- Nia Long
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Nia Long 
Long in October 2007Born October 30, 1970
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.Occupation Actress Years active 1986–present Nia Talita 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 Boiler Room, Soul Food, Love Jones, The Best Man, Big Momma's House, Big Momma's House 2, Are We There Yet?, and Are We Done Yet?.
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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 Afro-Trinidadian descent.[1][2][3] 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, where her mother studied fine arts. They subsequently moved to a South Los Angeles neighborhood when Long was seven, 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.[4] 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.
Long attended the Roman Catholic school St. Mary's Academy[5] and studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar, and acting. She graduated from Westchester High School in 1989. Due to the lack of employment opportunities in the arts in Los Angeles when Long and her mother first arrived there, Long's mother took various low-paying jobs (despite having two master's degrees). The family suffered through financial struggle for years.
Career
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. 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 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 Boyz n the Hood, 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. She then got in contact with Gina Wilson because she wanted to become an actress also.
Personal life
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. Dorsey and Long were engaged to be married, but the pair have since ended their relationship.[citation needed]
With regard to being a working mother, 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."
Nia Long gave birth to her second child on, a boy named Kez Sunday Udoka on November 7, 2011.[6] The baby's father is Long's boyfriend NBA Basketball player Ime Udoka.
Filmography
Year Film Role Notes 1990 Buried Alive Fingers 1991 Boyz n the Hood Brandi 1993 Made in America Zora Mathews 1995 Friday Debra also known as 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 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 Big Momma's House Sherry Pierce 2003 BAADASSSSS! Sandra 2004 The N-Word herself Documentary 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 Kingston-Persons 2008 Gospel Hill Mrs. Palmer 2009 Good Hair Herself Documentary 2010 Mooz-lum Safiyah Television
Year Film Role Notes 1986 227 Girl 1 episode The B.R.A.T. Patrol Darla Perkins 1991–1993 Guiding Light Katherine 'Kat' Speakes unknown episodes 1991–1995 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Lisa Wilkes 16 episodes 1993 Living Single Stacey Evans 1 episode 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 Segment: "1976" 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 Herself 3 episodes 2007–2008 Big Shots Katie Ghrham 11 episodes 2009–2010 The Cleveland Show Roberta Tubbs 13 episodes 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 References
- ^ Nia Long Biography (1970-)
- ^ . http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1264/is_12_30/ai_61185319/pg_3.[dead link]
- ^ BV Entertainment Newswire December 21: Lauryn Hill, Nia Long - AOL Black Voices
- ^ "In Step With: Nia Long". Parade Magazine. January 16, 2005. http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2005/edition_01-16-2005/in_step_with_0.
- ^ . http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1264/is_12_30/ai_61185319.[dead link]
- ^ http://news.yahoo.com/actress-nia-long-gives-birth-baby-boy-231856311.html
External links
Categories:- 1970 births
- Actors from California
- Actors from New York
- American film actors
- American people of Trinidad and Tobago descent
- American soap opera actors
- American television actors
- Living people
- People from Brooklyn
- People from Iowa City, Iowa
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