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Gabrielle Union

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Gabrielle Union
Birth name	Gabrielle Monique Union
Born	October 29 1972 (1972-10-29) (age 35) Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Occupation	Actress

Gabrielle Monique Union (born October 29, 1972) is an American actress and former model. Among her notable roles is as the cheerleader opposite Kirsten Dunst's in the film Bring it On. Union also starred opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in the blockbuster film Bad Boys II and played a medical doctor in the CBS drama series City of Angels. She also starred with L.L. Cool J and Meagan Good in "Deliver Us from Eva" in 2003.

1 Biography
2 Awards and nominations
3 Filmography
4 References
5 External links

Biography

Early life

Union was born in Omaha, Nebraska, the daughter of Theresa and Sylvester Union.^[1] She was raised Catholic.^[2]^[3] At the age of eight her family moved to Pleasanton, California, where she grew up and attended Foothill High School. In high school, Union was an all-star point guard and a year round athlete participating in soccer, basketball, and track. During this time, Union dated current New Jersey Nets star point guard Jason Kidd.

Career

Union originally intended to become a lawyer. She attended the University of Nebraska before moving on to Cuesta College. She eventually transferred to UCLA and earned a degree in Sociology; while studying there, she interned at a modeling agency to earn extra academic credits. She was asked by the agency to sign on with them as a new model. She needed money to pay off some college loans and debts, so she eventually agreed to become a fashion model. Union started her acting career in minor roles. Most were in teen movies like 10 Things I Hate About You and Love and Basketball. In 2000, Union landed the role of Isis in the cheerleading movie Bring it On opposite Kirsten Dunst. Bring It On helped push Union out into the mainstream and she began gaining more exposure. This led to Union being cast in the CBS television drama City of Angels as Dr. Courtney Ellis. 2003 saw Union getting her first leading role in the film Deliver Us From Eva with rapper L.L. Cool J. The film received fair reviews from critics and it showed that Union was a leading lady. But first, Union landed the role of Oscar nominee Will Smith's girlfriend Syd in the film Bad Boys II, a box office success grossing over 273 million dollars worldwide. Union then starred with another Oscar nominee Jamie Foxx in the film Breakin' All the Rules in 2004. Union starred in the short-lived 2005 ABC series Night Stalker. She has also starred in the independent drama films Neo Ned and Constellation, the latter of which was released to theaters. She also starred in the 2005 remake of The Honeymooners with comedian Cedric The Entertainer. In 2006, she starred as Busta Rhymes love interest in the music video for Rhymes' "I Love My Chick." Union starred in the 2007 films Daddy's Little Girls by Tyler Perry (released on Valentine's Day) and the Christmas film The Perfect Holiday which opened on December 12.

Personal life

In May 2001, Union married NFL player Chris Howard of the Jacksonville Jaguars; In November 2005, the couple separated; the divorce was finalized in April 2006.

Awards and nominations

BET Awards
- 2005, Best Actress (Nominated)
- 2004, Best Actress (Nominated)
- 2003, Best Actress (Nominated)
Black Reel Awards
- 2005, Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy: Breakin' All the Rules (Nominated)
- 2005, Best Supporting Actress in a TV Movie/Mini-Series: Something the Lord Made (Nominated)
- 2004, Best Actress: Deliver Us From Eva (Nominated)
- 2002, Best Supporting Actress: The Brothers (Nominated)
- 2001, Best Supporting Actress: Bring It On (Winner)
Image Awards
- 2005, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Breakin' All the Rules (Nominated)
- 2005, Outstanding Actress in a TV Movie/Mini-Series: Something the Lord Made (Nominated)
- 2004, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Deliver Us From Eva (Nominated)
- 2004, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Bad Boys II (Nominated)
Palm Beach Film Festival
- 2006, Best Actress Neo Ned (Winner)