girls in mid-2006 in Atlanta, Georgia.^[36] Union was praised for her character's portrayal and for having a "great sense of comedic timing".^[37] Union's character also drew comparisons to Eva, her role in Deliver Us from Eva. According to Union, Perry had specifically approached her over not turning the role into the same character.^[38] Union starred with Morris Chestnut in the 2007 Christmas film The Perfect Holiday. Since she had no children of her own, Union drew on her familiarity with her mother and sister to portray the divorced single mother of three in the film.^[39] Union initially turned down the role, as she did not want to get typecast for playing a mother until she was told of other actresses that had played similar roles and still found success in their careers.^[9]

In an interview with Art Nouveau Magazine, Union complained about the lack of roles for Black actresses and actors in Hollywood: "There used to be [roles] specifically written black, if you knew Denzel was doing a movie you knew his wife, girl or love interest was going to be black [but] that's not necessarily the case anymore. You're in that room with every amazingly talented actress of every hue, and it's a dogfight, it's hard."^[40] Moreover, although she often plays weak, insecure characters, Union believes that "Hollywood needs to recognize all shades of African-American beauty."^[41]

In 2008, Union appeared on Ugly Betty for three episodes as Renee, Wilhelmina Slater's sister and Daniel Meade's love interest.^[42] She also made a cameo appearance in the music video for Ne-Yo's "Miss Independent".^[43] Union appeared in the 2008 film Cadillac Records.^[44][45][46] She portrayed Geneva Wade, who later married Muddy Waters.^[47] Union, who was reported to have signed on to the film in March 2008, was seen as a "pleasant surprise" in the film, and her performance was said to have shown she had larger acting range than her previous roles.^[48] Union later called taking the role of Geneva Wade in the film the best business decision she had ever made.^[49] Union appeared in the 2008 film Meet Dave, playing the love interest of the title character. Union said the film was a gift.^[50] That same year, she wrote the foreword for Hill Harper's Letters to a Young Sister: DeFINE your Destiny.^[51] Union joined the cast of the U.S. television series Life on NBC and appeared in four episodes prior to its cancellation in May 2009.^[52] She appeared in the ABC series FlashForward, a role for which she was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2010.^{[citation needed]}

2010s[edit]

After she was reported to be joining the cast in June 2010, Union appeared in episodes of Army Wives and NTSF:SD:SUV:: in 2010 and 2011.^[53] Union was reported in May 2011 to have landed roles in Think Like a Man, a romantic comedy based on Steve Harvey's book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, and an indie film, Family Tree.^[54] In June 2011, Union defended the music video for the Rihanna single "Man Down" after it sparked controversy for its depiction of a rape victim shooting and killing her attacker. Union related that every rape victim was "unique", which extended to how they believed justice should be carried out.^[55]

In January 2012, Union was announced to be a participant in Bounce TV's documentary Our History.^[56] In 2012, she played Natalie in the romantic comedy Good Deeds, playing the fiancée of the Wesley Deeds character.^[57] Union said that after she read the script, she became interested in working with Tyler Perry again and enjoyed working with the cast.^[58] She then appeared in Steve Harvey's film Think Like a Man. Union related to her character for having married and divorced young.^[59] She and Meagan Good were seen as having taken advantage of their "straightforward characters to add spots of comic zest as well."^[60] Her next appearance was In Our Nature. The film was the directorial debut of Brian Savelson. Savelson had offered Union the role two years prior to the film's release in 2010.^[61] Union saw In Our Nature as a personal victory for her career.^[62]

In 2013, she began starring in the BET network show Being Mary Jane.^[63] Union learned of the series while auditioning for Scandal for the role of Olivia Pope, which ultimately went to Kerry Washington.^[64] Union has said that she is content with having lost the role in Scandal to Washington: "I didn't get Scandal, but I got something better, which is my own show."^[65] Union was impressed with the show's quality and professionalism.^[66] Also in 2013, Union starred in Ava DuVernay's short film The Door as part of Miu Miu's Women's Tales campaign.^[67]

Union reprised her role as Kristen in Think Like a Man Too in 2014, but it received mostly negative reviews.^[68] She believed the film would do well^[69] and faced comparisons to her character, who was a newlywed while Union was engaged at the time, a similarity she dispelled by insisting she kept her relationship "enjoyable, fresh and exciting".^[70] Union was announced in July 2014 as a producer in the Lifetime film With This Ring.^[71][72] She was featured in Chris Rock's Top Five, playing the fiancée of Rock's character. Union viewed her Top Five character as being similar to members of the Kardashian family or the Braxton sisters.^[73] In November 2015, Union began voicing Nala in the Disney movie and series The Lion Guard.^[74] In October 2016, Union was featured in The Birth of a Nation as Esther, a slave in the Antebellum South who is raped by a white man.^[75] Union stated in an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times that she took the role due to her relating to it as a rape victim herself.^[76] Later that year, Union had a prominent role as Rachel Meyers in the comedy film Almost Christmas, released in November. Ariel Scotti of The New York Times panned Union's performance: "Each overused phrase that falls out of her character, Rachel's, vindictive, childish mouth takes viewers further out of the movie experience."^[77]

In 2017, Union launched Flawless by Gabrielle Union, a line of hair-care products that catered to people with textured hair.^[78][79] In September 2017, Union announced a collaborative partnership with Invicta Watch Group that included a line of watches she designed.^[80]

In 2019, Union began starring as Syd Burnett in the Bad Boys spin-off L.A.'s Finest, a Charter Spectrum original series that premiered May 13 ^[81] and was later renewed for a second season.^[82] Union was also a judge for the fourteenth season of America's Got Talent. In November 2019, the show failed to renew her contract for another season, allegedly because she spoke out against racism. Union's fellow America's Got Talent judge Julianne Hough's contract was also not renewed.^[83] In May 2020, Union filed a discrimination suit against the producers of America's Got Talent, citing racism and prejudice.^[84]

2020s[edit]

On Disney Investor Day, December 11, 2020, it was announced that Union would be starring with Zach Braff in a remake of Cheaper by the Dozen,^[85] which was released in March 2022.^[86] In December 2021, she played Tootie Ramsey in The Facts of Life segment of the third edition of Live in Front of a Studio Audience, recreating the episode "Kids Can Be Cruel".^[87]

In March 2022, she was cast as the lead for the third season of Truth Be Told on Apple TV+.^[88]

She returned to The Proud Family on its sequel series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder in a second-season episode airing in early 2023.^[89]

Books[edit]

In April 2017, Union announced her first book, a memoir titled We're Going to Need More Wine. The book "feature[s] personal stories and reflections on a range of topics that continue to define the contemporary landscape: sexuality, womanhood, friendship, race, marriage, and beauty."^[90] Union described the book as "the good, the bad, and the WTF."^[91] Released on October 17, 2017, the book was published by Dey Street Books, an imprint of HarperCollins.^[92] In December 2017, it was named a "Best Book of the Year by a Black Author" by The Root magazine.^[93]

In May 2020, Union released her first children's book, Welcome to the Party, an ode to newborns and non-traditional families that was inspired by her daughter.^[94] She collaborated with her husband Dwyane Wade on a second children's book, Shady Baby, published on May 18, 2021.^[95] She released a second memoir, You Got Anything Stronger?: Stories on September 14, 2021.^[96]

Other commercial projects[edit]

Union became a spokeswoman for Neutrogena in 2004. In 2010, she launched Love & Blessings, a clothing line for plus-sized women,^[97] which was inspired by her full-figured sister.^[98] In March 2014, Union released her first wine, Vanilla Puddin'.^[99] That November, she became the first celebrity ambassador and creative advisor for the nail polish company SensatioNail.

In 2020, Union relaunched her haircare brand, Flawless, for women with textured hair. The collection is affordably priced and “empowers consumers to customize a regimen specific to their texture and style preference.”^[100] That same year, she joined Bitsy's as a cofounder with “the goal of making allergen-friendly, school-safe snacks that are accessible and affordable for all families regardless of their socioeconomic or geographic status.”^[100]

Union and her daughter Kaavia are a part of the ownership group of Angel City FC of the National Women's Soccer League.^[101]

Activism[edit]

Union is an advocate for survivors of assault^[102] and has voiced her support for Jada, a Texas teenager who was sexually assaulted while passed out during a party. The assault, which was filmed and posted online, was mocked by others on social networking websites.^{[103][104][105]}

Union has also spoken about the importance of therapy, and how she herself was able to quickly find therapy with the help of family members and co-workers.^[106]

Union addressed the killing of Trayvon Martin, stating that "when you have influence, I think it's the responsible thing to do, to speak out on an issue when you see injustice. I'm still fighting for Trayvon [...] we all should."^[59] In the months following Martin's death, Union supported a petition that called for Florida District Attorney Norman Wolfinger to bring charges against George Zimmerman.^[107] After Zimmerman was acquitted of charges in Martin's death in July 2013, Union remarked, "Apparently walking while black is a crime punishable by death."^[108]

Union rebuked Todd Akin's position on abortion, which he defended saying that a woman would not be able to get pregnant in the case of "legitimate rape."^[109]

When Tanganyika Williams, the aunt of NBA player Matt Barnes, was murdered on July 8, 2014, Union posted calls on both Instagram and Twitter for anyone with information on Tanganyika's killer to report it to authorities.^[110]

Oprah Winfrey said she was inspired by Union's "Fierce and Fearless Award" acceptance speech, in which Union admitted she once reveled "in gossip and rumors," because Winfrey "never heard anyone be that honest in public or private about the competition and fierce drive to be seen and succeed in Hollywood."^[111]

In February 2012, Union was identified as a suspicious person by airport security and subjected to a "hair patdown."^[112] She tweeted a joke about the experience: "Hopefully my weave doesn't cause turbulence. It's clearly very powerful."^[113]

Union ran in the Global Race for the Cure in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, June 2, 2012, in honor of her friend Kristen Martinez, who died from breast cancer.^[114] Union was present at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., on August 23, 2013, and unveiled a limited-edition 1963 March on Washington stamp to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the march.^[115]

Union is an Ambassador in Susan G. Komen for the Cure's Circle of Promise.^[116] Union became a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood's breast health initiative and launched the Women Are Watching campaign with other actresses in 2012. In October 2014, it was announced that Union would be designing T-shirts to bring attention to the Women Are Watching campaign.^[117]

In 2020, Union collaborated with JusticeLA to create a public service announcement #SuingToSaveLives about the health of people in L.A. County jails amid the COVID-19 pandemic.^[118][119]

Politics[edit]

In 2008, Union supported Barack Obama in his presidential campaign.^[120][121] After working on the unsuccessful pilot for Army Wives, Union was appointed by President Obama to work with the National Advisory Committee for Violence Against Women.^[122] Obama contacted her specifically after learning that the pilot had fallen through.^[123] Union participated in the Obama campaign's "Greater Together" initiative^[124] as part of his re-election campaign in 2012.^[125] In August 2012, Union called on Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to release his tax returns and birth certificate, noting his father, George W. Romney, had released his own tax returns while a presidential candidate.^[126]

In November 2014, the office of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced a campaign titled "Take a Stand" and its commission of a short film featuring Union and Tika Sumpter.^[127] Union was named in the 2020 Time 100 list of most influential people.^[128] In the lead up to the 2020 presidential election, the actress encouraged Facebook users to make sure they had everything they needed to make their vote count by seeking out

Leelee Sobieski
Sobieski in 2012
Born	Liliane Rudabet Gloria Elsveta Sobieski (1983-06-10) June 10, 1983 (age 41) New York, New York, U.S.
Other names	Leelee Kimmel
Occupation(s)	Actress, artist
Years active	1994–2012
Spouse	Adam Kimmel ​ ​ (m. 2010)​
Children	2
Relatives	Martin Kimmel (father-in-law) Donald Aronow (grandfather-in-law)

Liliane Rudabet Gloria Elsveta "Leelee" Sobieski (born June 10, 1983)^[1][2][3] is an American artist and retired actress. She achieved fame in her teens with roles in films such as Deep Impact (1998), Never Been Kissed, Eyes Wide Shut (both 1999), Here on Earth (2000), Joy Ride and The Glass House (both 2001). She received Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations for her portrayal of the title character in the television film Joan of Arc (1999), and a further Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the NBC miniseries Uprising (2001). Sobieski continued to work in films and on television until retiring in 2012, after which she focused on her children and art career.^[4][5]

Early life[edit]

Sobieski was born in New York City.^[6] Her mother, Elizabeth Sobieski (née Salomon), is an American film producer and screenwriter who also worked as Sobieski's manager, and her father, Jean Sobieski, is a French-born painter and former actor of Polish and Swiss descent.^[7][8][9] Her maternal grandfather, United States Navy Captain Robert Salomon, was Jewish. Her maternal grandmother was of Ashkenazi Jewish and one quarter Dutch descent. Sobieski grew up in a "pan-religious" family; she has said that she is "proud of [her] melting pot roots".^[10][7] Her younger brother is Robert "Roby" Sobieski.^[8]

Sobieski's first name, Liliane, was the name of her paternal grandmother. One of her middle names, Elsveta, is derived from her mother's name, Elizabeth.^[11]

She graduated from Trevor Day School in 2001^[12] and studied literature and fine art at Brown University but did not graduate.^[13]

Acting career[edit]

Sobieski was first noticed by a talent scout in the cafeteria of a New York City private school.^{[citation needed]} That encounter led to her audition for the role of Claudia in Interview with the Vampire (1994), a role that ultimately went to Kirsten Dunst. Sobieski portrayed the character of Anna Yates in the 1994 TV movie Reunion starring Marlo Thomas. Next, she played a lead role in A Horse for Danny, a 1995 made-for-television film. In 1997, she snagged her first role in a studio film playing the daughter of Martin Short's character in the Tim Allen comedy Jungle 2 Jungle.

While still in her mid-teens, Sobieski rose to fame with her appearance in the movie Deep Impact (1998).^[14] The film was a major financial success, grossing over $349 million worldwide on a $75 million production budget. Deep Impact brought her to the attention of many casting directors. That same year Sobieski appeared in the Merchant Ivory film A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries. Sobieski's performance received praise from critics; Emanuel Levy of Variety wrote that "the graceful Sobieski registers strongly as a potential star, combining physical charm with technical skill."^[15] The film garnered her a Young Artist Award nomination, as well as a nomination by the Chicago Film Critics Association.

In 1999, Sobieski appeared in Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut. Recalling acting alongside Tom Cruise, Sobieski stated he was "very kind and considerate with me," and says her most vivid recollection of Kubrick, who died soon after filming finished, was that he "genuinely seemed to hold something magic".^[16]

Also in 1999, Sobieski was cast in a supporting role in the teen comedy feature Never Been Kissed starring Drew Barrymore. Her next performance in the title role of the TV movie Joan of Arc (1999) earned her an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe nomination, and she became the youngest actress ever to portray Joan of Arc on screen.

In 2000, Sobieski played the female lead in the film Here on Earth opposite Josh Hartnett and Chris Klein, for which she received a Teen Choice Award nomination. She received a second Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Tosia Altman in the 2001 TV film Uprising.

In 2001, Sobieski played the lead role in the road horror film Joy Ride with Paul Walker and Steve Zahn. The film received generally favorable reviews.^[17] Garth Franklin of Dark Horizons stated that Sobieski "does a better job than usual."^[18] That same year, she starred in the thriller The Glass House, alongside Diane Lane. The film was panned by critics^[19] and, with little promotion, had a disappointing opening weekend gross of just under $6 million.^[20] Sobieski's performance in the 2001 low-budget drama My First Mister was praised by critics, with Pete Croatto of Filmcritic.com writing that, "As for Sobieski, who I've always liked, she does another fine job. This time it's with a shaky character – the troubled Goth chick... [but] Sobieski finds her character's human touch and runs with it."^[21]

Sobieski landed a starring role in the independent film L'Idole (2002), which opened at the Toronto International Film Festival. She then starred alongside John Cusack in the drama feature Max, as the mistress of a Jewish art dealer who mentors a young Adolf Hitler. Next, she portrayed the character of Cecile in the miniseries Les Liaisons dangereuses (2003) with Catherine Deneuve and Rupert Everett, an adaptation of Laclos's classic novel of sexual intrigue which made use of Sobieski's fluency in French. She portrayed the role of Deianira in Hercules, a 2005 television miniseries.^[22]

The experimental-indie film Lying, starring Sobieski alongside Chloë Sevigny and Jena Malone, debuted at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, followed by a limited release in the United States in 2008.^[23] She next starred in the American drama Heavens Fall as one of several young women who accuse nine black youths of rape in the segregated South.^[24] That same year, she appeared in the horror film In a Dark Place as well as the remake of The Wicker Man starring Nicolas Cage.^[25]

The independent comedy film Walk All over Me, in which Sobieski plays a woman who becomes a dominatrix, premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival and was later screened at several other film festivals. Her next major motion picture, the thriller 88 Minutes co-starring Al Pacino and Alicia Witt, opened on April 18, 2008, in the United States, after a release in various other countries the previous year. Though panned by critics,^[26] the film was a minor success at the box office, earning more than $32 million worldwide.^[27]

In January 2008, Sobieski appeared in In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, a fantasy film inspired by the Dungeon Siege video game series. For her performances in both 88 Minutes and A Dungeon Siege Tale, she received a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Supporting Actress. Sobieski next reteamed with her Joy Ride co-star Steve Zahn in the direct-to-video film Night Train. In the film, Sobieski plays Chloe, a potentially lethal medical student who has a fateful encounter with two other strangers aboard a Polar Express-like train.^[28]

In 2009, Sobieski had a small role in the biographical crime drama Public Enemies. In June 2010, she starred alongside Denise Richards and Jamie Kennedy in the film Finding Bliss, a romantic comedy about a straitlaced aspiring filmmaker who is forced to go to work for a producer of adult films.^[29] She made a guest appearance in the television series Drop Dead Diva in the episode "A Mother's Secret".^[30] Sobieski also played a lead role in the 2010 drama thriller Acts of Violence, the story of a man on a mission of vengeance after his wife is raped. Also in 2010, Sobieski filmed a supporting role in the indie comedy-drama The Last Film Festival, which would not be released until 2016.

Sobieski guest-starred on a January 2011 episode of The Good Wife, playing the girlfriend of one of Lockhart/Gardner & Bond's most influential clients, who is accused of using prescription stimulants.^[31]

From April 2012 to August 2012, Sobieski starred in the lead role of Officer Jennifer "White House" Perry, a rookie New York City police officer, on the CBS drama series NYC 22, which was created by Richard Price and produced by Robert De Niro.^[32][33][34] She also played the lead role of Abby Gibbons in the movie Branded, which was released on September 7th, 2012.

Sobieski retired from acting in 2012.

Art career[edit]

She began her art career using her married surname Leelee Kimmel. She paints and sculpts abstract work,^[13][35] and works in VR, using Google Tilt Brush.^[13] She uses bright colors, abstracted and textured shapes floating on either a large black or white background.

Her 2018 solo exhibit debut, “Channels,” opened at the Journal Gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and garnered positive reviews.^[13][36] Vogue said the exhibit and her work "warrants serious merit".^[37] She then debuted her first UK exhibit titled “Wormhole” at the Simon Lee Gallery in London. In this latest installment, she presents large-scale abstract paintings that are confrontational in both colour and dimension, exploring themes of creation and destruction.^[38] “Kimmel’s world is very much her own – a heady mix of daftness and profundity – and a space that’s potentially fascinating, yet disorientating for those unfamiliar with it. Such are the worlds she builds in her paintings, too, and which expand beyond the canvas into gloriously gelatinous sculptures and a pioneering VR piece.”^[39] Interview Magazine says, "Leelee Kimmel has always been an artist."^[40]

Personal life[edit]

Family and relationships[edit]

In January 2009, Sobieski began dating fashion designer Adam John Kimmel, the son of American real estate developer Martin Kimmel and grandson of American boat racer and designer Donald Aronow. They were engaged on May 28, 2009, and it was made public on June 23, 2009, when fans at the premiere of Public Enemies spotted Sobieski wearing an engagement ring. The couple officially announced their engagement on July 17, 2009.^[41][42][43] Their daughter was born in December 2009, and their son in August 2014.^[44][45] They reside in Red Hook, Brooklyn.^[46]

Sobieski speaks fluent French, which she learned from her French-born father.^[47][48]

Interviews[edit]

Sobieski, in a 2001 interview with IGN, expressed her thoughts about whether the movies she was making were escapist fare, or that they had a deeper message for society,

Joy Ride isn't a film you would make a statement with. It's a fun, jump out of life film. That's great. I love those films. Those films are great in times like these too. You can make a point with a film and help society or not. Take a film like Bulworth, a fantastic film. There are certain films like that, that can appeal to everybody and have a message in it and that's really great.^[49]

In 2016, Sobieski confirmed "I don't do movie stuff anymore." Commenting on the reasons for her early retirement to Us Weekly, Sobieski said, "I am just focused on my kids. I think that's mainly why I stopped ... Also, ninety percent of acting roles involve so much sexual stuff with other people, and I don't want to do that."^[50]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Television[edit]

References[edit]