February 6, 2003
BY KELLEY L. CARTER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
When the best-actress Oscar came calling for Halle Berry, everyone knew there'd be bigger, better things in store for her.
But for Gabrielle Union?
Berry was set to star in "Deliver Us from Eva," an update of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew." But the pre-Oscar buzz -- and the potential salary hike that a win brings -- put that at risk.
That's when it paid to be the backup.
Union landed her first leading role in "Eva," which opens this weekend, thanks to one of her biggest fans, writer-director Gary Hardwick, a former Detroiter.
"He went to the studio on a leap of faith that he could convince them to give the lead to me," Union says, taking a break from a full day of promotional duties for Hardwick's film. He knew he wanted Union if Berry didn't work out.
"When he started talking to me . . . I'm like, 'Oh God, I don't think I'm ready.' He just said 'No, you're ready, I believe in you.' . . . After the first day of shooting, I was like, 'OK, I got this.' "
You might not know her name, but chances are, you've seen her.
Union has been in her share of teen movies and limited release black comedies -- "She's All That," "Love & Basketball," "10 Things I Hate About You."
Her big break came as Isis, the head cheerleader of the inner-city squad in 2000's "Bring It On," alongside Kirsten Dunst.
Hardwick met Union on the set, where he was working as one of the script doctors and writing speaking parts for her character.
"Finally, everybody will see what I saw 2 1/2 years ago. . . . She brings something special to the screen," he says.
"She's been around for a minute now and people think she's coming out of nowhere."
Union got the role of Eva after a successful showing in Hardwick's "The Brothers," playing the whimsical love interest of Hollywood heartthrob Morris Chestnut.
Later this month, she'll star with rapper DMX and martial arts expert Jet Li in "Cradle 2 the Grave." This summer, look for her as the kid sister to Martin Lawrence and the love interest to Will Smith in the much-anticipated sequel to "Bad Boys."
Still, this weekend's box office numbers will show whether Union can carry a film.
"I'm terrified," the 29-year-old from Omaha, Neb., says. "At the end of the day, I'm proud of my work. But it's a little nerve-racking to know that a good chunk of your career rides on one project."
Hardwick's not worried.
"She's very charming," he says. "Women are not intimidated by her, and men are attracted to her. Guys fantasize about actresses that are beautiful, yet if they are untouchable, then they're turned off. Gabrielle's a beautiful girl, but you don't sit there going, 'No one looks like that.' She's real."
Every Sunday after reading the morning paper, she and husband Chris Howard, a former University of Michigan football player, head out to Target to take advantage of weekend sales. They have their choice of stores -- a shop near their home in Los Angeles or near their home in Ann Arbor. Howard, who recently retired from playing professional football with the Oakland Raiders, is finishing up a degree in kinesiology at U-M.
What's the ultimate goal for Union? Is she shooting to be the next Halle Berry?
"I just want to be a working actress," she says. "I don't strive to be a movie star. I want to be a working, respected actress who can pay her bills. That's all I really can ask for."
KELLEY L. CARTER can be reached at 313-222-8854 and carter@freepress.com.
Thanks to Sapphire