Gabrielle Union's introduction to stardom was a case of being in the right place at the right time--the 29-year-old Omaha native was discovered while interning at a modeling agency.
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She has since appeared in teen hits (She's All That, Bring It On) and romantic comedies (Two Can Play That Game, The Brothers). This fall, she's broadening her horizons with Abandon, a thriller costarring Katie Holmes and Benjamin Bratt, and the Russo brothers' crime caper Welcome to Collinwood, with George Clooney. Next year, there's Deliver Us from Eva (she's Eva) and Cradle 2 the Grave with Jet Li and DMX.
Q: Which of your upcoming films was the most difficult to make?
A: Abandon, because my wedding [to former football player Chris Howard] took place in the middle of shooting. To leave work on a Thursday, get married and be back that Sunday--that's madness. My honeymoon was spent with Katie Holmes and Benjamin Bratt on the set.
Q: Tell me about your character in Welcome to Collinwood.
A: Initially she was blind, but it proved too depressing for test audiences. So it's a miracle--she can see now!
Q: Have you ever felt limited to taking on stock "black roles"?
A: A lot of roles I've gotten have not been written black, so I've never felt that limited. There are so many quote-unquote black movies, and the only reason they're marketed like that is because there's black people in them. Deliver Us from Eva is about family. It's for everybody, not just black folks.
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Enid Portuguez