Nia Long

Nia Long

Born:October 30, 1970

Place of Birth:Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Known For:Acting

Biography

Nia Long, born on October 30, 1970, in Brooklyn, New York, is a talented American actress and occasional music video director. Her family roots trace back to Afro-Trinidadian descent, adding to the richness of her cultural background. Growing up, Long's parents parted ways when she was just a toddler, leading her and her mother on a journey that took them from Iowa City, Iowa, to the vibrant streets of South Los Angeles, where she spent her formative years.

Immersed in the arts from a young age, Long's diverse training in ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar, and acting laid a solid foundation for her future career. She honed her craft under the guidance of Betty Bridges, known for her role as the mother of Todd Bridges from Diff'rent Strokes. Long's breakout moment came with her portrayal of Kathryn "Kat" Speakes on the soap opera Guiding Light, followed by a memorable stint as Will Smith's girlfriend, Lisa Wilkes, on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Throughout her illustrious career, Long has graced both the small and big screens with her magnetic presence. From her compelling performances in films like "Boyz n the Hood" and "Friday" to her leading roles in movies such as "Soul Food," "Love Jones," and "The Best Man," Long has captivated audiences with her versatility and depth as an actress. She has shared the screen with industry heavyweights like Ice Cube and Regina King, forging lasting collaborations and delivering memorable performances.

Long's talent extends beyond acting, as she has also delved into music video direction, showcasing her creative vision in projects for artists like Yolanda Adams and Ashanti. Her multifaceted skills and artistic sensibilities shine through in her work, adding another layer to her already impressive repertoire. In 2004, Long was honored with a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Third Watch, a testament to her exceptional acting prowess.

Off-screen, Long's personal life has been marked by her relationship with fellow actor Massai Z. Dorsey, with whom she shares a son, Massai Zhivago Dorsey II. Despite the demands of a busy career, Long has navigated the complexities of motherhood with grace and dedication, balancing her professional achievements with her role as a loving parent. Her commitment to her craft, coupled with her warmth and authenticity, has endeared her to fans around the world, solidifying her status as a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.

Nia Long's enduring appeal lies not only in her undeniable talent but also in her ability to bring depth and nuance to every character she embodies. Whether she's portraying a strong-willed matriarch in a family drama or a romantic lead in a heartfelt comedy, Long infuses each role with authenticity and emotional resonance. As she continues to captivate audiences with her performances, Nia Long stands as a shining example of a powerhouse talent whose star continues to rise in Hollywood.

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Nia Long
Nia Long

Filmography

Acting

The Banker

The Banker

Eunice Garrett

2020

In the 1960s, two entrepreneurs hatch an ingenious business plan to fight for housing integration—and equal access to the American Dream.
Friday

Friday

Debbie

1995

Craig and Smokey are two guys in Los Angeles hanging out on their porch on a Friday afternoon, smoking and drinking, looking for something to do.
Missing

Missing

Grace

2023

When her mother disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June’s search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it’s too late. But as she digs deeper, her digital sleuthing raises more questions than answers... and when June unravels secrets about her mom, she discovers that she never really knew her at all.
Boyz n the Hood

Boyz n the Hood

Brandi

1991

In the middle of the Los Angeles ghetto, drugs, robberies and shootings dominate everyday life. During these times, Furious tries to raise his son Tre to be a decent person. Tre's friends, on the other hand, have little regard for the law and drag the entire neighborhood into a street war...
Boiler Room

Boiler Room

Abbie Halpert

2000

A college dropout gets a job as a broker for a suburban investment firm and is on the fast track to success—but the job might not be as legitimate as it sounds.
Big Momma's House

Big Momma's House

Sherry Pierce

2000

When a street-smart FBI agent is sent to Georgia to protect a beautiful single mother and her son from an escaped convict, he is forced to impersonate a crass Southern granny known as Big Momma in order to remain incognito.
47 Meters Down: Uncaged

47 Meters Down: Uncaged

Jennifer

2019

Four teenage girls go on a diving adventure to explore a submerged Mayan city. Once inside, their rush of excitement turns into a jolt of terror as they discover the sunken ruins are a hunting ground for deadly great white sharks. With their air supply steadily dwindling, the friends must navigate the underwater labyrinth of claustrophobic caves and eerie tunnels in search of a way out of their watery hell.
Life in a Year

Life in a Year

Catherine

2020

A 17 year old finds out that his girlfriend is dying, so he sets out to give her an entire life, in the last year she has left.
Stigmata

Stigmata

Donna Chadway

1999

A young woman with no strong religious beliefs, Frankie Paige begins having strange and violent experiences, showing signs of the wounds that Jesus received when crucified. When the Vatican gets word of Frankie's situation, a high-ranking cardinal requests that the Rev. Andrew Kiernan investigate her case. Soon Kiernan realizes that very sinister forces are at work, and tries to rescue Frankie from the entity that is plaguing her.
Look Both Ways

Look Both Ways

Lucy Galloway

2022

On the night of her college graduation, Natalie's life splits into parallel realities after she takes a pregnancy test. What will life and love bring?
You People

You People

Fatima

2023

A new couple and their families reckon with modern love amid culture clashes, societal expectations and generational differences.
Big Momma's House 2

Big Momma's House 2

Sherri

2006

FBI agent Malcolm Turner goes back undercover as Big Momma, a slick-talking, slam-dunking Southern granny with attitude to spare! Now this granny must play nanny to three dysfunctional upper-class kids in order to spy on their computer hacker father.
Are We There Yet?

Are We There Yet?

Suzanne Kingston

2005

The fledgling romance between Nick, a playboy bachelor, and Suzanne, a divorced mother of two, is threatened by a particularly harrowing New Years Eve. When Suzanne's work keeps her in Vancouver for the holiday, Nick offers to bring her kids to the city from Portland, Oregon. The kids, who have never liked any of the men their mom dates, are determined to turn the trip into a nightmare for Nick.
Premonition

Premonition

Annie

2007

A depressed housewife who learns her husband was killed in a car accident the day previously, awakens the next morning to find him alive and well at home, and then awakens the day after to a world in which he is still dead.
Are We Done Yet?

Are We Done Yet?

Suzanne Persons

2007

Newlyweds Nick and Suzanne decide to move to the suburbs to provide a better life for their two kids. But their idea of a dream home is disturbed by a contractor with a bizarre approach to business.
Alfie

Alfie

Lonette

2004

A tale of a philosophical womanizer who is forced to question his seemingly carefree existence.
Keanu

Keanu

Hannah

2016

Friends hatch a plot to retrieve a stolen cat by posing as drug dealers for a street gang.
Love Jones

Love Jones

Nina Mosley

1997

Darius Lovehall is a young black poet in Chicago who starts dating Nina Moseley, a beautiful and talented photographer. While trying to figure out if they've got a "love thing" or are just "kicking it," they hang out with their friends, talking about love and sex. Then Nina tests the strength of Darius' feelings and sets a chain of romantic complications into motion.

Production