Nia Long

Nia Talita Long ( ; born October 30, 1970) is an American actress. 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 (1991–1995). Long then appeared in the films Friday (1995), Love Jones (1997), and Soul Food (1997).

Long is known for her roles in the films The Best Man (1999), Big Momma's House (2000) and the Michael Jackson biopic Michael (2026), where she portrayed his mother Katherine Jackson. On television, Long portrayed Sasha Monroe on the crime drama series Third Watch (2003–2005) and has starred on the Fox drama series Empire (2017), and the CBS action series NCIS: Los Angeles (2017–2018). Long has received several accolades, including two NAACP Image Awards and a Black Reel Award.

Early life Long was born on October 30, 1970, in Brooklyn to Talita Long (née Gillman), a teacher and printmaker, and Doughtry Long, a Black American high school teacher and poet. Her mother is of Trinidadian descent. Long has an older half-sister, the actress and comedian known as Sommore. When Long was two years old, her parents divorced. Long accompanied her mother, who moved to Iowa City, to study fine arts.

When Long was seven, her mother moved to South Los Angeles, where she planned to marry. Doughtry and his fiancé called off the wedding, but Talita chose to stay in Los Angeles. Long's father resided in Trenton, New Jersey. She was bused from South LA to Paseo Del Rey Elementary School in Playa Del Rey from third grade through sixth grade and attended St. Mary's Academy in Inglewood, California. In addition to her academic classes, Long studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar, and acting. She graduated from Westchester High School in Los Angeles in 1989.

Career Long's acting coach was Betty Bridges, better known as the mother of Diff'rent Strokes star Todd Bridges. Long portrayed Kat from 1991 to 1994. Long also played Brandi in Boyz n the Hood. From 1994 to 1995, she played Will Smith's girlfriend and fiancée Beulah "Lisa" Wilkes on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In 2003, Long 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 guest-starred on Boston Legal during its 2006–2007 season. She then starred alongside Michael Vartan and Dylan McDermott in Big Shots from 2007 to 2008. In 2016, Long was cast as Giuliana, a Las Vegas club owner, in a recurring role on the TV series Empire.

Long has had supporting roles in a number of films such as Friday and Made in America. She has also played a leading role, or was a member of the primary ensemble, in several films,

In July 2020, Long starred in the Netflix psychological thriller Fatal Affair. In 2022, Long starred in the Peacock miniseries The Best Man: The Final Chapters, once again reprising her role from the previous films.

She played Katherine Jackson in the Michael Jackson biopic Michael (2026).

Personal life Long contributes her time to the Sterling Children's Home in Barbados as a motivational speaker.

In 2010, Long started dating then–National Basketball Association player Ime Udoka. Long also has an older son, born in 2000, from a previous relationship. The couple split in December 2022 after Udoka, who had become head coach of the Boston Celtics, was revealed to have had an affair with a Celtics staff member.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 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 Big Momma's House Sherry Pierce 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 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 2026 Michael Debut film TBA

Television Year Title Role Notes 1986 227 Girl Episode: "Slam Dunked" The Disney Sunday Movie Darla Perkins Episode: "The B.R.A.T Patrol" 1991 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Claudia Episode: "She Ain't Heavy" 1991–1993 Guiding Light Katherine "Kat" Speakes Regular cast 1993 Living Single Stacey Evans Episode: "Love Takes a Holiday" 1994–1995 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Beullah "Lisa" Wilkes Recurring cast (season 5) 1995 Live Shot Ramona Greer Recurring cast 1996 ER Christy Wilson Episode: "Baby Shower" Moesha Babysitter Episode: "A Concerted Effort: Part 1 & 2" 2000 If These Walls Could Talk 2 Karen TV movie 2001–2002 Judging Amy Andrea Solomon Recurring cast (season 3) 2002 Sightings: Heartland Ghost Lou TV movie 2003–2005 Third Watch Officer Sasha Monroe Main cast (season 5–6) 2006 Everwood Cassie Episode: "Truth" 2007 Boston Legal Vanessa Walker Recurring cast (season 3) 2007–2008 Big Shots Katie Graham Main cast 2009 Celebrity Ghost Stories Herself Episode: "Tom Arnold/Nia Long/Carni Wilson/Dee Snider" 2009–2010 The Cleveland Show Roberta Tubbs (voice) Main cast (season 1) 2010 Black Girls Rock! Herself/Host Main host 2011 Chase Melissa Randolph Episode: "Narco: Part 2" 2013 House of Lies Tamara Recurring cast (season 2) 2014 The Divide Billie Page Main cast 2015–2016 Real Husbands of Hollywood Herself Guest cast (season 4–5) 2016 Trumpet Awards Herself/Host Main host Uncle Buck Alexis Smith-Russell Main cast 2017 Hand of God Izzy Recurring cast (season 2) Dear White People Neika Hobbs Recurring cast (season 1) Empire Giuliana 'Giusi' Green Recurring cast (season 3) Beaches Hillary Whitney TV movie 2017–2018 NCIS: Los Angeles E.A.D. Shay Mosley Main cast (season 9–10) 2018 Uncensored Herself Episode: "Nia Long" Unsung Hollywood Herself Episode: "The Best Man" The Goldbergs Lucy Somers Episode: "1990-Something" 2020 Entertainment Tonight Herself/Guest co-host Episode: "Disney Live Action Mulan Exclusive!" blackAF Lavette Recurring cast 2022 Let the World See Mamie Till-Mobley Main cast The Best Man: The Final Chapters Jordan Armstrong Main cast 2025 Number One on the Call Sheet Herself Episode: "Black Leading Women in Hollywood"

Music videos Year Song Artist Notes 1991 "Do Me (remix)" Bell Biv DeVoe bass player 1995 "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" Dr. Dre Dancer 1997 "Iggin' Me" Chico DeBarge Girlfriend 2002 "Baby" Ashanti 2005 "Touch the Sky" Kanye West featuring Lupe Fiasco 2008 "Long Distance Girlfriend" Heavy D 2015 "California Roll" Snoop Dogg featuring Stevie Wonder Woman in Theatre 2025 "Darling, I" Tyler, the Creator

Documentary Year Title 2004 The N-Word 2009 Good Hair 2011 Kiss and Tell: The History of Black Romance in Movie

Awards and nominations Institution Category Year Work Result American Black Film Festival Best Actress 1998 Love Jones Star of the Year 2000 Best Actress 2014 The Best Man Holiday Best Ensemble Cast BET Comedy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Theatrical Film 2005 Alfie Black Reel Awards Outstanding Actress 2000 The Best Man Outstanding Supporting Actress 2001 Boiler Room 2005 Alfie Outstanding Actress 2012 Mooz-lum 2014 The Best Man Holiday Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series 2018 Beaches Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Actress – Comedy 2001 Big Momma's House NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 1996 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture 1998 Love Jones 2000 The Best Man Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special 2001 If These Walls Could Talk 2 Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Big Momma's House Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series 2004 Third Watch 2005 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 2014 House of Lies Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture 2021 The Banker