Becoming ... Queen Latifah

See how the Taxi star went from teen rapper to Oscar-nominated actress. By Serena Kappes

DOWN-SIZING

Latifah (left, at a 2002 screening of Chicago; right, in September) underwent breast reduction surgery and lost more than 35 lbs. in 2003 by exercising, cutting out simple carbs and going on a two-day liquid diet about every two months. "I'm cool with myself," says Latifah. "If I can't have the body of Angie Bassett, so be it."