Nia Long
Acteur·rice
30 octobre 1970 · 55 years old
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
As an actor
Don't Ever Wonder
Are They Gone Yet?
Suzanne Persons
Unsung Hollywood
Michael
2026 · Katherine Jackson
Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough: The Making of Michael
2026 · Self
Number One on the Call Sheet
2025 · Self
You People
2023 · Fatima
Missing
2023 · Grace
Look Both Ways
2022 · Lucy Galloway
The Best Man: The Final Chapters
2022 · Jordan Armstrong
The Jennifer Hudson Show
2022 · Self - Guest
Life in a Year
2020 · Catherine
The Banker
2020 · Eunice Garrett
Fatal Affair
2020 · Ellie Warren
#blackAF
2020 · Lavette
47 Meters Down: Uncaged
2019 · Jennifer
The Kelly Clarkson Show
2019 · Self
Roxanne Roxanne
2017 · Ms. Peggy
Beaches
2017 · Hillary Whitney
Lemon
2017 · Cleo
Dear White People
2017 · Neika Hobbs
Steve
2017 · Self
Keanu
2016 · Hannah
Uncle Buck
2016 · Cindy Russell
Empire
2015 · Giuliana
The Single Moms Club
2014 · May Miller
The Divide
2014 · Billie Page
The Best Man Holiday
2013 · Jordan Armstrong
House of Lies
2012 · Tamara
Mooz-lum
2011 · Safiyah
The Enduring Significance of 'Boyz n the Hood'
2011 · Self
Good Hair
2009 · Self
‘Friday’ Straight Up
2009 · Self
NCIS: Los Angeles
2009 · Shay Mosley
Celebrity Ghost Stories
2009 · Self
The Cleveland Show
2009 · Roberta Tubbs (voice)
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009 · Self - Guest
Gospel Hill
2008 · Mrs. Palmer
The Wendy Williams Show
2008
Are We Done Yet?
2007 · Suzanne Persons
Premonition
2007 · Annie
Big Shots
2007 · Katie Graham
Big Momma's House 2
2006 · Sherri
Are We There Yet?
2005 · Suzanne Kingston
Alfie
2004 · Lonette
Baadasssss!
2004 · Sandra
The Tony Danza Show
2004 · Self
Boston Legal
2004 · Vanessa Walker
America Beyond the Color Line
2004 · Self
Friendly Fire: Making of an Urban Legend
2003 · Self
Sightings: Heartland Ghost
2002 · Lou
Everwood
2002 · Cassie
The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy
2000 · Leslie
Big Momma's House
2000 · Sherry Pierce
If These Walls Could Talk 2
2000 · Karen
Boiler Room
2000 · Abbie Halpert
106 & Park
2000
Stigmata
1999 · Donna Chadway
In Too Deep
1999 · Myra
The Best Man
1999 · Jordan Armstrong
Held Up
1999 · Rae
The Secret Laughter of Women
1999 · Nimi Da Silva
Third Watch
1999 · Sasha Monroe
Judging Amy
1999 · Andrea Solomon
Butter
1998 · Carmen Jones
Love Jones
1997 · Nina Mosley
Soul Food
1997 · Robin (Bird)
Hav Plenty
1997 · Trudy
Moesha
1996 · Babysitter
The Daily Show
1996 · Self - Guest
Friday
1995 · Debbie
Live Shot
1995 · Ramona Greer
ER
1994 · Christy Wilson
Made in America
1993 · Zora Mathews
Living Single
1993 · Stacey
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993 · Self - Guest
Boyz n the Hood
1991 · Brandi
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990 · Claudia
Buried Alive
1989 · Fingers
The B.R.A.T. Patrol
1986 · Darla Perkins
People's Choice Awards
1975 · Self - Presenter
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954 · Darla Perkins
