Home >

Nia Long

Nia Long

Birthday: 1970-10-30 | Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Nia Long (born October 30, 1970) is an American actress and occasional music video director. She is best known for her roles in the television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Third Watch, and the films Soul Food, Love Jones, The Best Man, Big Momma's House, and Are We There Yet?   Long was born in Brooklyn, New York, U.S. Her family is of Afro-Trinidadian descent. Her name, Nia, is one of the seven days of Kwanzaa, which means purpose in Swahili. Long's parents divorced when she was two years old, and she and her mother moved to Iowa City, Iowa. They subsequently moved to a South Los Angeles neighborhood when Long was seven. Long's father currently resides in Trenton, New Jersey. Long's half-sister is comedienne Sommore, one of the stars of The Queens of Comedy. She attended the Roman Catholic school St. Mary's Academy and studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar, and acting. She graduated from WestchesterHigh School in 1989. 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, then f rom 1994 - 1995, she played Will Smith's girlfriend and fiancée Beulah "Lisa" Wilkes on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. 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 2007-2008 alongside Michael Vartan and Dylan McDermott. She also made a guest appearance on the successful sitcom Living Single during its first season. Long appeared in supporting roles in a number of movies including, Boyz n the Hood, Friday, and Made in America. She 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 was voted one of the 50 most beautiful people in the World in 2000 by People. She won a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2004 for her performance on Third Watch.   In addition to her film credits, she directed Yolanda Adams's music video for "This Too Shall Pass" and co-directed and appeared in Ashanti's music video, "Baby". She also appears in the video for Kanye West's, "Touch The Sky". Long and her former long-time boyfriend and fellow actor Massai Z. Dorsey have a son, Massai Zhivago Dorsey II, born on November 26, 2000.

...

Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

2020
Life in a Year

as    Catherine

2020
Fatal Affair

as    Ellie

2020
The Banker

as    Eunice Garrett

2019
47 Meters Down: Uncaged

as    Jennifer

2017
Roxanne Roxanne

as    Ms. Peggy

2016
Uncle Buck

as    Cindy Russell

2016
Keanu

as    Hannah

2014
The Divide

as    Billie Page

2014
The Single Moms Club

as    May Miller

2013
The Best Man Holiday

as    Jordan Armstrong

2009
Good Hair

as    Herself

2008
Gospel Hill

as    Mrs. Palmer

2007
Premonition

as    Annie

2007
Big Shots

as    Katie Graham

2007
Are We Done Yet?

as    Suzanne Persons

2005
Are We There Yet?

as    Suzanne Kingston

2004
Alfie

as    Lonette

2004
Baadasssss!

as    Sandra

2002
2000
Boiler Room

as    Abbie Halpert

2000
If These Walls Could Talk 2

as    Karen

2000
Big Momma's House

as    Sherry Pierce

1999
Stigmata

as    Donna Chadway

1999
The Best Man

as    Jordan Armstrong

1999
In Too Deep

as    Myra

1999
The Secret Laughter of Women

as    Nimi Da Silva

1999
Held Up

as    Rae

1997
Love Jones

as    Nina Mosley

1997
Soul Food

as    Robin (Bird)