"I love romantic comedies. They're for me the easiest thing to do and the most natural to do. There's nothing natural about holding an uzi hanging out of a moving van shooting at people. That's not second nature to me, thank God."

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Union moved at the age of eight to Pleasanton, California. She proved to be a talented athlete in high school, excelling at basketball, soccer, and track & field at Foothill High School, where she was known as Nikki. During high school, she dated current NBA star Jason Kidd.

Union originally intended to become a lawyer, not an actress. She attended the University of Nebraska before moving on to Cuesta College. She eventually transferred to UCLA; while studying there, she decided to intern at a modeling agency to earn extra academic credits. She was asked by the agency to sign on with them as a new model. She needed money to pay off some college loans and debts, so she eventually agreed to become a model.

With the 2000 release of Bring it On, Union gained wide exposure. Her new fame landed her on magazine covers and talk shows, and she gained popularity among movie fans.

She also made a guest appearance in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as a Klingon named N'Garen ("Sons and Daughters" episode).

Gabrielle Union has participated in a considerable number of television shows and movies. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in sociology and is married to professional football player Chris Howard of the Jacksonville Jaguars. In November 2005, the couple separated after four years of marriage.

Her most recent role was in the short-lived ABC drama, Night Stalker She also starred in the independent dramas Neo Ned and Constellation.

Gabrielle Union was a 19-year-old shop assistant in 1992 when she was assaulted one evening as she was closing up the shoe store. The rapist forced Union and a co-worker into a back room, where he raped the actress. She insists she would not be alive today if it weren't for important lessons she learned from watching Winfrey's daily talk show.

She explains, "Luckily, Oprah had a show about what to do in case you're a victim of a violent crime. "Immediately, I went on autopilot; it was like Oprah was in my ear, telling me what to do to stay alive... Thank God for Oprah because her words helped me live." Union is convinced Oprah's advice helped her stay calm enough to win the rapist's trust, which she used to turn the tables on her attacker.

She adds, "At some point he put the gun down and calmly asked me to hand him the gun and, at that point, I was like, 'Oh, it's me or you, and it ain't gonna be me today. I'm about to kill you. "I grabbed the gun, I spun around and did the best I could trying to kill him." The actress missed her attacker when she shot at him and this led to a fight for the gun, which left her black and blue.

The rapist fled and later turned himself in to police after another rape attack. Now Union is a spokesperson for National Domestic Violence + Sexual Assault Legislative.

Gabrielle is having a pond named after her in her hometown of Omaha.

Gabrielle prefers being a sex symbol over being a method actor.

Gabrielle is the spokesperson for Neutrogena skin products.

Gabrielle is a devout Catholic.

Gabrielle's first lead role was in the film Deliver Us From Eva.

Gabrielle lost several roles to Aaliyah.

Gabrielle went through college with an internship at a modeling agency, and was signed on as a client soon thereafter.

Gabrielle has two sisters.

Gabrielle's favorite color is black.

Gabrielle's zodiac sign is Scorpio.

Gabrielle's short-lived ABC drama Night Stalker was canceled after only six episodes.

Gabrielle's first role was on Saved By the Bell.

Gabrielle played a sophomore in the movie 10 Things I Hate About You. In reality she was 27 at the time.

Gabrielle graduated with honors from UCLA.

Gabrielle was ranked #52 in 2002's Maxim "100 Hottest Women".

Gabrielle is a huge fan of the band New Edition.

Gabrielle has an average movie gross of: $44,979,154.

Gabrielle was on the cover of the debut of Savoy Magazine.

Gabrielle has a degree in sociology.

Gabrielle transferred to UCLA after a stint playing for the women's soccer team at the University of Nebraska.

Gabrielle was a cheerleader in the eighth grade.

Gabrielle is 5'8" tall.

Gabrielle says, "When someone who loves and cares about me compliments me, I feel more glamorous than when the flashbulbs are going off on the red carpet. Like when I just step out of the shower and am completely naked, vulnerable, and exposed, and my husband says, 'Wow, you're beautiful.' "

Gabrielle is scheduled to appear in feature films The Honeymooners and Donut Hole.

Gabrielle has starred in two movies set as modern day versions of Shakespeare's Taming of The Shrew: 10 Things I Hate About You and Deliver Us from Eva.

In 2001, Union was cast in the first major African-American role on the NBC sitcom "Friends"; she starred in "The Brothers"; and she had a prominent role in the romantic comedy "Two Can Play That Game

In 1999, Union made her feature debut in the teen comedy "She's All That"; she co-starred in "10 Things I Hate About You"; and she was featured in ABC's "H-E Double Hockey Sticks
Gabrielle has announced that she and her husband, Chris Howard, have split after four years of marriage (October 2005).

Featured on the cover of King magazine for April 2002. She gives an interview and poses for five photos.