Nona Gaye


Actor, Singer

About

Birth Place
Washington D.C., USA
Born
September 04, 1974

Biography

A native of Washington D.C., Nona Gaye is best known for her acclaimed performance opposite Will Smith as Belinda, Muhammad Ali's second wife in Michael Mann's "Ali" (2001). The result of her feature film debut was rave reviews, and a call from USA Today for a supporting actress Oscar nomination. She appeared on stage for the first time when she was three weeks old with her father, soul ...

Family & Companions

Justin Martinez
Companion
Father of Gaye's son Nolan; no longer together.
Prince
Companion
Singer. Dated for three years in c.1993.

Biography

A native of Washington D.C., Nona Gaye is best known for her acclaimed performance opposite Will Smith as Belinda, Muhammad Ali's second wife in Michael Mann's "Ali" (2001). The result of her feature film debut was rave reviews, and a call from USA Today for a supporting actress Oscar nomination. She appeared on stage for the first time when she was three weeks old with her father, soul legend Marvin Gaye. At six years old her father announced on Soul Train, "She sings quite well." So at the tender age of 14, Gaye cut her first demo and was signed to Atlantic Records at 16. In 1992, she released her first album, "Love for the Future," which received high praise from the music industry.

Gaye added modeling to her career, shooting a campaign for Armani and walking the runway for Gianni Versace.

In 2001, Gaye returned to the recording studio, collaborating with Bono & Artists Against Aids Worldwide re-recording "What's Going On" as a call to stop the spread of AIDS in Africa.

After taking time to raise her son, Nolan, Gaye began to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. She was cast as Zee (a supporting role that was previously held by the late Aaliyah) in the sequels "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions" (both 2003), and turned in a fine performance via the groundbreaking Performance Capture technology in the CGI-animated children's story "The Polar Express" (2004).

Life Events

1992

Released her debut album with "Love for the Future"

2001

Cast as Belinda Boyd, the second wife of boxer Muhammad Ali in the biopic "Ali" directed by Michael Mann

2003

Replaced the late Aaliyah in the Matrix sequels, "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions"

2004

Voiced Hero Girl in "The Polar Express" an animated feature directed by Robert Zemeckis

2005

Starred in Paul Haggis' directorial debut "Crash," a multicharacter study of L.A. race relations

Family

Marvin Gaye Sr
Grandfather
Marvin Gaye
Father
Singer. Shot to death by his father in 1984.
Jan Gaye
Mother
Divorced from Marvin Gaye in 1981.
Nolan
Son
Born c. 1997.
Bub
Brother
Artist. Born c. 1976.

Companions

Justin Martinez
Companion
Father of Gaye's son Nolan; no longer together.
Prince
Companion
Singer. Dated for three years in c.1993.

Bibliography