Gabrielle Union

If you know more information about Gabrielle Union help us to improve this page

Birthday:

29 October 1973, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Birth Name:

Gabrielle Monique Union

Height:

171 cm

Gabrielle Union was born on October 29, 1972, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Theresa (Glass), who managed a phone company, and Sylvester E. Union, a military sergeant and business executive. When she was eight, her family moved to Pleasanton, California, where she grew up and attended high school. In high school, Union was an all-star point guard and a year-round athlete participating in soccer, basketball, and track. She graduated from Foothill High School (Class of 1991).After high school, Gabrielle attended college at University of Nebraska, where she played on the soccer team; and then later transferred to Cuesta College. Eventually, she ended up at UCLA. On her way to law school, just planning on being a working stiff, things started to happen during her senior year. Gabrielle had a college internship at a L.A. modeling agency, she thought it would be an easy way to pick up some extra credits. Little did she know that clients were eyeing the help. Upon the completion of the internship, she was asked to become a client with the agency. Gabby thought of it as a great way to pay off a stack of college loans, and modeled until her agent found that she could actually act. Her first audition/job was landed without any headshots, on Saved by the Bell (1989). Since then, she has gone on to have many small but substantial film roles and has guest-starred on several hit TV shows, all before landing the role of "Dr. Courtney Ellis", on CBS' short-lived medical drama City of Angels (2000).Although she plays parts that are opinionated and strong, Gabrielle believes that, "Hollywood needs to recognize all shades of African-American beauty." Gabrielle is a 1996 graduate of UCLA with honors in sociology. Show less «

[on her status as a sex symbol] I have no problem with that! I'd rather be that than Quasimodo. Or a method actor.

Thank God for J-Lo [Jennifer Lopez]. All of a sudden big asses are de rigueur.

[on her strip scene in Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)] I'm a Catholic girl from Omaha, and then all of a sudden they spring this scene on me. Aft...Show more »

[on her strip scene in Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)] I'm a Catholic girl from Omaha, and then all of a sudden they spring this scene on me. Afterwards I had to go to confession. I said, "Forgive me Father, for I have just bared my ass in front of the world. How many Hail Marys will it take to absolve me of that?" Show less «

After Halle Berry does her films and Queen Latifah does her films, it's left to all the black, Latino and Asian actresses to fight over a co...Show more »

After Halle Berry does her films and Queen Latifah does her films, it's left to all the black, Latino and Asian actresses to fight over a couple of roles. I opted for some TV. There's just not a ton of work in film. Show less «

[on Halle Berry's success] Halle's success has come more from blockbusters. But, yes, she is a source of inspiration. When she makes money, ...Show more »

[on Halle Berry's success] Halle's success has come more from blockbusters. But, yes, she is a source of inspiration. When she makes money, black actors make money. Show less «

I didn't want to act. I thought it was a cheesy profession--but when I was a junior, I got an internship at a modeling agency. When my inter...Show more »

I didn't want to act. I thought it was a cheesy profession--but when I was a junior, I got an internship at a modeling agency. When my internship ended, they said, "We'd be interested in representing you". I was like, "If you think someone will pay me to be cheesy, sure, whatever!" Show less «

I have the Samuel L. Jackson mentality, of working as much as possible. I think about [Halle Berry] and [Queen Latifah] and they are the onl...Show more »

I have the Samuel L. Jackson mentality, of working as much as possible. I think about [Halle Berry] and [Queen Latifah] and they are the only two black actresses that work consistently. It scares me. Show less «

I like directors who have worked as actors. They know the experience.

I still hear things like, "Gabrielle, you gave the best read! If we decide to go black, you're at the top of the list". I've actually been t...Show more »

I still hear things like, "Gabrielle, you gave the best read! If we decide to go black, you're at the top of the list". I've actually been told, "Gabrielle, you're absolutely perfect for the role, but the role is a girl who's most popular in school". I've been to the point where I brought in my yearbook. "See how popular I was? It really can happen". Show less «

[on what she'll do next] I want to be Miss USA or Miss America. I would bring the trophy back to Nebraska. My interests are agriculture and ...Show more »

[on what she'll do next] I want to be Miss USA or Miss America. I would bring the trophy back to Nebraska. My interests are agriculture and corn. Hey, I'm just riding this train as long as I can. As long as I'm having fun, I'll do it. When it stops being fun, I'll try something else. Maybe I'll open up a chain of Popeye's Chicken". Show less «

It is all that an actress can hope for. The experience was very organic. I was able to be creative. In comedies, you go for the joke, and em...Show more »

It is all that an actress can hope for. The experience was very organic. I was able to be creative. In comedies, you go for the joke, and embellish. Action films are about action. They're not about performances. Show less «

The black community in Hollywood is very small and close-knit. Everyone has a common goal: to make a two-hour movie in 30 days. We watch eac...Show more »

The black community in Hollywood is very small and close-knit. Everyone has a common goal: to make a two-hour movie in 30 days. We watch each others' scenes. There is a natural chemistry. You can't have a crazy diva walking around saying, "As long as I'm lit well . . ." Or, "I only care if I do well". Show less «

As women we're taught early on to be polite, to be nice, to not make anyone uncomfortable. But I always remember this great line from a movi...Show more »

As women we're taught early on to be polite, to be nice, to not make anyone uncomfortable. But I always remember this great line from a movie: "All we have...is all these years." We can fill those years with toxic, negative people or with fun, positive people. You don't get any points when you get to heaven for putting up with bullshit. Show less «

[on playing Esther in 'The Birth of a Nation', 2016] Unfortunately, life gave me all the preparation I needed. Much of my journey as a rape ...Show more »

[on playing Esther in 'The Birth of a Nation', 2016] Unfortunately, life gave me all the preparation I needed. Much of my journey as a rape survivor has been in the shadows. The post-traumatic stress is like being locked in this excruciatingly joyless place. I hope people see Gabrielle Ubion, rape survivor, as the same person as Esther, because we are the same. Show less «