Gabrielle Union was born on October 29, 1972; in Omaha, Nebraska. However, at the age of 8, her family moved to Pleasanton, CA; 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. 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 completion of the internship, she was asked to become a client with the agency. Union 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 with out any headshots, on UPN's 'Moesha.'
Since then she has had small but substantial roles in several teenage movies: She's All That, 10 Things I Hate About You, and Bring It On. Gabrielle has also guest starred on several popular television shows: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Sister, Sister; and 7th Heaven. Fans may rember Union's portrayal of Keesha Hamilton, the eldest daughter in an African-American version of the Camden Family. Eventually Union made her television series debut as Dr. Courtney Ellis on CBS' short-lived drama, 'City of Angels.'
In addition to her role in Bring It On, Gabrielle was in fact a cheerleader in the 8th grade, however she said that "it was more about popularity than cheering." When Gabrielle auditioned for the leading role that Sanaa Lathan played in Love and Basketball, the director didn't see her as a ball player, she has played sports since she was eight. Instead, she became Shawnee, a mean athletic groupie.
Although she plays parts that are opinionated and strong, Gabrielle Union believes that, "Hollywood needs to recognize all shades of African American beauty." Landing her first leading role in Hardwick's 'Deliver Us From Eva,' Union also landed her first lead action role in 'Cradle 2 the Gave,' and recently stars as the female romantic lead to Will Smith's Mike Lowrey in the sequel blockbuster 'Bad Boys 2.'
When asked if she would rather act in a romantic comedy or an action film she replied, "I love romantic comedies. They're for me the easiest to do and the most natural to do. There's nothing natural about holding an uzi hanging out of a moving van shooting at people. That's not second nature to me, thank God."
Gabrielle is a graduate of UCLA with honors, in sociology.
GUFC
