Born:
December 11, 1967
Mo'Nique Overview:
Comedian and actress Mo'Nique is best known for her bold, brassy stand-up routines about body image (she's an advocate of owning your size and believing in yourself no matter what you look like) and male/female relationships. In addition to her outspoken comedy, Mo'Nique is host of her own BET talk show (The Mo'Nique Show) and an Oscar-winning actress for her role in the 2009 film Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire.
Quick Mo'Nique Facts:
- Mo'Nique (born Monique Imes) was born in Baltimore, Maryland.
- She began performing stand-up in the late '90s in Baltimore comedy clubs on a dare from her brother.
- In 1999, she landed a starring role on the UPN sitcom The Parkers, which ran until 2004.
- In 2003, Mo'Nique published her first book, called Skinny Women Are Evil.
- She began hosting her own BET talk show, The Mo'Nique Show, in 2009.
- In 2009, she starred in the film Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, for which she won several major critics' awards including Sundance Jury Prize and the Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
Additional Mo'Nique Facts:
- In 2001, Mo'Nique toured with The Queens of Comedy alongside fellow comedians Laura Hayes, Adele Givens and Sommore. The following year, a concert film and tour documentary about the group was released.
- She was the first female comedian to host the stand-up showcase Showtime at the Apollo, which she hosted for two seasons.
- She was nominated for NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress during all of her five seasons on The Parkers, and won three times in 2001, 2002 and 2004.
- In 2005, she hosted the reality show Mo'Nique's Fat Chance on the Oxygen network.
- She hosted the BET Awards three times, in 2003, 2004 and 2007.
- In addition to her TV and hosting work, Mo'Nique has appeared in a number of feature films including Soul Plane, Domino, Baby Boy, Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins and had a starring role in Phat Girlz.
- From 2008 to 2009, she was host of the syndicated radio show Mo'Nique in the Afternoon.
