Hip-hop legend and actress Queen Latifah is looking back on the early days of her iconic sitcom, Living Single, with deep affection, humor, and a surprising vulnerability, as she shared memories of having her mother, Rita Owens, on set.
Appearing on the “ReLiving Single” podcast, hosted by original castmates Kim Coles and Erika Alexander, Latifah confirmed that the show was not only a professional milestone but a personal comfort during a difficult period of grief.
The Pride and The Pain
The sitcom, which ran from 1993 to 1998 on Fox, began shortly after a major tragedy in Latifah’s life:
- The Loss: “I lost my brother in 1992,” Latifah stated, referring to the tragic death of her older brother, Lance Owens Jr. (a policeman who died in a motorcycle accident while off-duty). “We started Living Single in 1993. So I was coming off of that.”
- The Mother’s Presence: Latifah’s mother, Rita Owens (who played Khadijah’s mother, Rita James, on the show), was a source of pride and anxiety for the star. Latifah noted her mother loved the cast and was “so very proud of us.” However, seeing her mother on set was “a little nerve-wracking,” because she was nervous for her. “My body was so tight,” Latifah recalled, relieved when the scenes were over so she “could calm down.”
The Power of Matriarchs and Mentorship
The family connection on Living Single was a unique feature of the show’s chemistry.
- Family on Screen: Not only did Latifah’s mother, Rita Owens, play her mother on-screen, but Kim Fields’ real-life mother, the veteran actress and director Chip Fields-Hurd, played Regine’s mother, Laverne Hunter.
- Coaching and Brilliance: Latifah took a moment to celebrate Chip Fields-Hurd’s mentorship, noting her crucial behind-the-scenes role: “She coached me, she coached my mother. She was brilliant.”
The Instant Chemistry
The exchange between Latifah, Coles (Synclaire James-Jones), and Alexander (Maxine Shaw) underscored the lasting bond that formed among the six friends who brought the Brooklyn brownstone to life (the main cast also included Kim Fields, T.C. Carson, and John Henton).
Alexander jokingly remarked that her casting as the sharp-tongued attorney Maxine Shaw seemed random: “You just found me off the street, like an urchin.” Latifah disagreed, recalling the moment of Alexander’s arrival, which instantly elevated the ensemble: “To get you was like, ‘what?!'”
The series remains a cultural touchstone for its groundbreaking portrayal of young Black professionals navigating friendship, love, and ambition.