In the movie Something New, actress Sanaa Lathan plays Kenya, a gorgeous, high-strung executive who hates dogs and the outdoors. Simon Baker, one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in 2002, plays Brian, a laid-back landscape architect who loves dogs and hiking. When Kenya and Brian are set up on a blind date, they discover another big difference...she's black and he's white.
Kenya and Brian may seem like an unlikely match, but they have one important thing in common—they're madly in love...with each other!
When the movie was first released, the Washington Post reported it was all the buzz in Internet chat rooms. Something New has also sparked discussions about black women who choose to date outside their race. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, interracial marriages have more than doubled over the past decade. Sanaa, a Tony-nominated actress who attended the Yale School of Drama, says the movie has a universal message that applies to all types of relationships.
"We're saying you should follow your heart. ... [The movie] is really just about trying not to care so much about what others think and following your heart," Sanaa says.
