Best known for her work in Black cinema, Long rose to prominence after starring in the film Boyz n the Hood, and for her portrayal of Beullah "Lisa" Wilkes on the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
30 Facts About Nia Long
2.
Nia Long then appeared in Friday, as well as the 1997 films Love Jones and Soul Food.
3.
Nia Long is known for her roles in the films The Best Man, and its sequel The Best Man Holiday, as well as Big Momma's House and its sequel Big Momma's House 2.
4.
Nia Long has received several accolades, including two NAACP Image Awards and a Black Reel Award.
5.
Nia Long has an older half-sister, the actress and comedian known as Sommore.
6.
Nia Long accompanied her mother who moved to Iowa City, Iowa, to study fine arts.
7.
When Nia Long was seven, her mother moved to South Los Angeles, as she planned to marry there.
8.
Nia Long was bused from South LA to Paseo Del Rey Elementary School in Playa Del Rey from 3rd grade through 6th grade, and attended St Mary's Academy in Inglewood, California.
9.
Nia Long graduated from Westchester High School in Los Angeles in 1989.
10.
Nia Long's acting coach was Betty Bridges, better known as the mother of Diff'rent Strokes star Todd Bridges.
11.
Nia Long's first notable role on television was a three-year contract role as Kathryn "Kat" Speakes on the soap opera Guiding Light.
12.
The film excited Nia Long, who was doing her "first real movie role".
13.
Jada Pinkett Smith was originally supposed to play Lisa, but was too short for the role, thus leaving Nia Long to take the part.
14.
Also, in the second season of the show, Nia Long appeared as Claudia, a love interest of Will's, alongside Queen Latifah.
15.
In 2003, Nia Long joined the cast of the drama Third Watch, where she played NYPD Officer Sasha Monroe, continuing until the series finale in 2005.
16.
Nia Long then starred alongside Michael Vartan and Dylan McDermott in Big Shots from 2007 to 2008.
17.
In 2016, Nia Long was cast as Giuliana, a Las Vegas club owner, in a recurring role on the TV series Empire.
18.
Nia Long has acquired supporting roles in a number of movies such as Friday and Made in America.
19.
Nia Long has starred alongside Michael Beach in the movie Soul Food and on the TV series Third Watch.
20.
Nia Long made a cameo appearance in the video for Kanye West's "Touch the Sky".
21.
Nia Long directed Yolanda Adams's music video for "This Too Shall Pass".
22.
Nia Long won a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2004 for her performance on Third Watch.
23.
Nia Long co-directed and appeared in Ashanti's music video, "Baby", and made a guest appearance on the sitcom Living Single during its first season.
24.
Nia Long originally voiced Roberta Tubbs on The Cleveland Show before being replaced by Reagan Gomez-Preston.
25.
Nia Long later appeared in the 2013 film The Best Man Holiday, reprising her role from the original 1999 film.
26.
In July 2020, Nia Long starred in the Netflix psychological thriller Fatal Affair.
27.
In 2022, Nia Long starred in the Peacock miniseries The Best Man: The Final Chapters, reprising her role from the previous films.
28.
Nia Long contributes her time to the Sterling Children's Home in Barbados as a motivational speaker.
29.
In 2010, Nia Long started dating former NBA player and Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka.
30.
Nia Long has an older son, born in 2000, from a previous relationship.