Gabrielle Monique Union-Wade (born October 29, 1972) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in The Brothers (2001), Deliver Us from Eva (2003), Bad Boys II (2003), Daddy's Little Girls (2007), Think Like a Man (2012), Think Like a Man Too (2014), and the remake of Cheaper by the Dozen (2022). She also starred as the lead in the BET drama series Being Mary Jane (2013-2019), for which she has received an NAACP Image Award, and in the crime series L.A.'s Finest (2019-2020) - a spinoff series for her character Syd in Bad Boys II..
She also had starring roles in the CBS medical drama series City of Angels (2000) and in the films Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), Neo Ned (2005), Cadillac Records (2008), Top Five (2014), Breaking In (2018), and The Perfect Find (2023). She has also co-starred in the films The Birth of a Nation (2016), Almost Christmas (2016), and Sleepless (2017).
In high school, Union was an all-star point guard in basketball and a year-round athlete, also playing in soccer and running track. She went on to the University of Nebraska before moving on to Cuesta College. She eventually transferred to UCLA and earned a degree in sociology. While studying there, she interned at the Judith Fontaine Modeling & Talent Agency to earn extra academic credits. Invited by the agency's owner, Judith Fontaine, she started working as a model to pay off college loans.
Her career began in the 1990s, when she made dozens of appearances on TV sitcoms prior to landing supporting roles in 1999 teen films She's All That and 10 Things I Hate About You. She rose to greater prominence the following year, after she landed her breakthrough role in the teen film Bring It On. Bring It On helped push her into the mainstream and she began gaining more exposure. She was cast in her first leading role in the 2003 film Deliver Us from Eva with rapper L.L. Cool J. In 2003, she landed the role of Will Smith's girlfriend/Martin Lawrence's sister Sydney Burnett in the film Bad Boys II, and she starred with Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx in the film Breakin' All the Rules in 2004. She then starred in the short-lived 2005 ABC series Night Stalker. She has also starred in the independent drama films Neo Ned and Constellation, the latter of which was released to theaters. She won an award for Best Actress in Neo Ned at the Palm Beach International Film Festival, and the film received awards at several festivals.
Outside of acting, she has written four books: two memoirs, titled We're Going to Need More Wine (2017) and You Got Anything Stronger? (2021), and two children's books, titled Welcome to the Party (2020), and Shady Baby (2021).
Riff Raff
Sandy
2025
Space Cadet
Pam Proctor
2024
The Perfect Find
Jenna Jones
2023
Strange World
Meridian Clade (voice)
2022
The Inspection
Inez French
2022
Cheaper by the Dozen
Zoey Baker
2022
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes
Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey
2021
Adele One Night Only
Self
2021
Fearless
General Blazerhatch (voice)
2020
Sesame Street Elmo's Playdate: Scavenger Hunt
2020
The Public
2019
Breaking In
Shaun Russell
2018
The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar
Nala (voice)
2017
Sleepless
Dena
2017
Almost Christmas
Rachel
2016
The Birth of a Nation
Esther
2016
The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar
Nala (voice)
2016
With This Ring
Kitty
2015
Top Five
Erica Long
2014
Think Like a Man Too
Kristen
2014
The Door
She
2013
Miss Dial
Long Story Caller
2013
In Our Nature
Vicky
2012
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide
Self
2012
Think Like a Man
Kristen
2012
Good Deeds
Natalie
2012
Cadillac Records
Geneva Wade
2008
Meet Dave
No. 3 - Cultural Officer
2008
The Perfect Holiday
Nancy Taylor
2007
Daddy's Little Girls
Julia Rossmore
2007
Constellation
Carmel Boxer
2007
The Box
Cris Romano
2007
Running with Scissors
Dorothy
2006
Say Uncle
Elise Carter
2006
The Honeymooners
Alice Kramden
2005
Neo Ned
Rachael
2005
The Tony Danza Show
Self · (1 episode)
2004
Something the Lord Made
Clara Thomas
2004
Breakin' All the Rules
Nikki
2004
Hustle and Heat
Masked Woman
2003
Bad Boys II
Syd
2003
Cradle 2 the Grave
Daria
2003
Deliver Us from Eva
Evangeline 'Eva' Dandrige
2003
Abandon
Amanda Luttrell
2002
Welcome to Collinwood
Michelle
2002
Two Can Play That Game
Conny Spalding
2001
The Brothers
Denise Johnson
2001
Bring It On
Isis
2000
Love & Basketball
Shawnee
2000
H.E. Double Hockey Sticks
Gabrielle
1999
10 Things I Hate About You
Chastity
1999
She's All That
Katie
1999
Sorcerority
The Casket Girls
Detective Shay Williams
Forbidden Fruits
Number One on the Call Sheet
Self · (1 episode)
2025
We Got Time Today
Self · (1 episode)
2024
Gabrielle Union: My Journey to 50
Self · (2 episodes)
2023
StoryBots: Answer Time
(1 episode)
2022
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self · (1 episode)
2022
Sherri
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2022
The Drew Barrymore Show
Self · (1 episode)
2020
Truth Be Told
Eva Pierre · (10 episodes)
2019
Tamron Hall
Self - Guest · (4 episodes)
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
(1 episode)
2019
A Black Lady Sketch Show
Gabrielle Union · (1 episode)
2019
L.A.'s Finest
Syd Burnett · (26 episodes)
2019
Desus & Mero
Self - Illustrious Guest · (2 episodes)
2019
Red Table Talk
Self · (1 episode)
2018
The Lion Guard
Nala (voice) · (0 episode)
2016
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
(1 episode)
2015
Hot Ones
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (2 episodes)
2014
Being Mary Jane
Mary Jane Paul · (51 episodes)
2013
NTSF:SD:SUV::
Sandy Canyons · (1 episode)
2011
Conan
Self · (2 episodes)
2010
FlashForward
Zoey Andata · (9 episodes)
2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (8 episodes)
2009
Life
Jane Seever · (4 episodes)
2007
Ugly Betty
Renee Slater · (3 episodes)
2006
America's Got Talent
Self - Judge · (23 episodes)
2006
The Reichen Show
Self · (1 episode)
2005
Night Stalker
Perri Reed · (10 episodes)
2005
On Air with Ryan Seacrest
Self · (1 episode)
2004
Pepsi Smash
Self - Host · (1 episode)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (5 episodes)
2003
The Proud Family
Sunny Stevens / Iesha (voice) · (1 episode)
2001
City of Angels
Courtney Ellis · (11 episodes)
2000
The Early Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1999
The West Wing
Meeshel Anders · (1 episode)
1999
Grown Ups
(1 episode)
1999
Family Guy
Shauna Parks (voice) · (1 episode)
1999
City Guys
(1 episode)
1997
The View
Self - Guest · (3 episodes)
1997
Smart Guy
(1 episode)
1997
Jungle Cubs
(2 episodes)
1996
Clueless
(1 episode)
1996
7th Heaven
Keesha Hamilton · (5 episodes)
1996
Goode Behavior
Tracy Monaghan · (23 episodes)
1996
The Steve Harvey Show
Naomi Parson · (1 episode)
1996
The Daily Show
Self · (6 episodes)
1996
Moesha
(1 episode)
1996
Friends
Kirsten Lang · (1 episode)
1994
ER
Tamara Davis · (1 episode)
1994
Sister, Sister
Vanessa · (4 episodes)
1994
Dave's World
Carly · (1 episode)
1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1993
Saved by the Bell: The New Class
Hilary · (1 episode)
1993
Saved by the Bell: The New Class
Jennifer · (1 episode)
1993
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
N'Garen · (1 episode)
1993
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(1 episode)
1992
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self · (2 episodes)
1988
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest · (3 episodes)
1988