Nia Long

Nia Long is a well-known American actress. Nitara Carlynn Long, her birth name, was born on 30th October 1970 in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother, Talita was a printmaker, and a teacher and her father, Doughtry ‘Doc’ Long was a high school teacher and poet. Her older half-sister, Sommore, is an actress and comedian. Her family background is Trinidadian, Bajan, and Grenadian.Her mother lives in Los Angeles and father in Trenton, New Jersey after their divorce. Nia did her schooling from St. Mary’s Academy, Inglewood. She completed her degree at Westchester High School, LA. She studied fine arts in Iowa City. She also learned tap, ballet, gymnastics, acting and guitar.

Nia married to Ime Udoka, assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, in 2010. They have two children, both sons, Zhivago Dorsey II, and Kez Sunday Udoka. She is a motivational speaker to Sterling Children’s Home, Barbados. She supports People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. She has also supported Barack Obama in his presidential election period. Nia started her acting career in the year 1986 with the TV serial ‘227’, playing a small role in it. Then she worked in the TV movie ‘The B.R.A.T Patrol’. The TV show ‘Guiding Light’ gave her the limelight; she played the role of Kathryn ‘Kat’ Speakes. Later she played the role of Will Smith’s girlfriend-fiancé, Beulah ‘Lisa’ Wikes in the TV series ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’. For her role in the drama series ‘Third Watch’ (2004) she received NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. Some of other TV shows she has worked in are ‘Everwood’, ‘Big Shots’, ‘Boston Legal’, ‘Chase’ and ‘The Divide’. Nia made her debut in the films with the 1990 release ‘Buried Alive’. She further played the main role in ‘Boyz n the Hood’ (1991).

She has also acted in the films like ‘Made in America’, ‘Friday’, ‘Soul Food’, ‘Boiler Room’ and many more. For the movie ‘The Best Man’ she was awarded Black Reel Award for Best Actress and also an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her role, Jordan Armstrong. She has also acted in the film ‘The Best Man Holiday’ (2013) in what she has reprised her role from the movie ‘The Best Man’ (1999); her character in the movie is to play the role of a woman who is in an interracial relationship.