Nia Long facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nia Long
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Long in 2012
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Nia Talita Long
October 30, 1970 New York City, U.S
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| Education | Westchester High School |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Partner(s) | Ime Udoka (2010–2022) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Sommore (half-sister) |
Nia Talita Long (born October 30, 1970) is a talented American actress. She is famous for her many roles in movies and TV shows. Nia Long became well-known after starring in the film Boyz n the Hood (1991). She also played Beulah "Lisa" Wilkes on the popular TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1991 to 1995.
She has appeared in many other memorable films. These include Friday (1995), Love Jones (1997), and Soul Food (1997). Later, she starred in The Best Man (1999) and Big Momma's House (2000). In 2026, she played Katherine Jackson, the mother of Michael Jackson, in the film Michael. On television, Nia Long played Sasha Monroe in the series Third Watch (2003–2005). She also appeared in Empire (2017) and NCIS: Los Angeles (2017–2018). Nia Long has won several awards for her acting, including two NAACP Image Awards.
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Nia Long's Childhood and Education
Nia Long was born in Brooklyn on October 30, 1970. Her mother, Talita Long, was a teacher and artist. Her father, Doughtry Long, was a teacher and poet. Nia's mother has family roots in Trinidad. Nia also has an older half-sister, Sommore, who is an an actress and comedian.
When Nia was young, her parents separated. She moved with her mother to Iowa City, Iowa, where her mother studied art. Later, they moved to South Los Angeles. Nia attended elementary school and then St. Mary's Academy. She was a very active student. She took many classes, including ballet, tap, jazz, and gymnastics. She also learned to play the guitar and studied acting. Nia Long graduated from Westchester High School in Los Angeles in 1989.
Nia Long's Acting Journey
Nia Long began her acting career with an acting coach named Betty Bridges. Her very first role was in a Disney TV movie called The B.R.A.T. Patrol. She then got a big role on the TV show Guiding Light, playing Kathryn "Kat" Speakes from 1991 to 1994.
One of her most important early movie roles was as Brandi in Boyz n the Hood (1991). Nia felt this film helped her become more confident as an actress. She said it showed her that she could be herself and still find success. From 1994 to 1995, she became even more famous playing Lisa Wilkes on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Lisa was the girlfriend and fiancée of Will Smith's character.
Nia Long continued to take on many different roles. In 2003, she joined the TV drama Third Watch. She played Officer Sasha Monroe until the show ended in 2005. She also appeared in other TV series like Everwood and Boston Legal. In 2016, she had a recurring role as Giuliana in the popular series Empire.
She has been in many movies, both in supporting and leading roles. Some of these include Friday, Soul Food, Big Momma's House, and Are We There Yet?. She often worked with actors like Ice Cube and Regina King.
Nia Long also appeared in music videos, such as Kanye West's "Touch the Sky". She even directed a music video for Yolanda Adams. In 2004, she won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her work on Third Watch.
In 2013, Nia Long returned to her role as Jordan Armstrong in The Best Man Holiday. In this film, her character had a relationship with someone from a different background. Nia Long explained that this reflected how relationships are in the modern world. She felt it was important to show different kinds of love stories.
More recently, Nia Long starred in the Netflix movie Fatal Affair in 2020. In 2022, she was part of the miniseries The Best Man: The Final Chapters. In 2026, she played Katherine Jackson in the film about Michael Jackson's life, titled Michael.
Nia Long's Life Outside of Acting
Nia Long cares about helping others. She volunteers her time as a motivational speaker at the Sterling Children's Home in Barbados. She encourages children there to follow their dreams.
Nia Long is a mother of two sons. Her older son was born in 2000. In 2010, she began a relationship with Ime Udoka, who was a professional basketball player. They had a son together in 2011. Nia and Ime were engaged in 2015. However, they decided to end their relationship in December 2022.
Notable Films and TV Shows
Nia Long has been in many popular films and television series. Here are some of her well-known projects:
- Films: Boyz n the Hood (1991), Friday (1995), Love Jones (1997), Soul Food (1997), The Best Man (1999), Big Momma's House (2000), Are We There Yet? (2005), The Best Man Holiday (2013), Fatal Affair (2020), and Michael (2026).
- Television: Guiding Light (1991–1993), The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1991, 1994–1995), Third Watch (2003–2005), Empire (2017), NCIS: Los Angeles (2017–2018), and The Best Man: The Final Chapters (2022).
Awards and Recognition
Nia Long has received several important awards for her acting. She has won multiple NAACP Image Awards, which celebrate outstanding achievements by people of color in film, television, and music. She also received a Black Reel Award for her work. These awards show how much her talent and performances are appreciated.
See also
In Spanish: Nia Long para niños
