# Lauren London
**Lauren London** is an American actress and model from Los Angeles, known for her film debut as New New in *ATL* (2006), her television work on *The Game* and *Entourage*, and her partnership with the rapper and activist [Nipsey Hussle](https://www.edgepedia.org/nipsey-hussle), who was killed in 2019.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984, Los Angeles, California[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1988575/) |
| Breakout role | New New/Erin in *ATL* (2006), opposite T.I.; earned a Black Movie Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actress[2](https://www.blackfilm.com/20060324/features/laurenlondon.shtml) • [3](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/lauren-london) |
| First screen appearances | The Neptunes' "Frontin'" video (2003), directed by Paul Hunter[4](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle) |
| Television debut | *Everybody Hates Chris*, followed by recurring roles on HBO's *Entourage* and The CW's *90210*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1988575/) |
| Series regular work | Joined BET's *The Game* as a series regular from its sixth season through the finale[3](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/lauren-london) |
| Return to film | *Without Remorse* (2021), opposite Michael B. Jordan, filmed in 2019; *You People* (2023) as Amira, opposite Jonah Hill[5](https://www.etonline.com/lauren-london-on-returning-to-acting-2-years-after-nipsey-hussles-death-exclusive-164600) • [6](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/you-people-release-date-cast-news?inapp=true) |
| Partnership with Nipsey Hussle | Together from 2013 until his death on March 31, 2019; one son together, Kross Ermias Asghedom, born 2016[4](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle) • [5](https://www.etonline.com/lauren-london-on-returning-to-acting-2-years-after-nipsey-hussles-death-exclusive-164600) |
## Early life and start in the industry
London was born in 1984 and raised in Los Angeles, in a family with deep roots in Black L.A.; she is a second-generation Angeleno whose family arrived through the Great Migration, with a grandmother from Chicago and a great-grandmother from [Mississippi](https://www.edgepedia.org/mississippi)[4](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle). She is biracial, born to a Caucasian Jewish father and an African-American mother, and has described struggling with her biracial identity growing up[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/lauren-london/). Her mother worked as many as three jobs at a time, and London saw her father, who lived in Las Vegas, on summer visits once a year; she has said that the time alone as a child fed the imagination she later used as an actress[4](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle). For a short period she attended the Amazing Grace Conservatory, a youth theater program started by [Wendy Raquel Robinson](https://www.edgepedia.org/wendy-raquel-robinson) and Tracy Lamar Coley in 1995[4](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle).
Her first screen appearance of note came in the Neptunes' "Frontin'" video in 2003, directed by [Paul Hunter](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-hunter). She was about 17 or 18 at the time and says she took the job simply asking "how much is it?"[4](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle).
## ATL and early film career
**ATL.** London's first major film role came in *ATL*, the 2006 coming-of-age film directed by Chris Robinson, in which she played New New/Erin, a rich girl who hides her identity to spend time with classmates from a different neighborhood, opposite the rapper T.I.[2](https://www.blackfilm.com/20060324/features/laurenlondon.shtml). She had no agent at the time; a friend helped her get an audition, she arrived late after a freeway accident left her car overheating, and Robinson finally gave her the chance to read[8](https://www.blackfilm.com/20071012/features/laurenlondon.shtml). The performance earned her a Black Movie Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actress and led directly to her next role, in *This Christmas* (2007), an ensemble film with [Loretta Devine](https://www.edgepedia.org/loretta-devine), Idris Elba, and [Regina King](https://www.edgepedia.org/regina-king)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1988575/) • [3](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/lauren-london).
Her film work through the following decade included the teen comedy *[I Love You, Beth Cooper](https://www.edgepedia.org/i-love-you-beth-cooper-film)* (2009), [Tyler Perry](https://www.edgepedia.org/tyler-perry)'s *Madea's Big Happy Family* (2011), and *Baggage Claim* (2013)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1988575/) • [9](https://www.blackfilm.com/read/lauren-london-talks-baggage-claim/). On television she debuted on *Everybody Hates Chris*, appeared in recurring guest roles on *Entourage* and *90210*, played Shelly on VH1's *Single Ladies*, a part written into the show after her audition impressed the producers, and joined *The Game* as a series regular from its sixth season through the finale[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1988575/) • [10](https://www.essence.com/news/lauren-london-vh1-single-ladies-shelly-lisa-mccoy-stacy-dash/) • [3](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/lauren-london).
The "regular" Black girl persona established by "Frontin'" and *ATL* shaped her casting for years afterward. [Big Sean](https://www.edgepedia.org/big-sean) name-checked her on his 2007 mixtape with the line "We smokin' Lauren London/I thought you Nu-Nu," and New New became a widely used reference point in internet culture[4](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle).
## Nipsey Hussle and public grief
London met Nipsey Hussle, born Ermias Joseph Asghedom, in 2013, around the time he sold 1,000 copies of his *Crenshaw* mixtape for $100 each; she bought copies as gifts for cast members of *The Game*, and the two connected after she followed him on Instagram[4](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle). Their son, Kross Ermias Asghedom, was born in 2016. London also has a son, Kameron Carter, with the rapper [Lil Wayne](https://www.edgepedia.org/lil-wayne), and Hussle brought a daughter, Emani, to the relationship[4](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle). She declined a role on *Snowfall* to have Kross[4](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle).
Hussle was shot and killed outside his Marathon clothing store in Los Angeles on March 31, 2019, at age 33[5](https://www.etonline.com/lauren-london-on-returning-to-acting-2-years-after-nipsey-hussles-death-exclusive-164600). At the public memorial held at Staples Center, London told the crowd: "My heart hears you, I feel you everywhere. I'm so grateful that I had you. I love you beyond this Earth. Until we meet again, the Marathon continues"[4](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle). She did not attend any part of the 2022 murder trial of Eric Holder Jr., who was sentenced to 60 years to life[11](https://apnews.com/article/3ff5d976d04aaeff709a82cc40c7b84c). She has continued to mark his memory publicly, including Instagram tributes on anniversaries of his death[12](https://abcnews.com/news/story/lauren-london-honors-nipsey-hussle-5th-anniversary-death-108721006), and in February 2026 she spoke at the dedication of Nipsey Hussle Square, the renaming of the Crenshaw Boulevard and Slauson Avenue intersection where he died[13](https://www.thefader.com/2026/03/03/nipsey-hussle-square-opening-day-lauren-london).
## Return to acting
After Hussle's death, London took a break of roughly two years from acting. [Michael B. Jordan](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-b-jordan), a friend, texted her about a part in the Amazon Prime Video action film *Without Remorse*, hesitant to ask but feeling it would be worse not to; she read the script and agreed, playing the pregnant wife of Jordan's character, [John Clark](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-clark-ryanverse-character), who is killed by Russian operatives[4](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle) • [5](https://www.etonline.com/lauren-london-on-returning-to-acting-2-years-after-nipsey-hussles-death-exclusive-164600). She filmed in Berlin in 2019, soon after Hussle's death, and said she felt she could contribute to the role from her own grief[5](https://www.etonline.com/lauren-london-on-returning-to-acting-2-years-after-nipsey-hussles-death-exclusive-164600).
**You People.** Her next major film role was Amira in *[You People](https://www.edgepedia.org/you-people)* (2023), the feature directorial debut of [Kenya Barris](https://www.edgepedia.org/kenya-barris), co-written with [Jonah Hill](https://www.edgepedia.org/jonah-hill), who plays her fiancé. London, whom Barris knew from *The Game*, was initially hesitant, saying she wanted to be intentional about her choices, but accepted after a lunch conversation with Barris and Hill about bringing awareness to hard conversations[14](https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a42723577/lauren-london-you-people-netflix-interview/) • [6](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/you-people-release-date-cast-news?inapp=true). She has said that filming in her hometown, including landmarks such as Simply Wholesome and Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles, was part of what made the project meaningful to her[6](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/you-people-release-date-cast-news?inapp=true).
London has described her approach to work after 2019 as selective: she has said her spiritual practice no longer allows her to take roles simply to maintain a career, and that she wants projects she can truthfully contribute to[4](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle) • [5](https://www.etonline.com/lauren-london-on-returning-to-acting-2-years-after-nipsey-hussles-death-exclusive-164600).
## Public image
London has remained reserved in her public life despite a large platform; as of 2021 she had roughly 9.5 million Instagram followers but posted infrequently, saying "the coolest part of me are the things unseen"[4](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle). She has also spoken about early career friction, saying she had a rough time in Hollywood because "where I come from, a spade is a spade is a spade is a spade"[4](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle).
## References
1. [Lauren London, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1988575/)
2. [An Interview with Lauren London, blackfilm.com (March 2006)](https://www.blackfilm.com/20060324/features/laurenlondon.shtml)
3. [Lauren London Movies on Netflix, NetflixMovies.com](https://www.netflixmovies.com/s/actor/lauren-london)
4. [Lauren London is finally ready to share the things unseen, Los Angeles Times (May 25, 2021)](https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/image/story/2021-05-25/lauren-london-interview-on-acting-black-los-angeles-nipsey-hussle)
5. [Lauren London on Returning to Acting 2 Years After Nipsey Hussle's Death, Entertainment Tonight (April 26, 2021)](https://www.etonline.com/lauren-london-on-returning-to-acting-2-years-after-nipsey-hussles-death-exclusive-164600)
6. [Jonah Hill and Lauren London Meet The Parents in 'You People', Netflix Tudum (January 13, 2023)](https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/you-people-release-date-cast-news?inapp=true)
7. [Lauren London, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/lauren-london/)
8. [This Christmas Set Visit: Niambi Sims Interviews Lauren London, blackfilm.com (October 2007)](https://www.blackfilm.com/20071012/features/laurenlondon.shtml)
9. [Lauren London talks Baggage Claim, blackfilm.com](https://www.blackfilm.com/read/lauren-london-talks-baggage-claim/)
10. [5 Questions for Lauren London on VH1's 'Single Ladies', Essence](https://www.essence.com/news/lauren-london-vh1-single-ladies-shelly-lisa-mccoy-stacy-dash/)
11. [Nipsey Hussle's killer gets 60 years to life in prison, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/3ff5d976d04aaeff709a82cc40c7b84c)
12. [Lauren London honors Nipsey Hussle 5 years after his death: 'Always tough for me', ABC News](https://abcnews.com/news/story/lauren-london-honors-nipsey-hussle-5th-anniversary-death-108721006)
13. [Lauren London remembers Nipsey Hussle at new memorial dedication, The FADER (March 3, 2026)](https://www.thefader.com/2026/03/03/nipsey-hussle-square-opening-day-lauren-london)
14. [Lauren London Knows She and Jonah Hill Don't Make the Most Believable Couple, Harper's Bazaar (February 1, 2023)](https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/film-tv/a42723577/lauren-london-you-people-netflix-interview/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Le to L*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license