View source for Mo'Nique

{{Short description|American comedian and actress (born 1967)}}
{{About|the comedian and actress|the name|Monique|not to be confused with|'Nique (disambiguation){{!}}Nique}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name         = Mo'Nique
| image        = Mo'Nique attending the 82nd Academy Awards 2010.jpg
| caption      = Mo'Nique at the [[82nd Academy Awards]] in 2010
| birth_name   = Monique Angela Imes
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1967|12|11}}
| birth_place  = [[Woodlawn, Baltimore County, Maryland|Woodlawn]], [[Maryland]], U.S.
| othername    = Myelle Kaye
| occupation   = {{hlist|Comedian|actress|talk show host|author}}
| years_active = 1990–present
| works        = [[#Filmography|Full list]]
| awards       = [[List of awards and nominations received by Mo'Nique|Full list]]
| spouse       = {{ubl|{{marriage|Calvin Watkins|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|Mark Jackson|1997|2001|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|Sidney Hicks|2006}}}}
| children     = 4
| homepage     = {{URL|therealmoworldwide.com/}}
}}

'''Monique Angela Hicks''' (née '''Imes'''; born December 11, 1967), known mononymously as '''Mo'Nique''', is an American comedian and Academy Award winning actress.<ref name="GoldenGlobes">{{cite web|url=https://goldenglobes.com/person/monique-monique/|title=Mo'Nique {{pipe}} Golden Globes|publisher=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]]|access-date=February 16, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/monique-show-put-indefinite-hiatus-217730|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Sofia M.|last=Fernandez|title='Mo'Nique Show' Put on Indefinite Hiatus|date=August 1, 2011|access-date=February 16, 2024}}</ref> She debuted as a member of [[The Queens of Comedy]] and earned recognition as a [[Stand-up comedy|stand-up comedian]]. In 2002, she received a nomination for the [[Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album]]. She transitioned to mainstream roles starring in the [[UPN]] series ''[[The Parkers]]'' (1999–2004) and the films ''[[Phat Girlz]]'' (2006) and ''[[Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins]]'' (2008). 

Mo'Nique was critically acclaimed for her performance in the film ''[[Precious (film)|Precious]]'' (2009), for which she won the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]], becoming the fourth African-American woman to win the award, in addition to [[List of awards and nominations received by Mo'Nique|accolades]] at the [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA]], [[Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe]], and [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]]. After hosting her talk show ''[[The Mo'Nique Show]]'' (2009–2011), she earned a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Primetime Emmy Award]] nomination for the [[HBO]] film ''[[Bessie (film)|Bessie]]'' (2015) and starred in [[Lee Daniels]]' [[Netflix]] film [[The Deliverance (film)|''The Deliverance'']] (2024).

==Early life==
Mo'Nique was born on December 11, 1967, in Woodlawn, [[Baltimore County]], Maryland,<ref name="GoldenGlobes"/> the daughter of engineer Alice Imes and drug counselor Steven Imes Jr.<ref name="ref1">{{cite news|last=John-Hall|first=Annette|title=Proudly 'phat' actress has a new, plus-sized role|publisher=AZ Central.com|date=April 8, 2006|url=https://www.azcentral.com/ent/movies/articles/0408monique0408.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070119200628/http://www.azcentral.com/ent/movies/articles/0408monique0408.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 19, 2007|access-date=December 16, 2009}}</ref> She is the youngest of four children.  Mo'Nique graduated from [[Milford Mill High School]] in Baltimore County in 1985<ref>{{cite web |access-date=December 13, 2015 |title=monique imes Milford Mill High School/Academy '85 BALTIMORE, MD
|publisher=[[classmates.com]]
|url=http://www.classmates.com/people/monique-imes/13133192327}}</ref> and attended [[Morgan State University]].<ref name="ref2">{{cite news|last=Crockett|first=Sandra|title=Comedian has fine time just being Mo'Nique Laughing out LOUD|work=The Sun|date=November 19, 1994|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/111908356.html?dids=111908356%3A111908356&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Nov+19%2C+1994&author=Sandra+Crockett&pub=The+Sun&desc=Comedian+has+fine+time+just+being+Mo%27Nique+Laughing+out+LOUD&pqatl=google|access-date=December 16, 2009|archive-date=July 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724231304/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/111908356.html?dids=111908356%3A111908356&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AFT&type=current&date=Nov+19%2C+1994&author=Sandra+Crockett&pub=The+Sun&desc=Comedian+has+fine+time+just+being+Mo%27Nique+Laughing+out+LOUD&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}}</ref> She is a 1987 graduate of the [[Broadcasting Institute of Maryland]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bim.org/news.php |title= Broadcasting Institute of Maryland |access-date= March 4, 2011 |archive-date= February 27, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110227034515/http://www.bim.org/news.php |url-status= dead }}</ref>

Before she was an actress, Monique worked as a customer service representative at the phone company [[MCI Communications|MCI]] in [[Hunt Valley, Maryland]].<ref name=oprah28>''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'', Interview with the cast of ''[[Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins]]''. Original air date January 28, 2008.</ref> She got her start in comedy at the downtown Baltimore Comedy Factory Outlet when her brother Steve dared her to perform at an [[open mic]] night.

During a 2008 ''[[Essence (magazine)|Essence]]'' magazine interview, Mo'Nique revealed that she was sexually abused by her brother Gerald from ages 7 to 11; he went on to sexually abuse another girl and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. After her twin boys were born in 2005, Mo'Nique cut off all contact with Gerald. On April 19, 2010, he admitted on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show|Oprah]]'' to sexually abusing her over several years. He also was abused by family members and struggled with substance abuse.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/moniques-brother-gerald-imes-apologizes-precious-star-sexual/story?id=10414287|title=Mo'Nique's Brother, Gerald Imes, Apologizes to Precious Star for Sexual Abuse|work=ABC News|access-date=October 18, 2014}}</ref>

==Career==
Mo'Nique portrayed Nicole "Nikki" Parker on the UPN television series ''[[The Parkers]]'' from 1999 to 2004. She was featured on many leading stand-up venues, such as ''[[Showtime at the Apollo]]'', ''[[Russell Simmons]]' [[Def Comedy Jam]]'', and ''[[Thank God You're Here (US TV series)|Thank God You're Here]]''. Mo'Nique tackles race issues in her stand up routines, for instance at the Montreal Just For Laugh Festival in 2000: "White and black people, we're just mad at each other, we don't know why we're mad at each other. We're not each other's enemy. We're not the enemy. It's the Chinese people we need to watch out for".<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIjeJGWHAc8&index=27&list=RDUX2bnODw7ps|title = Montreal Just For Laugh Festival 2000|website = [[YouTube]]| date=May 22, 2015 |access-date=July 19, 2020}}</ref>

In 2005, Mo'Nique played a significant role in Tony Scott's thriller ''[[Domino (2005 film)|Domino]]'', co-starring [[Keira Knightley]] and [[Mickey Rourke]]. In 2006, Mo'Nique was cast as the lead in ''Phat Girlz'', a comedy about an aspiring fashion designer struggling to find love and acceptance. The film was met with lukewarm response from critics and fans. It did earn back its $3 million production cost in its first weekend of release.<ref>{{Cite web|title=IMDb Bottom 100|url=http://www.imdb.com/chart/bottom|publisher=IMDb}}</ref>

[[File:Mo'Nique SAAwards (cropped).jpg|thumb|Mo'Nique at the 2010 [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]]|247x247px]]
Mo'Nique's first play was [[Eve Ensler]]'s [[Obie Award]]-winning production of ''[[The Vagina Monologues]]'' in March 2002. Mo'Nique, [[Ella Joyce]] (''[[Roc (TV series)|Roc]]''); [[Wendy Raquel Robinson]] (''[[The Steve Harvey Show]]'' and ''[[The Game (U.S. TV series)|The Game]]'') and [[Vanessa Bell Calloway]] (''[[What's Love Got to Do with It (1993 film)|What's Love Got to Do with It]]''), were the first all black celebrity cast to perform ''The Vagina Monologues''. Produced by YYP & Associates, the show was directed by playwright and director Yetta Young as well as co-produced by Kellie R. Griffin, Lisa D. Washington and Anita Cal. Mo'Nique is the author of the best-selling book ''Skinny Women Are Evil: Notes of a Big Girl in a Small-Minded World''. She also released a 2006 cookbook called ''Skinny Cooks Can't Be Trusted''. Mo'nique was part of the Washington, D.C., WHUR radio show with George Wilborn. In 2006, she occasionally filled in for afternoon personality [[Michael Baisden]] when his contract with [[Citadel Media|ABC Radio]] was in the process of getting renewed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Monique to Fill in for Michael Baisden|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/16985/monique-to-fill-in-for-michael-baisden?ref=search|access-date=October 18, 2014|work=All Access}}</ref>

She was also named hostess of ''[[Showtime at the Apollo]].'' She was the hostess and executive producer of ''[[Mo'Nique's Fat Chance]]'', a beauty pageant for plus-sized women, on the [[Oxygen (TV channel)|Oxygen]] cable network. She hosted the first season of ''[[Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School]]'' on ''[[VH1]]'' where she crowned [[Saaphyri]] as the winner.
Mo'Nique's 2007 documentary ''I Coulda Been Your Cellmate!'' focuses on incarcerated women. In interviews with individual women, she touches on the common factors that bring many women into the penal system. The documentary was related to her filming a comedy special at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, also known as The Farm. In 2007, she had a guest-starring role on the hit television series ''[[Ugly Betty]]'' as L'Amanda, Mode's weekend security guard.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://movieweb.com/monique-to-guest-star-on-ugly-betty/ |title = Mo'Nique to Guest Star on Ugly Betty |date = September 28, 2007 |access-date=October 16, 2021}}</ref> She starred in ''[[The Mo'Nique Show]]'', her own late-night talk show. Taped in Atlanta, the show premiered October 5, 2009, on BET.<ref>BET Coming Soon [http://www.bet.com/OnTV/BETShows/monique Monique Show Official Page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002223801/http://www.bet.com/ontv/betshows/monique|date=October 2, 2009}}</ref>

She was featured in soul singer [[Anthony Hamilton (musician)|Anthony Hamilton]]'s video "[[Sista Big Bones]]", the second single from his album ''[[Ain't Nobody Worryin']]''. She hosted the 2003 and 2004 BET Awards and appeared as the host again for the 2007 BET Awards. She received positive responses in July 2004 with her opening performance of [[Beyoncé]]'s single "[[Crazy in Love (Beyoncé Knowles song)|Crazy in Love]]" In 2007, she performed Beyoncé's "[[Déjà Vu (Beyoncé Knowles song)|Déjà Vu]]". Mo'Nique has had a number of supporting roles in film. She appeared in the 2008 comedy film, ''Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins'' with [[Martin Lawrence]]. She has had roles in ''[[Beerfest]]'', '' [[3 Strikes (film)|3 Strikes]]'', ''[[Two Can Play That Game (film)|Two Can Play That Game]]'', ''[[Half Past Dead]]'', and ''[[Soul Plane]]''. She voiced a character in ''[[Garfield: The Movie]]'', but her role was cut from the movie.

In 2008, Mo'Nique stated on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show|Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' that [[Martin Lawrence]] gave her invaluable advice about show business: "He pulled me to the side and he said, 'Listen, don't ever let them tell you what you can't have.' Since that day, I've made some of the best deals I've ever made in my career because it keeps ringing in my head...It will stay with me forever."<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200801/20080128/slide_20080128_350_207.jhtml|publisher = Oprah.com|title = Martin Lawrence's Advice to Mo'Nique|access-date = January 28, 2008}}</ref> In 2008, [[Radio One (Company)|Radio One]] signed her to her own radio show: ''Mo'Nique in the Afternoon'' (or ''The Mo'Nique Show''), which premiered on several Radio One-owned [[Urban Adult Contemporary]]-formatted R&B/soul radio stations in July 2008. It mainly aired on these stations that had a local lineup because some Radio One stations did not carry it due to their contracts with Michael Baisden. The show lasted until March 18, 2009, when Mo'Nique decided to leave to "further her career in television, film, and comedy."<ref>{{cite web|title=Syndicated Personality Mo'Nique to End ''Mo'Nique Show''|url=http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/$rol.exe/headline_id=n19041|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317214021/http://news.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/%24rol.exe/headline_id%3Dn19041|archive-date=March 17, 2009|access-date=March 24, 2009|publisher=Radio Online}}</ref>

[[File:Mo'Nique Human Rights.jpg|thumb|Mo'Nique giving a speech in 2010|192x192px]]
In 2009, Mo'Nique appeared in the film ''[[Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire|Precious]]'', directed by [[Lee Daniels]], portraying an inner-city teenager's abusive mother. She won the [[Sundance Film Festival]] Special Jury Prize for her performance in the film. The [[African-American Film Critics Association]] (AAFCA) awarded Mo'Nique with the Best Supporting Actress Award in December 2009. Mo'Nique received the AAFCA's first ever unanimous vote in an acting category.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefilmexperience.net/Awards/2009/suppactress.html|title=2009 Supporting Actress|publisher = The Film Experience|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409085158/http://www.thefilmexperience.net/Awards/2009/suppactress.html|archive-date=April 9, 2009}}</ref>

She has received Best Supporting Actress awards from the [[Stockholm International Film Festival]], the [[Washington DC Area Film Critics Association]], the [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]], the [[Boston Society of Film Critics]], the [[New York Film Critics Online]], the [[New York Film Critics Circle]], the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the [[San Francisco Film Critics Circle]], the [[Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association]], the Las Vegas Film Critics Society, the Utah Film Critics Association, the [[Detroit Film Critics Society]], the Indiana Film Critics Association, the [[Online Film Critics Society]], the [[National Society of Film Critics Awards]], the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, and the [[Critics Choice Awards]]. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine ranked Mo'Nique's outstanding performance as the Best Female Performance of 2009. She won the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]], the [[Independent Spirit Award]], and the [[BAFTA]] Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b168157_hurt_locker_schools_education_avatar.html|title = The Hurt Locker Schools An Education, Avatar at Brit-Snubbing BAFTAs|date = February 22, 2010|publisher=E!}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefilmexperience.net/Awards/2009/suppactress.html|title=2009 Supporting Actress|publisher = The Film Experience|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409085158/http://www.thefilmexperience.net/Awards/2009/suppactress.html|archive-date=April 9, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://incontention.com/?page_id=4595|publisher=InContention.com|title=OSCAR PREDICTION CHARTS|date=February 23, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://lexib.net/2010/03/sandra-bullock-monique-oscar-academy-award-2010|title=Will Sandra Bullock, Mo'Nique Meet Their New Man, 'Oscar'|publisher=Lexib.net|access-date=March 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216122011/http://lexib.net/2010/03/sandra-bullock-monique-oscar-academy-award-2010|archive-date=February 16, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In November 2009, Mo'Nique said, "I own the rights to [[Hattie McDaniel]]'s life story, and I can't wait to tell that story because that woman was absolutely amazing. She had to stand up to the adversity of black and white [society] at a time when we really weren't accepted. Mr. Lee Daniels is going to direct it, of course, and I'm going to be Miss Hattie McDaniel. I really hope I can do that woman justice."<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Ben|last2=Walters|title=Comic Mo'Nique takes dramatic turn in "Precious"|work=Reuters|date=November 15, 2009|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AF0LV20091116}}</ref>

In 2014, Mo'Nique starred in [[Patrik-Ian Polk]]'s drama film [[Blackbird (Patrik-Ian Polk film)|''Blackbird'']] as Claire Rousseau. She next starred as [[Ma Rainey]] in the [[biographical film]] [[Bessie (film)|''Bessie'']] in 2015, for which she received critical acclaim, earning her a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] nomination. Her last roles (in film or television) were in 2016. In May 2017, she said Lee Daniels, Oprah Winfrey, and Tyler Perry had been blackballing her ever since she did not promote ''Precious'' in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-updates-may-mo-nique-blackballed-lee-daniels-oprah-1494883625-htmlstory.html|title=Today in Entertainment: Katy Perry cops to that Taylor Swift feud; Vanity Fair's 'Star Wars' covers cue the waterworks|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 2017 |access-date=July 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/monique-i-was-blackballed-winning-774616|title=Mo'Nique: I Was "Blackballed" After Winning My Oscar|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 19, 2015}}</ref>

In 2022, it was announced that Mo'Nique was to star in the [[Lee Daniels|Lee Daniels']] horror/thriller ''[[The Deliverance (film)|The Deliverance]]'' with [[Andra Day]], [[Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor]], [[Omar Epps]], Miss Lawrence, and [[Tasha Smith]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Monique |title=Lee Daniels' 'The Deliverance,' Starring Mo'Nique After Years-Long Feud, Adds Omar Epps, Miss Lawrence And More To Cast |url=https://test.shadowandact.com/lee-daniels-the-deliverance-starring-monique-after-years-long-feud-adds-omar-epps-miss-lawrence-and-more-to-cast |access-date=October 22, 2022 |website=Shadow and Act |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Mo'Nique was married to sportswriter Calvin Watkins whom she met in broadcasting school and had son Shalon Watkins, Jr. in 1990. She would later describe this marriage as abusive.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=wCZBBEDYMkUC&q=Husband |publisher = Atria Books|date = April 6, 2004|title = Skinny Women Are Evil Notes of a Big Girl in a Small-Minded World| isbn=978-0-7432-4456-5 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=FsMDAAAAMBAJ&dq=shalon+watkins&pg=PA62|publisher = JET Magazine|date = November 11, 2002|title = Actress and comedienne Mo'Nique of the Parkers talks about her: career new book 'Skinny Women are Evil' new fiance|last = Yarbrough | first = Marti}}</ref> From 1997 to 2001, she was married to barber Mark Jackson. In October 2005, Mo'Nique gave birth to twin sons Jonathan and David Hicks two months before their due date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1115775,00.html|title=Mo'Nique a New Mom Again – of Twins|work=People|access-date=October 18, 2014|archive-date=August 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823011049/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1115775,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2006, she married their father, Sidney Hicks. In a ''New York Times'' profile, she mentions that she and Hicks have an open marriage:

{{blockquote|We have an agreement that we'll always be honest, and if sex happens with another person, that's not a {{sic|deal break|er|hide=y}} for us, that's not something where we'll have to say, 'Oh God, we've got to go to divorce court because you cheated on me.' Because we don't cheat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9407E3D6103EF936A3575BC0A9619C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2|title=Luckily, There's Plenty of Her for Everybody|last=Lee|first=Felicia R.|date=August 5, 2007|newspaper=The New York Times|pages=2}}</ref>}}

She repeated this view later on ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' when she said that, in her prior marriages, she was constantly searching for "that extra oomph".<ref name= Oprah>Sheri Salata (Producer). (January 28, 2008). ''The Oprah Winfrey Show''. Chicago: Harpo Productions, Inc.</ref> Mo'Nique explained,

<blockquote>When I said I had an open marriage, people automatically jumped to sex. They automatically went there. But I've been best friends with my husband since we were 14 years old. When we say open, we're very honest. There are no secrets. Oftentimes you have people that are married, but they're strangers, and we refuse to be those people.<ref name= Oprahweb>{{cite web|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080131132627/http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200801/20080128/slide_20080128_350_206.jhtml | archive-date = 2008-01-31| url= http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200801/20080128/slide_20080128_350_206.jhtml|publisher= Oprah.com|title = Mo'Nique on her open marriage.|access-date= January 28, 2008}}</ref></blockquote>

She concluded, "I've had to sneak and I've had to lie, and I don't want to do that anymore. But my husband is so awesome and so fine and so—oh, girl...No other man can compare".<ref name=Oprahweb/>

In her Netflix special ''My Name is Mo'Nique'', released in April 2023, Mo'Nique disclosed that she experienced sexual attraction to women, stating that she was "not all the way" a lesbian, but that "when you're born with that, there's absolutely nothing you can do about it. Nothing. And please understand that I tried."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Griffin |first=Marc |date=April 6, 2023 |title=Mo'Nique Recalls Telling Husband About Sexual Fantasies With Women: "The Mask Had To Come Off" |url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/monique-tells-husband-sexual-fantasies-women-netflix-special-1234747111/ |access-date=April 8, 2023 |website=VIBE.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Duncan |first=Charlie |date=April 7, 2023 |title=Mo'Nique comes out as queer and slams religion for 'ripping apart families' |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/04/07/monique-sexuality-coming-out-netflix-special/ |access-date=April 8, 2023 |website=PinkNews |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=BreAnna |date=April 6, 2023 |title=In Netflix Special, Mo'Nique Recounts Confessing 'Fantasy' of Being With Another Woman to Her Husband: 'The Mask Had to Come Off' |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/monique-recounts-fantasy-with-another-woman-husband-1235574120/ |access-date=April 8, 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Carmen |date=April 5, 2023 |title=Mo'Nique Grapples With Her Queer Desires, Fear, and Coming Out In New Netflix Special |url=https://www.autostraddle.com/monique-netflix-coming-out/ |access-date=April 8, 2023 |website=Autostraddle |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Controversy ==
{{Criticism section|date=July 2025}}

=== 2009 awards campaign ===
In 2009, Mo'Nique starred in the indie drama ''[[Precious (film)|Precious]]'' directed by [[Lee Daniels]]. For the role, she was paid $50,000. The film started to receive critical attention and awards buzz for her performance. The film's executive producers [[Tyler Perry]] and [[Oprah Winfrey]], as well as the film's production company [[Lionsgate Films|Lionsgate]], asked her to travel to promote the film at the [[2009 Cannes Film Festival|Cannes Film Festival]], which she declined to do, saying her deal was with the film's director, Daniels, and that she had finished her contractual obligations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgAX2YuIxWU|title= Mo'Nique On Why She's Calling For A Netflix Boycott on The View|website= Youtube|accessdate= April 14, 2022}}</ref>

Upon winning the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]], Mo'Nique stated, "I'd like to thank the Academy for showing that it can be about the performance and not the politics".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxxqA4NhQM4|title= Mo'Nique winning Best Supporting Actress|website= [[Academy Awards|Oscars]]|date= March 12, 2010|accessdate= April 14, 2022}}</ref>

Mo'Nique has since claimed Perry called her to apologize for how she was treated. In 2020, Mo'Nique performed a standup segment attacking Perry, Oprah and others involved in the feud. She has stated how devastated she was by Oprah's communication and described her as "malicious".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.essence.com/celebrity/monique-oprah-winfrey-fallout-rant/|title= She's Not Done: Mo'Nique Explains Devastating Fallout With Oprah Winfrey|website= Essence|date= October 26, 2020|accessdate= April 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/monique-speaks-on-past-issues-with-oprah-tyler-perry|title= Mo'Nique Says She Recorded Tyler Perry Expressing Regret Over How He Treated Her|website= Complex|accessdate= April 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.eonline.com/news/1119118/mo-nique-speaks-out-against-oprah-winfrey-for-making-her-life-harder|title= Mo'Nique Speaks Out Against Oprah Winfrey for Making Her ''Life Harder''|website= E News|date= February 4, 2020|accessdate= April 14, 2022}}</ref>

=== 2019 Netflix lawsuit ===
In 2018, Mo'Nique accused [[Netflix]] of racial and gender bias against her after she was paid $500,000 for her comedy special to air on the streaming service. She compared herself to [[Dave Chappelle]], [[Chris Rock]], [[Kevin Hart]], and [[Amy Schumer]], who each received multimillion-dollar deals. In her statement, she stated:
{{blockquote|When we asked Netflix to explain the difference—why the money was so different—they said, 'Well, we believe that's what Mo'Nique will bring.' We said, 'Well, what about my resume?' They said, 'We don't go off of resumes.' Then we asked them, 'What was it about Amy Schumer?' and they said, 'Well, she sold out [[Madison Square Garden]] twice and she had a big movie over the summer.' Is that not Amy Schumer's resume? And then Netflix said, 'By the way, we believe Mo'Nique is a legend, too.' Why shouldn't I get what the legends are getting?|}}

In her statement, she also urged people to support her in her boycott of Netflix. She went on numerous talk shows, including ''[[The View (talk show)|The View]]'', in which she continued to fight against Netflix. In 2019, she sued Netflix, with her complaint reading in part, "In short, as this lawsuit shows, Netflix's treatment of Mo'Nique began with a discriminatory low-ball offer and ended with a blacklisting act of retaliation." In the suit, she listed fellow comedians who were paid millions for their specials, including Chappelle, Rock, [[Jerry Seinfeld]], [[Eddie Murphy]], [[Ellen DeGeneres]], and [[Ricky Gervais]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/comedian-monique-sues-netflix-discrimination-500k-standup-special-offer-1254804/|title= Mo'Nique Sues Netflix for Discrimination Over $500K Stand-Up Special Offer|website= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date= November 14, 2019|accessdate= April 14, 2022}}</ref>

By June 2022, Netflix had settled the lawsuit with Mo'Nique, and on July 19, 2022, announced that she was set to do a new special for them.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/netflix-settles-with-monique-over-discrimination-retaliation-lawsuit-1235166070/|title= Netflix Settles With Mo'Nique Over Discrimination, Retaliation Lawsuit|website= [[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date= June 15, 2022|accessdate= June 17, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/monique-netflix-comedy-special-1235319158/|title=Oscar Winner Mo'Nique Announces First Netflix Comedy Special|date=July 19, 2022|work=Variety|access-date=July 25, 2022|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Mo'Nique}}

Mo'nique is the recipient of numerous accolades, most notably, for her performance in ''Precious'', winning a total of 52 awards out of 66 nominations; in particular, the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]], [[BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role]], and, the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture]].

For her performance in ''The Parkers'', Mo'nique has received four [[NAACP Image Awards]] in the category of Most Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series. She has also been nominated for several roles, including, a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] for her work in the television film, ''Bessie'', and a number of [[BET Awards]] for her contribution to comedy productions.

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Key
| style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Not yet released}}
|Denotes works that have not yet been released
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" | Notes
|-
| 2000
| ''[[3 Strikes (film)|3 Strikes]]''
| Dahlia
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2001
| ''[[The Queens of Comedy]]''
|Herself
|
|-
| ''[[Baby Boy (film)|Baby Boy]]''
| Patrice
|
|-
| ''[[Two Can Play That Game (film)|Two Can Play That Game]]''
| Diedre
|
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Half Past Dead]]''
| Twitch's Girl
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2004
| ''[[Soul Plane]]''
| Jamiqua
|
|-
| ''[[Hair Show]]''
| Peaches
|
|-
| ''[[Garfield: The Movie]]''
| Rat
| Role deleted in final cut of the film
|-
| rowspan="2" |2005
| ''[[Shadowboxer]]''
| Precious
|
|-
| ''[[Domino (2005 film)|Domino]]''
| Lateesha Rodriquez
|
|-
| rowspan="4" |2006
| ''[[Farce of the Penguins]]''
| Vicky <small>'''(voice)'''</small>
|
|-
| ''[[Irish Jam]]''
| Psycho
|
|-
| ''[[Phat Girlz]]''
| Jazmin Biltmore
|
|-
| ''[[Beerfest]]''
| Cherry
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins]]''
| Betty
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2009
| ''[[Steppin: The Movie]]''
| Aunt Carla
|
|-
| ''[[Precious (film)|Precious]]''
| Mary Lee Johnston
| [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]]
|-
| rowspan="1" |2014
| ''[[Blackbird (2014 film)|Blackbird]]''
| Claire Rousseau
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2016
| ''[[Interwoven]]''
| Barbara
|
|-
| ''[[Almost Christmas (film)|Almost Christmas]]''
| Aunt May
|
|-
|2023
| ''[[The Reading (film)|The Reading]]''
| Emma Leeden
| Also executive producer
|-
|2024 
|''[[The Deliverance (film)|The Deliverance]]'' 
| Cynthia Henry
| 
|-
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" | Notes
|-
| 1995
| ''Snaps''
| Herself
| Episode 1.1
|-
| 1999–2000
| ''[[Moesha]]''
| rowspan="3"| Nicole "Nikki" Parker
| Recurring role; 3 episodes (Seasons 4 & 6) 
|-
| 1999–2004
| ''[[The Parkers]]''
| Lead role; 110 episodes 
|-
| 2001
| ''[[The Hughleys]]''
| Episode: "Forty Acres and a Fool"
|-
| 2002
| ''[[The Proud Family]]''
| Boonnetta Proud <small>'''(voice)'''</small>
| Episode: "Behind Family Lines"
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Good Fences]]''
| Ruth Crisp
| Television film
|-
| 2004
| ''[[The Bernie Mac Show]]''
| Lynette
| Episode: "Who's That Lady?"
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Girlfriends (2000 TV series)|Girlfriends]]''
| Herself
| Episode: "See J-Spot Run"
|-
| 2005–2007
| ''[[Mo'Nique's Fat Chance]]''
| Host / Herself 
| Also executive producer 
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2006
| ''[[Rugrats]]''
| Aunt Moo <small>'''(voice)'''</small>
| Direct-to-DVD episode "Tales from the Crib: Three Jacks and a Beanstalk"
|-
| ''[[Nip/Tuck]]''
| Evetta Washington
| Episode: "Conor McNamara"
|-
| rowspan="4"| 2007
| ''[[Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School]]''
| Herself
| Host; 11 episodes (also producer) 
|-
| ''[[The Game (U.S. TV series)|The Game]]''
| Plus Size Actress / Host
| Episode: "Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Redux"
|-
|''[[The Boondocks (TV series)|The Boondocks]]''
| Jamiqua <small>'''(voice)'''</small>
| Episode: "…Or Die Trying"
|-
|''[[Ugly Betty]]''
| L'Amanda
| Episode: "I See Me, I.C.U."
|-
| 2009–2011
|''[[The Mo'Nique Show]]''
| rowspan="2"| Herself
| Host; 251 episodes (also executive producer)
|-
| 2014
|''[[Love & Hip Hop: New York]]''
| Host of Season 4 ([[Love & Hip Hop: New York (season 4)|2 episodes]] – Reunion Special)
|-
| 2015
|''[[Bessie (film)|Bessie]]''
|[[Ma Rainey]]
| Television film
|-
| 2023
|''[[BMF (TV series)|Black Mafia Family]]''
| Goldie
| Recurring role; 3 episodes (season 2)
|}

===Specials===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! scope="col" | Notes
|-
|2007
| ''Mo'Nique: I Could Have Been Your Cellmate''
| rowspan="3"|Herself
| [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]
|-
|2020
|''Mo'Nique & Friends: Live from Atlanta'' 
| Showtime
|-
|2023
| ''My Name is Mo'Nique'' 
| [[Netflix]]
|-
|}

==Tours==
===Residency show===
* ''Mo'Nique Does Vegas'' {{small|(held at [[SLS Las Vegas]])}} (2019)<ref>{{cite web|author=Brock Radke|url=https://lasvegasweekly.com/ae/2019/jan/10/monique-comedy-residency-sls-sayers-club/|title=MO'NIQUE KICKS OFF HER FIRST VEGAS COMEDY RESIDENCY AT SLS|publisher=lasvegasweekly.com|date=January 10, 2019|access-date=February 12, 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mo'Nique}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb name|0594898}}

{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Mo'Nique|Awards for Mo'Nique]]
|list =
{{Academy Award Best Supporting Actress}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
{{BET Award for Best Actress}}
{{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress}}
{{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series}}
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
{{Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
{{Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actress Motion Picture}}
{{IndependentSpiritBestSupportingFemale}}
{{London Film Critics Circle Award for Actress of the Year}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series}}
{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
{{San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
{{Satellite Award Best Supporting Actress Motion Picture}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAward FemaleSupportMotionPicture}}
{{St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
{{Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:MoNique}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American comedians]]
[[Category:21st-century American comedians]]
[[Category:Actresses from Baltimore]]
[[Category:African-American women comedians]]
[[Category:African-American stand-up comedians]]
[[Category:African-American television producers]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ actresses]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ comedians]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people from Maryland]]
[[Category:American stand-up comedians]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:Television producers from Maryland]]
[[Category:American voice actresses]]
[[Category:American women comedians]]
[[Category:American women film producers]]
[[Category:American women television producers]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Actress BAFTA Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (film) winners]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Actress Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:Broadcasting Institute of Maryland alumni]]
[[Category:Best Supporting Female Independent Spirit Award winners]]
[[Category:Sundance Film Festival award winners]]
[[Category:Late night television talk show hosts]]
[[Category:African-American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:Morgan State University alumni]]
[[Category:Participants in American reality television series]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Screen Actors Guild Award winners]]
[[Category:Comedians from Baltimore]]