Nia Long facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nia Long
Long in 2012
Born	Nia Talita Long (1970-10-30) October 30, 1970 (age 54) New York City, U.S
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 an American actress. She is well-known for her roles in movies and TV shows, especially those focused on Black culture. Nia became famous after starring in the film Boyz n the Hood (1991). She also played Beulah "Lisa" Wilkes on the TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from 1991 to 1995.

Nia Long has appeared in many other popular films. These include Friday (1995), Love Jones (1997), and Soul Food (1997). She also starred in The Best Man (1999) and its follow-up The Best Man Holiday (2013). You might also know her from Big Momma's House (2000) and Big Momma's House 2 (2006).

On television, Nia played Sasha Monroe in the crime show Third Watch from 2003 to 2005. She also had roles in the drama series Empire (2017) and the action series NCIS: Los Angeles (2017–2018). Nia has won several awards for her acting, including two NAACP Image Awards.

Early Life and Education

Nia Long was born on October 30, 1970, in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother, Talita Long, was a teacher and artist. Her father, Doughtry Long, was a high school teacher and a poet. Nia's mother has roots in Trinidad. Nia also has an older half-sister, Sommore, who is an actress and comedian.

When Nia was two years old, her parents divorced. She moved with her mother to Iowa City, where her mother studied art. Later, when Nia was seven, her mother moved to South Los Angeles. Nia attended Paseo Del Rey Elementary School and St. Mary's Academy. She studied many different arts, including ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar, and acting. Nia graduated from Westchester High School in Los Angeles in 1989.

Acting Career Highlights

Nia Long's acting coach was Betty Bridges. One of Nia's first roles was in a Disney TV movie called The B.R.A.T. Patrol. She then got a three-year role as Kathryn "Kat" Speakes on the TV show Guiding Light from 1991 to 1994.

Early Film and TV Roles

Nia played Brandi in the movie Boyz n the Hood. This film was very important for her. She said it helped her feel confident as an actress and showed her it was okay to be herself and still succeed. From 1994 to 1995, she played Lisa Wilkes, Will Smith's girlfriend, on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Interestingly, another actress was first considered for the role, but Nia got the part. Nia had also appeared in an earlier episode of the show in 1992 as a different character named Claudia.

Nia Long in 2009

Later TV and Movie Success

In 2003, Nia joined the cast of the drama Third Watch. She played NYPD officer Sasha Monroe until the show ended in 2005. She also appeared in Everwood and Boston Legal. From 2007 to 2008, she starred in Big Shots. In 2016, Nia had a recurring role as Giuliana on the TV series Empire.

Nia has had supporting roles in films like Friday and Made in America. She has also been a main character in movies such as Soul Food, Love Jones, Boiler Room, Big Momma's House, and Are We There Yet?. She has worked with actor Ice Cube in four films.

Music Videos and Awards

Nia Long appeared in the music video for Kanye West's song "Touch the Sky". She also directed a music video for Yolanda Adams. In 2004, Nia won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her work on Third Watch. She also co-directed and appeared in Ashanti's music video "Baby".

In 2013, Nia returned to her role as Jordan Armstrong in The Best Man Holiday. In this movie, her character was in a relationship with a white man. Nia explained that this reflected how relationships are in the modern world. She said it's okay for people to date outside their race if it works for them.

More recently, Nia starred in the Netflix movie Fatal Affair in 2020. In 2022, she reprised her role as Jordan Armstrong in the Peacock miniseries The Best Man: The Final Chapters.

Personal Life

Nia Long cares about helping others. She volunteers her time at the Sterling Children's Home in Barbados. There, she gives talks to inspire young people.

In 2010, Nia started dating National Basketball Association player Ime Udoka. They had a son together in 2011. Nia also has an older son from a previous relationship, born in 2000. Nia and Ime got engaged in 2015. However, Nia had said she did not plan to get married. The couple separated in 2022.

Filmography

Movies

Year	Title	Role
1990	Buried Alive	Fingers
1991	Boyz n the Hood	Brandi
1993	Made in America	Zora Mathews
1995	Friday	Debbie
1997	Love Jones	Nina Mosley
	Hav Plenty	Trudy
	Soul Food	Robyn "Bird" Joseph
1998	Butter	Carmen Jones
	The Secret Laughter of Women	Nimi Da Silva
1999	In Too Deep	Myra
	The Best Man	Jordan Armstrong
	Stigmata	Donna Chadway
	Held Up	Rae
2000	The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy	Leslie
	Boiler Room	Abbie Halpert
	If These Walls Could Talk 2	Karen
	Big Momma's House	Sherry Pierce
2002	Sightings: Heartland Ghost	Lou
2003	BAADASSSSS!	Sandra
2004	Alfie	Lonette
2005	Are We There Yet?	Suzanne Kingston
2006	Big Momma's House 2	Sherry Pierce-Turner
2007	Premonition	Annie
	Are We Done Yet?	Suzanne Persons
2008	Gospel Hill	Yvonne Palmer
2010	Mooz-lum	Safiyah
2013	The Best Man Holiday	Jordan Armstrong
2014	The Single Moms Club	May Miller
2016	Keanu	Hannah
2017	Beaches	Hillary Whitney
	Roxanne Roxanne	Peggy
	Lemon	Cleo
2019	47 Meters Down: Uncaged	Jennifer
2020	The Banker	Eunice Garrett
	Fatal Affair	Ellie Warren
	Life in a Year	Catherine
2022	Look Both Ways	Lucy Galloway
2023	You People	Fatima Mohammed
	Missing	Grace
2025	Michael	Jackson, KatherineKatherine Jackson

Television Shows

Music Videos

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Nia Long para niños