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Regina Hall

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Regina Hall
Hall in 2019
Born
Regina Lee Hall

(1970-12-12) December 12, 1970 (age 53)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Actress
Years active1997–present

Regina Lee Hall (born December 12, 1970)[1][2] is an American actress. She rose to prominence for her role as Brenda Meeks in the comedy horror Scary Movie film series (2000–2006). She has since appeared in the television series Ally McBeal (2001–2002), Law & Order: LA (2010–2011), Grandfathered (2016), and Black Monday (2019–2021), and in the films The Best Man (1999), its 2013 sequel The Best Man Holiday, About Last Night (2014), Vacation (2015), Girls Trip (2017), The Hate U Give (2018), and Little (2019). For the comedy film Support the Girls (2018), Hall received critical acclaim, and became the first African American to win the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress.

Early life

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Hall was born the daughter of a contractor and electrician father, Odie Hall, and a teacher mother, Ruby.[3][4] After graduating from Immaculata High School, Hall enrolled at Fordham University in the Bronx, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in English in 1992.[5][6] She later enrolled at New York University, where she earned a master's degree in journalism in 1997.[7] Reflecting on college, Hall said: "I loved being a student. I could've gone to school until I was 75 years old as long as somebody would've paid my rent. I would've been a professional student."[5]

She wanted a career with impact and envisioned a career in writing or journalism, but Hall's first semester of graduate school changed drastically when her father died of a stroke.[8] "It was sudden. And I think when sudden events that are painful happen in your life, you know, they redirect your course," Hall reflected. "When you're young, you don't grasp the gravity of life. But when you lose someone that you spend most of your life with, and you're young, you do. And so I think that started me thinking about what I really wanted to do in life. And I know my father would have wanted me to finish school. So I did that."[9] She began a career in the entertainment industry, starting off with a guest appearance on Sadat X's 1996 album Wild Cowboys on the track, "The Interview".

Career

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In 1997, Hall appeared in her first television commercial at the age of 26. Her television career began with a role on the soap opera Loving, and guest appearances on the Fox police drama New York Undercover. She played Candy in the 1999 film The Best Man. She left a lasting impression on viewers with her portrayal of the character Candace "Candy" Sparks. Hall reflected: "It was my very first movie. I met Sanaa Lathan on it, and we did Love and Basketball together, which was my second film. And then, at that point, I was visiting L.A. to stay and it led to a third film and a fourth film. And it was really a big deal because I'd never been on a set before."[10] It signaled a pivotal point for Hall's career. As a key member of the all-star cast, she welcomed rising-star status in "Black-Hollywood".

Hall gained more recognition with her role in the comedy-horror-spoof Scary Movie (and the sequels Scary Movie 2, Scary Movie 3, and Scary Movie 4) portraying the sex-crazed Brenda Meeks, and the TV movie Disappearing Acts. The Scary Movie films would become some of her best known roles.[11] In 2001, Hall landed the role of Coretta Lipp on the prime-time drama Ally McBeal, which was originally a recurring role over several episodes but was made a main character in the 5th season of the show. A year later, she starred in the action-drama Paid in Full, a film directed by Charles Stone III. Since then, she has appeared in leading roles in films such as Malibu's Most Wanted, King's Ransom and The Honeymooners.[12]

She appeared in the film Law Abiding Citizen in 2009.[13][14] She had a role in the 2010 Danneel Harris and Arielle Kebbel film Mardi Gras. From its fall 2010 debut until a series overhaul in January 2011, Regina Hall portrayed Deputy District Attorney Evelyn Price on Law & Order: LA.

In 2012, she portrayed Candace Hall in Steve Harvey's movie Think Like a Man, a romantic comedy based on his book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. Hall reprised her role as Candace Sparks in The Best Man Holiday in 2013. She believed the characters had evolved from the first film. Hall felt The Best Man Holiday was different from any sequel she had ever done before since it was not "immediate" and it had been fourteen years since the release of the original. Hall felt the first film had "the joy of the wedding" and in the sequel "they come together for the holidays, but it's deeper than that. This one's definitely different, but we still laughed. There was so much laughter behind the scenes."[10] Hall joked about how all of the male members of the cast were married while all of the women were not, stating that Morris Chestnut was happily married while walking around "with his shirt off!"[15]

Hall appeared in the 2014 film About Last Night, costarring Kevin Hart.[16][17] She and Hart were seen as the film's highlight as they had a "great dynamic together" and the two were credited with having the funniest lines in the film. All of the cast was seen as having a "perfect mix of charisma and likability".[18] Jessica Herndon of the Associated Press stated "Hart and Hall are the best part of this film. They play the couple you know all too well: fiery, able to press one another's buttons and always caught in the makeup to breakup game." Negative reviews of the film also praised the pairing of Hall with Kevin Hart. Mick LaSalle of The San Francisco Chronicle expressed that Hart was "well paired for Hall, who matches him for comedy."[19] At the time of the film's release, both Hall and Hart expressed interest in working on other projects together.[20] About Last Night was her third ensemble film and Hall reflected that she learned from actors she worked with in ensembles.[21]

Hall interviewed in 2019

Hall reprised her role as Candace Hall in Think Like a Man Too. She revealed what members of the cast partied the most in the film shortly before the movie's release. "Everyone kind of had their fun, I'm not gonna lie. We went out, we gambled. Kevin [Hart] parties. There were parties, and we all went. It was good fun".[22] In July 2014, it was announced Hall would star in a Lifetime film, entitled With This Ring, with Eve and Jill Scott.[23][24]

In the 2015 film People Place Things, Hall had a major role as the love interest of a newly divorced man. In 2016, Hall was in Barbershop: The Next Cut. She played the role of Angie, one of the hair stylists, alongside Ice Cube, Common, and Eve. In 2017, Hall co-starred in the comedy film Girls Trip, which became a critical and commercial success. In 2018, Hall was part of the ensemble cast of the drama film The Hate U Give, based on the 2017 novel.

Hall had the lead in Support the Girls, a film directed by Andrew Bujalski. For the latter, she received critical praise, and was nominated for several awards, winning the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress. She is the first African-American to win the award.[25] That same year she was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[26] In 2019, Hall hosted the 2019 BET Awards.

In October 2020, she inked a first-look deal with Showtime. Under the pact, Hall will develop and produce television projects via her production company, RH Negative.[27] A mere months later, her company signed a six-film deal with ViacomCBS.[28]

She cohosted the 94th Academy Awards with Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes on March 27, 2022.[29]

In October 2024, Hall inked a first-look deal with MGM Alternative, the division of Amazon MGM Studios. Under the agreement, Hall and her team will develop and produce original unscripted true crime, ensemble docuseries and game genres.[30]

Personal life

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Around 2004, Hall's mother was diagnosed with scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease. When not working in Hollywood, Hall can be found volunteering for the care of senior citizens at a Sherman Oaks, California, convalescent home twice a week as well as raising public awareness for the disease. "When my mom was diagnosed, I didn't know much about the condition. But Dana Delany, who is an actress and now a friend of mine, put me in touch with Bob Saget. Bob had made a television movie about scleroderma years ago because his sister had died from it. That was back when they didn't even know what it was. Anyway, Bob had a group called the Scleroderma Research Foundation, so I donated to that and my mother even went to the doctor Bob had suggested, who happened to be over at Johns Hopkins."[31] Hall announced in November 2010 that she would be writing for ABILITY Magazine.[32]

In 2010, when she was 40, Hall unsuccessfully tried to become a Catholic nun after a bad break-up, having previously wanted to become one at the age of 14. In the latter case, she was refused for being too old, as the cut-off age is 39.[33][34]

In 2014, she signed as an ambassador for Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds.[35]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1999 The Best Man Candace "Candy" Sparks
2000 Love & Basketball Lena Wright
Scary Movie Brenda Meeks
2001 Scary Movie 2 Brenda Meeks
2002 The Other Brother Vicki
Paid in Full Keisha
2003 Malibu's Most Wanted Shondra
Scary Movie 3 Brenda Meeks
2005 King's Ransom Peaches Clarke
The Honeymooners Trixie Norton
Six Months Later Keri Short
2006 Scary Movie 4 Brenda Meeks
Danika Evelyn
The Elder Son Susan
2008 First Sunday Omunique
Superhero Movie Mrs. Xavier
2009 Law Abiding Citizen Kelly Rice
2010 Death at a Funeral Michelle Barnes
2011 Mardi Gras: Spring Break Ann Marie
2012 Think Like a Man Candace Hall
2013 The Best Man Holiday Candace "Candy" Sparks
2014 About Last Night Joan Derrickson
Think Like a Man Too Candace Hall
2015 People Places Things Diane
Vacation Nancy Peterson
2016 Barbershop: The Next Cut Angie
When the Bough Breaks Laura Taylor
2017 Girls Trip Ryan Pierce
Naked Megan Swope
2018 Support the Girls Lisa Conroy
Tijuana Jackson: Purpose Over Prison Cheryl Wagner
The Hate U Give Lisa Carter
Let's Dance Woman on Bed Short
2019 Little Jordan Sanders
Shaft Maya Babanikos
2021 Breaking News in Yuba County Ramirez
2022 Master Gail Bishop [36]
Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. Trinitie Childs
Me Time Maya [37]
2025 The Battle of Baktan Cross TBA Post-production
2025 In Memoriam Rachel Filming
TBA O'Dessa TBA Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 New York Undercover Tammy Episode: "No Place Like Hell"
2000 NYPD Blue Sharice Warner Episode: "Little Abner"
Disappearing Acts Portia TV movie
2001–2002 Ally McBeal Corretta Lipp Recurring cast (season 4); main cast (season 5)
2010–2011 Law & Order: Los Angeles Deputy D.A. Evelyn Price Recurring cast
2013 Second Generation Wayans Regina Recurring cast
2014 Married Roxanne Recurring cast (season 1)
2014–2015 Real Husbands of Hollywood Herself Recurring cast (season 3); guest (season 4)
2015 With This Ring Trista TV movie
Key & Peele Wife #1 Episode: "Airplane Showdown"
2016 Grandfathered Catherine Sanders Recurring cast
Uncle Buck Jackie King Episode: "Pilot"
Crushed Celia TV movie
Lip Sync Battle Herself Episode: "Lupita Nyong'o vs. Regina Hall"
2016–2017 Black-ish Vivian 3 episodes
2017 Insecure Ninny Recurring cast (season 2)
2017–2018 The Gong Show Herself (guest judge) 3 episodes
2019 BET Awards 2019 Herself (host) TV special
2019–2021 Black Monday Dawn Darcy Main cast
2021 Nine Perfect Strangers Carmel Schneider Main cast
2022 94th Academy Awards Herself (co-host) TV special
The Best Man: The Final Chapters Candace "Candy" Sparks-Murchison Main cast

Awards and nominations

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Year Work Award Result Ref.
2003 Ally McBeal NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [38]
2005 Danika Best Actress – San Diego Film Festival Won [39]
2018 Girls Trip NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated [40]
Support the Girls African-American Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Won [41]
Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated [42]
Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actress Nominated
Boston Online Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble Won [43]
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated [44]
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast Runner-up [45]
Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Actress Nominated [46]
Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead Nominated [47]
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress Nominated
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress Runner-up [48]
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Won [49]
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Nominated [50]
Seattle Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress Nominated [51]
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Won [52]
Talk Film Society Award for Best Actress Nominated [53]
Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated [54]
2019 The Hate U Give Women's Image Network Awards for Best Supporting Actress, Feature Film Won
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated [55]
2020 Black Monday Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy Series Nominated
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [56]
2019 BET Awards Ceremony NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Host in a Reality, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) Nominated
2021 Nine Perfect Strangers Newport Beach Film Festival - Spotlight Award (Artist of Distinction) Won [57]
Black Monday NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [58]
2022 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Nominated [59]
Nine Perfect Strangers NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a TV Movie, Limited-Series or
Dramatic Special 		Won
Life's Work San Diego International Film Festival - Cinema Vanguard Award Honored [60]
Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. Napa Valley Film Festival - Maverick Award Honored
2023 Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Performance Nominated [61]
San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress Nominated
Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actress Nominated
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated
The Best Man: The Final Chapters NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a TV Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Regina Hall On Turning 50: 'You Either Have Another Birthday...or You Don't'". Health.com. August 10, 2021. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  2. ^ Rebecca Alter (December 12, 2020). "WATCH: Regina Hall Made a 50th Birthday Video for Instagram". Vulture.com. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "Regina Hall Biography (1971-)". www.filmreference.com.
  4. ^ "Regina Hall". Ability Magazine. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Regina Hall Interview". The Breakfast Club. September 7, 2016. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  6. ^ "'People Places Things' stars Regina Hall and Jemaine Clement talk about the new comedy". Pix 11. August 11, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  7. ^ Sarah Sloboda (2008). "Regina Hall". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008.
  8. ^ King, Susan (August 12, 2015). "Regina Hall's well-ordered life as an actor, not a nun". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  9. ^ Mays, Raqiyah (February 21, 2014). "SCREEN TIME: REGINA HALL". The Shadow League.
  10. ^ a b Knolle, Sharon (November 12, 2013). "'Best Man Holiday' Star Regina Hall Talks Epic Catfights, Sequels, and Scandalous Videos".
  11. ^ "'Think Like A Man Too's' Regina Hall Reenacts 'Scary Movie' Brenda Scene: Kevin Hart Needs to Keep It Down (Video)". The Wrap. June 22, 2014.
  12. ^ "April 2006 | blackfilm.com | features | interview | SCARY MOVIE 4: An Interview with Regina Hall". www.blackfilm.com.
  13. ^ "Regina Hall appears in 'Law Abiding Citizen'". CapeCodOnline.com. October 24, 2009. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014.
  14. ^ "Life in Film: All About Regina Hall". BET.
  15. ^ Rogers, Jazmin Denise (November 11, 2013). "'The Best Man Holiday' Actress Regina Hall Talks Dating In Her 40s". MadameNoire.
  16. ^ "'About Last Night' stars Kevin Hart, Regina Hall argue about 'big panties'". FoxNews.com. February 14, 2014.
  17. ^ Armstrong, Jenice (February 14, 2014). "Kevin Hart, Regina Hall on love, dating and girls who fight". Philly.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014.
  18. ^ "About Last Night Review". CinemaBlend.com.
  19. ^ Gettell, Oliver (February 14, 2014). "Kevin Hart, Regina Hall spice up 'About Last Night,' reviews say". Los Angeles Times.
  20. ^ Hailey, Jonathan (February 11, 2014). "Kevin Hart & Regina Hall Reveal The Trouble With Working Together [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO]". Black America Web.
  21. ^ "Regina Hall Talks Spanx, Sexuality, Yoga and Being Uninhibited in About Last Night". EurPublisher. February 13, 2014.
  22. ^ Bennett, Anita (June 19, 2014). "'Think Like a Man Too' Star Regina Hall on Shooting in Las Vegas, Strippers and Jail (Video)". The Wrap.
  23. ^ Jaffe, Eric (July 13, 2014). "Jill Scott, Eve, Regina Hall To Star In A Lifetime Movie". HotNewHipHop.com.
  24. ^ Goldberg, Lesley. "Jill Scott, Eve, Regina Hall to Star in Lifetime Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  25. ^ Sharf, Zach (November 29, 2018). "2018 New York Film Critics Circle Awards". IndieWire. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  26. ^ "ACADEMY INVITES 928 TO MEMBERSHIP". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. June 25, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  27. ^ Petski, Denise (October 19, 2020). "Regina Hall Inks First-Look Deal With Showtime". Deadline. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  28. ^ "Regina Hall's Rh Negative Signs Overall with ViacomCBS". blackfilm.com - Black Movies, Television, and Theatre News. November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  29. ^ Stevens, Matt (March 28, 2022). "Return of the hosts: Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes got the show started. Here's their full monologue". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  30. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (October 30, 2024). "Regina Hall Strikes First-Look Deal with MGM Alternative, Sets Celebrity Competition Series 'Squad Games'". Variety. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  31. ^ Regina Hall Interview "Regina Hall Issue", ABILITY Magazine, April/May 2010
  32. ^ Regina Hall on the Mo'Nique Show ABILITY Magazine, November 2010
  33. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (September 5, 2018). "Regina Hall has the range". The FADER. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  34. ^ Marchese, David (March 11, 2019). "Regina Hall on the Two Hollywoods, Spirituality and Success". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  35. ^ Wells, Veroica (May 10, 2014). "Regina Hall Talks Womanhood, White Diamonds & Embracing Singleness". MadameNoire.
  36. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (November 13, 2019). "Regina Hall To Executive Produce & Star In 'Master' Drama For Amazon Studios". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  37. ^ "Regina Hall Joins Kevin Hart And Mark Wahlberg in Netflix's 'Me Time'". August 30, 2021.
  38. ^ "2003 NAACP Image Awards". www.infoplease.com. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  39. ^ "san diego film festival 2007: award winners". July 3, 2007. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  40. ^ "2018 NAACP Image Awards: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. January 14, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  41. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (December 11, 2018). "'Black Panther' Named Best Film By African American Film Critics Association". Deadline. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  42. ^ Stoddard, Elizabeth (December 11, 2018). "AFCA Announces Austin Film Award Nominees for 2018". Medium. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  43. ^ "2018 Awards | Boston Online Film Critics Association". bofca.com. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  44. ^ ""Roma," "The Favourite" and "A Star is Born" lead 2018 CFCA nominations". Chicago Film Critics Association. December 7, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  45. ^ "'The Favourite' leads 2018 Florida Film Critics Awards Nominations". Florida Film Critics Circle. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  46. ^ Setoodeh, Ramin (October 18, 2018). "Ethan Hawke's 'First Reformed' Leads Gotham Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  47. ^ Sharf, Zack (November 21, 2017). "2018 Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 'Get Out' and 'Call Me by Your Name' Dominate". IndieWire. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  48. ^ Kilkenny, Katie (January 5, 2019). "'The Rider' Named Best Picture by the National Society of Film Critics". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  49. ^ Lewis, Hilary (November 29, 2018). "'Roma' Named Best Picture by New York Film Critics Circle". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  50. ^ "SFBAFCC 2018 Awards". The San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  51. ^ "The 2018 Seattle Film Critics Society (SFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. December 17, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  52. ^ "19th Annual Canadian Award Winners". January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  53. ^ "6th Annual Talk Film Society Awards Winners". Talk Film Society.
  54. ^ "2018 Toronto Film Critics Announce Winners". Awardsdaily. December 9, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  55. ^ Richards, Kimberley (March 31, 2019). "50th NAACP Image Awards: Here Are The Winners". HuffPost. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  56. ^ Howard, Katherine (February 22, 2020). "NAACP Image Awards: Lizzo Named Entertainer of the Year; 'Just Mercy,' 'Black-ish' Among Top Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  57. ^ Plunkett, Paul (October 21, 2021). "Newport Beach Film Festival Returns Live with Events and Honorees Including Harvey Keitel and Regina Hall". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  58. ^ Gibbs, Adrienne. "Netflix, HBO Lead NAACP Image Awards 2021 Nominations". Forbes. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  59. ^ Lewis, Hilary (January 18, 2022). "NAACP Image Awards: 'Harder They Fall,' 'Insecure' Lead Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  60. ^ Milkowski, Jenny (October 7, 2022). "The San Diego International Film Festival Oct. 19-23 -". McKinnon Broadcasting. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  61. ^ Davis, Clayton (November 22, 2022). "Independent Spirit Awards Nominations: 'Everything Everywhere' Leads With Eight Noms". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
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