Nona Gaye

Nona Marvisa Gaye (born September 4, 1974) is an American singer-songwriter, former fashion model, and retired actress. The daughter of singer Marvin Gaye and maternal granddaughter of jazz musician Slim Gaillard, Gaye began her career as a vocalist in the early 1990s. In film, she portrayed Zee in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions (both 2003).

Early life Gaye was born in Washington, D.C., spending the first three weeks of her life in the capital of the United States. She is the daughter of Marvin Gaye, a Motown singer who was then married to Anna Gordy,

After Marvin Gaye divorced Gordy, Nona's parents wed in 1977 before ending their marriage four years later. Her debut album Love for the Future was released on Atlantic Records in October 1992, a month after her eighteenth birthday. It featured the top-20 hit "I'm Overjoyed," In 1993, Gaye was named one of People Magazine s 50 Most Beautiful People. She signed to Ford Modeling Agency in 1994, and became the new face of Armani.

For three years, Gaye both collaborated with and dated singer-songwriter Prince. In addition to these projects, she starred in a Prince-produced European TV special called The Beautiful Experience, consisting of a loose storyline to promote new material from Prince (most of which would be released throughout the next few years).

She sang alongside other artists to re-record and release her father's single "What's Going On" to benefit AIDS research in 2001. She appeared with several celebrities in the music video for Luther Vandross' 2003 song "Dance with My Father", collectively filling in for Vandross who had suffered a stroke at the time.

At one point, she worked with R. Kelly on two as-yet-unreleased singles, "Work It" and "Just Because," which interpolates the Gap Band's "Oops Up Side Your Head." In 2008, three tracks by Gaye appeared for sale at AmieStreet.com in EP form. Titled Language of Love, it contains the tracks "Quarter to Three" and "Midas Lover," along with the title track.

Acting She began her acting career in 2001, debuting in Michael Mann's Ali as Belinda Ali. A film reviewer described Gaye as "startlingly good" in the role. Another viewed her as the best of the actresses who portrayed Ali's wives.

The following year, Gaye replaced Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash shortly after the filming of The Matrix sequels began, for the role of Zee, the wife of Harold Perrineau's character Link. Gaye was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for portraying Zee in The Matrix Revolutions.

She also provided the voice of the unnamed Hero Girl in 2004's The Polar Express. Gaye portrayed preacher's wife Charlene Frank in The Gospel (2005).

In July 2006, Gaye was added to the cast of Law & Order: Criminal Intent as a replacement for Courtney B. Vance as the new Assistant District Attorney. However, just as the series began production for its sixth season, she left the show, citing "creative differences." Gaye was replaced by Theresa Randle, who left after filming only two episodes.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1989 Harlem Nights Patron 2001 Ali Belinda Ali 2003 The Matrix Reloaded Zee The Matrix Revolutions 2004 Crash Karen The Polar Express Hero Girl Holly (voice) Also motion-capture 2005 XXX: State of the Union Lola Jackson The Gospel Charlene Taylor Frank 2009 Blood and Bone Tamara Direct-to-video; last role before retiring

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2004 The Polar Express Hero Girl 2005 The Matrix Online Zee The Matrix: Path of Neo Archive footage only

Awards/nominations Black Reel Awards 2002, Best Supporting Actress: Ali (Winner) 2006, Best Actress: The Gospel (Nominated) Image Awards 2004, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: The Matrix Revolutions (Nominated)

Discography

Albums Love for the Future (Third Stone/Atlantic, 1992) Language of Love (AmieStreet.com, 2008)

Singles "I'm Overjoyed" (Third Stone/Atlantic, 1992) "The Things That We All Do for Love" (Third Stone/Atlantic, 1993) "Love Sign" duet with Prince (NPG, 1994)