graduate with her Bachelor's degree in sociology. Union explained, "My
senior year I was taking 20 units, and I wanted four more because I only wanted
to have three classes for my last quarter. Someone told me you can get four
units if you take an internship. I was trying to find the easiest internship I
could. I thought, How hard could it be to intern at a modeling agency?"Upon completion of her internship with the company, agents confessed to Union that initially they believed she was there for an open call and not an intern position. "They said, 'Since you've been around, clients have asked, "Is she available?" And we said, "No, she's the help,"'" recalled Union. The agents then asked Union if she would like to sign on for representation. She was indifferent to the whole idea of modeling, but the idea of paying off a stack of student loans with ease by having her picture taken was enticing. She took the offer and two days later was shooting for Teen Magazine.
Union's transition into acting was ostensibly smooth. After a couple of years of modeling, the former intern's supervisor--now Union's manager--began sending her out on acting auditions. She booked her very first audition for the teen-oriented television series Saved by the Bell: The New Class. The ball started rolling then and there for her, and it hasn't stopped since. Other shows on which she has guest-starred include Malibu Shores; Zoe, Duncan, Jack, & Jane; Sister, Sister; Clueless; Moesha; The Steve Harvey Show, and 7th Heaven, and she was a series regular as Dr. Courtney Ellis on Stephen Bochco's now-defunct drama City of Angels.
Most recently, Union was the object of two of the male Friends' affections on the highly rated NBC sitcom. The performance received plenty of attention from the media in that it was the first substantial role portrayed by a minority since the show's debut. "I understand that I have a responsibility to the next person. If I am professional, arrive on time, don't cause a ruckus, get along with everyone, this provides an opportunity for the people who come after me. Not just African-American actresses but Latinas, Asian-Americans, and Native Americans, as well. I don't shy away from that part of my responsibility as a minority actress," said Union.
Nothing has overwhelmed the Nebraska-born actress more than her involvement in last year's hit film Bring It On. "Being in the No. 1 movie at the box office for three weeks in a row: Now that is awesome! To have people really respond to your work. Having people who have watched the film five or six times come up to you and recite your lines and thank you for not showing out--for portraying a young black woman in a positive way--that is what I get great satisfaction from."
She may recapture that proud feeling again with last week's release of The Brothers, written and directed by Gary Hardwick, with whom Union has previously worked. "I knew Gary because he did the rewrite for our cheerleading squad in Bring It On. While doing reshoot for the movie's promo, he approached me with the script and told me to read it and let him know what I thought of it. So I read it and said, 'OK, who am I opposite? Oh, Morris [Chestnut]? I'll do it, I'll do it!'" said Union, laughing. "I did have to go through the process--auditioning. But the field narrowed and I got it."
The Brothers is a comedy about four African-American yuppie friends: a banker, a doctor, a lawyer, and a playboy. When the playboy gets engaged, the other three find themselves having to come to terms with their own issues of commitment and honesty. Union portrays Denise Johnson, the love interest of the doctor played by Chestnut.
After haphazardly entering the entertainment business, Union found--like all professions--that there are pros and cons that come with the job. "On the positive side, on each project I've met a really, really good friend. It may sound very cliche-ish, but in this town you find there aren't a whole bunch of great people you can really connect with or relate to. Some of the friends I've met while working are my best friends, people who are going to be in my wedding. Aside from the money," she said, laughing, "that's one of the biggest perks. What's discouraging is that just being talented isn't enough to make it. There is so much B.S. out there that you have to factor in to have a career."
Union makes a point of keeping well rounded and advises others who are seeking a career in showbiz to do the same. "Don't just concentrate on the business. Have a life outside of this, because it will kill you or you'll end up on Prozac, you know what I mean? Have a life outside of this and have other interests, because those are the things that keep you working."