Sanaa Lathan on Making Her Directing Debut at TIFF With ‘On the Come Up’: ‘It Feels a Little Like It Was Destiny’

variety.com:

Angelique Jackson When you’ve been in the entertainment industry for more than 25 years, there aren’t a lot of “firsts,” but it’s been a busy week of them for Sanaa Lathan.

On Sunday night, she attended the Creative Arts Emmys, where she was nominated for her first Emmy award. And just four days later, she’s celebrating the world premiere of her feature directorial debut “On the Come Up” at the opening night of the Toronto International Film Festival. “It was surreal and just so fun,” Lathan told Variety about attending the awards as a nominee. “The timing of it was kind of perfect because I have so much on my mind about bringing ‘On the Come Up’ out into the world that I haven’t had any time to stress over the whole award show drama.” Lathan’s date for the big night was her little sister Colette Lathan. “We sat at the ‘Succession’ table, and we laughed and were thoroughly entertained,” Lathan says. “I didn’t win, but I felt like a winner already just for being amongst all those amazing, excellent artists.

It was great; it was weirdly easier than I thought it would be.” The budding filmmaker caught up with Variety during a brief break in her schedule as she prepares to launch “On the Come Up.” Lathan also stars in the Paramount+ film, playing Jayda “Jay” Jackson, mother to the story’s central character Bri (newcomer Jamila C.

Gray, who Lathan hand-picked out of more than 200 audition tapes). Based on the best-selling 2019 YA novel by Angie Thomas, “On the Come Up” follows Bri, a talented 16-year-old high school student who dreams of making it big in the world of battle rap.