Nia Long

Nia Long
Long in February 2012
Born	Nia Talita Long (1970-10-30) October 30, 1970 (age 50) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1986–present
Partner(s)	Ime Udoka (2010–present)
Children	2

Nia Talita Long (born October 30, 1970)^[1] is an American actress. She has received numerous accolades, including three NAACP Image Awards and a Black Reel Award.

Long is best known for her roles in the films Boyz n the Hood (1991), Love Jones, Soul Food (both 1997), The Best Man (1999) and its sequel The Best Man Holiday (2013), Big Momma's House (2000) and its sequel Big Momma's House 2 (2006).

On television, she starred as Beullah "Lisa" Wilkes on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1991–1995) and as Sasha Monroe on the crime drama series Third Watch (2003–2005).

Early life[]

Long was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Talita Long (née Gillman), a teacher and printmaker,^[2] and Doughtry Long, a high school teacher and poet.^[3] Her mother is of Trinidadian, Grenadian and Bajan descent.^[4][5] She has an older half-sister, the actress and comedian known as Sommore.^[6]

Long was two years old when her parents divorced. She accompanied her mother when she moved to Iowa City, Iowa, to study fine arts. Her mother moved to South Los Angeles when Long was seven years old, as she planned to marry there. She and her fiancé called off the wedding, but Talita chose to stay in Los Angeles.^[7] Long's father resided in Trenton, New Jersey.

She was bused from South LA to Paseo Del Rey Elementary School in Playa Del Rey from 3rd grade through 6th grade, and attended St. Mary's Academy in Inglewood, California. In addition to her academic classes, she studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar, and acting. She graduated from Westchester High School in Los Angeles in 1989.^{[citation needed]}

Career[]

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Long's acting coach was Betty Bridges, better known as the mother of Diff'rent Strokes star Todd Bridges. Her earliest role was in the Disney television movie, The B.R.A.T. Patrol alongside Sean Astin, Tim Thomerson and Brian Keith. Her first notable role on television was a three-year contract role as Kathryn "Kat" Speakes on the soap opera Guiding Light. Long portrayed Kat from 1991 to 1994. Long played Brandi in Boyz n the Hood. The film excited Long, who was doing her "first real movie role". It helped Long build her confidence as an actress. "It introduced me to the world in a way that it was okay for me to be who I am and still find success," she added. "I didn’t have to conform to anything."^[8] From 1994 to 1995, she played Will Smith's girlfriend and fiancée Beulah "Lisa" Wilkes on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Jada Pinkett Smith was originally supposed to play Lisa, but was too short for the role (opposite a 6'2" Will Smith), thus leaving Nia to take the part. However, in the second season of the show (episode 8 - “she ain’t heavy” 1992), Nia appeared as a love interest of Will's, ‘Claudia’ alongside Queen Latifah.

Long in 2009

In 2000, Long was offered the role of Alex Munday in Charlie's Angels, but she turned it down, and the role was eventually given to Lucy Liu. In 2003, she joined the cast of the drama Third Watch, where she played NYPD Officer Sasha Monroe, continuing until the series finale in 2005. In 2005 and 2006, Long appeared on Everwood, and appeared on Boston Legal during its 2006–2007 season. Long also starred in Big Shots from 2007 to 2008 alongside Michael Vartan and Dylan McDermott. In 2016, Long was cast in a recurring role for the TV series Empire. She acquired the role of Giuliana, a Las Vegas club owner.^[9]

Long appeared in supporting roles in a number of movies such as Friday and Made in America. Long played a leading role, or a member of the primary ensemble, in several films, including Soul Food, Love Jones, Boiler Room, Big Momma's House, Are We There Yet?, and The Best Man. Ice Cube has starred with her in four films, while (fellow Westchester High alum) Regina King has starred with her in two. Long starred alongside Michael Beach in Soul Food and in the TV series Third Watch.

Long appears in the video for Kanye West's "Touch the Sky". She directed Yolanda Adams's music video for "This Too Shall Pass". She won a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2004 for her performance on Third Watch. Long co-directed and appeared in Ashanti's music video, "Baby". She also made a guest appearance on the sitcom Living Single during its first season. She originally voiced Roberta Tubbs on The Cleveland Show before being replaced by Reagan Gomez-Preston.

She appeared in the 2013 film The Best Man Holiday, reprising her role from the original 1999 film. Unlike the original film, however, her character is in an interracial relationship with a white man. Long was revealed to be pursuing an interracial relationship in the film and explained: "We're living in a modern world where it happens and it's OK and it's no disrespect to any black man. I love black men, but the reality is the sistahs are marrying white men and the brothas are marrying white women and that's the world that we live in and it's not to be judged, and if it works for you then embrace it". Director Malcolm D. Lee also supported the interracial relationship being portrayed in the film. "African-American women who are extremely successful can't always find black male counterparts on that level so it's a little bit of a reflection of reality that black women are starting to date outside their race — and why not?"^[10]

In July 2020, Long starred in the Netflix psychological thriller Fatal Affair.^[11][12][13]

Personal life[]

Long has a son, born in 2000, from a previous relationship.^[14] Since 2010, she has been in a relationship with Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka. They have a son, born in 2011.^[14] The couple became engaged in 2015, though Long has stated she has no plans to marry.^[15][16]

Long contributes her time to the Sterling Children's Home in Barbados, as a motivational speaker.^[17]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Television[]

Awards and nominations[]

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nia Long.

• Nia Long at IMDb