Queen Latifah almost ended up following a career in politics before she opted for a life as a rapper/actress. The Chicago star - real name Dana Owens - always wanted to be involved in changing the world around her growing up.She tells U.S. TV show Extra, "It (a career in politics) did cross my mind. I was always that kind of kid who wanted to be involved in student government. If there was a way I could change the world, then I wanted to be involved in it."Instead she pursued a beatbox career joining rap group Fresh Ladies in 1988.Her first album All Hail the Queen in 1989 was met with critical success and her third album Black Reign contained the Grammy Award winning single U.N.I.T.Y.Since then she has had a very successful acting career she first attracted attention for her 1996 hit Set It Off.She has gone on to appear in The Bone Collector, Living It Loud, and Bringing Down The House.

She recieved an Academy Award nomination for her role as Matron 'Mamma' Morton in the oscar winning picture Chicargo.

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