ACTRESS: TAMERA MOWRY
She would've been 25-26 when playing Linda around 2004 which is fine because everyone in Middleton at least has to be around 18-27ish.
But the reason why Tamera would've been a better choice than Alicia Keys (sorry, I love you...), is Tamera and her sister Tia have vibrant personalities I have seen them in Sister, Sister and other films I have seen them in.
Tamera would benefit from the quirkiness and the diva that Linda's supposed to portray while becoming scared and vulnerable in the ones she's closest to.