Born on September 19, 1971, in New York City, she is the daughter of actress Eleanor McCoy and director Stan Lathan. She studied at the University of California, Berkeley, and Yale School of Drama. Rising to fame in the late 1990s, she gained recognition for roles in films like "Love & Basketball" and "Brown Sugar." Her versatile talent extends to stage and voice work, including the animated series "The Cleveland Show." She continues to shine in both film and television, earning critical acclaim and numerous award nominations.