BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Nia Long (born October 30, 1970) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Third Watch, and the films In Too Deep, Boyz n the Hood, Friday, Boiler Room, Soul Food, Love Jones, The Best Man,Big Momma's House, and the sequels to the latter two films.
Early years
Long was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Talita, a teacher and printmaker, and Doughtry "Doc" Long, a high school teacher and poet. Her family is of Trinidadian descent.[1][2] Her name, Nia, is one of the seven days of Kwanzaa, which means purpose in Swahili. Long was only two years old when her parents were divorced. She moved to Iowa City, Iowa, where her mother studied fine arts. Long subsequently moved to a South Los Angeles neighborhood when she was seven years old, where her mother was supposed to get married. The wedding was called off, but Talita had fallen in love with L.A. and they stayed.[3] Long's father currently resides in Trenton, New Jersey.
Long attended the Roman Catholic school St. Mary's Academy[4] and studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar, and acting. She graduated from Westchester High School in 1989.
Her older half-sister is actress and comedian Sommore.
Career
| BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY |
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" would 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."[5] From 1994 - 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.
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 2007-2008 alongside Michael Vartan and Dylan McDermott.
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 successful sitcom Living Single during its first season.
Personal life
Long has two sons, Massai Zhivago Dorsey II and Kez Sunday Udoka. With regard to being a working parent, Long says "she is up for the challenge so long as it does not require disturbing her family's well-being". "If I’m gonna hustle, I want to hustle in one place... I uprooted everything, moved to New York for two years, moved back and it was great but I really am enjoying the stability."[citation needed]
The actress contributes her time to the Sterling Children's Home in Barbados, as a motivational speaker. [6]
Long is a supporter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.[7]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Buried Alive | Fingers | |
| 1991 | Boyz n the Hood | Brandi | |
| 1993 | Made in America | Zora Mathews | |
| 1995 | Friday | Debra/Debbie | |
| 1997 | Love Jones | Nina Mosley | |
| Hav Plenty | Trudy | ||
| Soul Food | Bird | ||
| 1998 | Butter | Carmen Jones | |
| 1999 | In Too Deep | Myra | |
| The Best Man | Jordan Armstrong | Winner of a Black Reel Award for Best Actress and a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | |
| Stigmata | Donna Chadway | ||
| Held Up | Rae | ||
| The Secret Laughter of Women | Nimi Da Silva | ||
| 2000 | The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy | Leslie | |
| Boiler Room | Abbie Halpert | Nominated for a Black Reel Award | |
| Big Momma's House | Sherry Pierce | ||
| 2003 | BAADASSSSS! | Sandra | |
| 2004 | The N-Word | Herself | Documentary |
| Alfie | Lonette | Nominated for a Black Reel Award | |
| 2005 | Are We There Yet? | Suzanne Kingston | |
| 2006 | Big Momma's House 2 | Sherry Pierce-Turner | Reprising her role from the 2000 film Big Momma's House |
| 2007 | Premonition | Annie | |
| Are We Done Yet? | Suzanne Kingston-Persons | Reprising her role from the 2005 film Are We There Yet? | |
| 2008 | Gospel Hill | Mrs. Palmer | |
| 2009 | Good Hair | Herself | Documentary |
| 2010 | Mooz-lum | Safiyah | |
| 2013 | The Best Man Holiday | Jordan Armstrong | Reprising her role from the 1999 film The Best Man |
| 2014 | The Single Moms Club | May | |
| 2015 | Spy | Filming |
Television[
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 227 | Girl | 1 episode |
| The B.R.A.T. Patrol | Darla Perkins | Buried Alive 1990 | |
| 1991–1993 | Guiding Light | Katherine 'Kat' Speakes | unknown episodes |
| 1993 | Living Single | Stacey Evans | 1 episode |
| 1994–1995 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Lisa Wilkes | 15 episodes |
| 1995–1996 | Live Shot | Ramona Greer | 1 episode |
| 1996 | Moesha | babysitter | 2 episodes |
| ER | Christy Wilson | 1 episode | |
| 1998 | Black Jaq | Jaqueline 'Jaq' Blackman | (unsold pilot) |
| 2000 | If These Walls Could Talk 2 | Karen | "1972" segment |
| 2001–2002 | Judging Amy | Andrea Solomon | 6 episodes |
| 2002 | Sightings: Heartland Ghost | Lou | Television Movie |
| 2003–2005 | Third Watch | Officer Sasha Monroe | 45 episodes |
| 2006 | Everwood | Cassie | 1 episode |
| 2007 | Boston Legal | Vanessa Walker | 3 episodes |
| 2007–2008 | Big Shots | Katie Ghrham | 11 episodes |
| 2009–2010 | The Cleveland Show | Roberta Tubbs | 13 episodes |
| 2012–2013 | Malibu Stacy | Martina Barry | 08 episodes |
| 2012 | House of Lies | Tamara | |
| 2014 | The Divide | Billie Page |
Awards and nominations
| BET Comedy Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Category | Result |
| 2005 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Theatrical Film (Alfie) | Nominated |
| Black Reel Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Category | Result |
| 2005 | Best Supporting Actress (Alfie) | Nominated |
| 2001 | Best Supporting Actress (Boiler Room) | Nominated |
| 2000 | Best Actress (The Best Man) | Won |
| Image Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Category | Result |
| 2005 | Outstanding Actress in a Television Drama ("Third Watch") | Won |
| 2004 | Outstanding Actress in a Television Drama ("Third Watch") | Won |
| 2001 | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture (Big Momma's House) | Nominated |
| Outstanding Actress in Television Movie/Mini-Series (If These Walls Could Talk 2) | Nominated | |
| 2000 | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture (The Best Man) | Won                                                                                                                                                                                               |
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