Stunning pop culture icon, Hollywood leading lady and three-time NAACP award winner Nia Long returns to the big screen this fall in the highly anticipated Universal Pictures sequel The best man holiday who has been hired by the same consulting firm Galweather Stearn after taking time off to raise a family. Long made her film debut in the poignant film portraying the social problems in inner-city Los Angeles, Boyz n the hood , and continued on to star in FRIDAY alongside Ice Cube and Chris Tucker as well as LOVE JONES which won the prestigious Audience Award at Sundance. Other notable film roles include Soul Food, Alfie opposite Jude Law, The Best man, Are We There Yet?, Big Momma's House 1 & 2 opposite Martin Lawrence, Stigmata, the Broken Hearts Club and Made in America. On the small screen, Long's portrayal of "Officer Sasha Monroe" on NBC's hit crime drama "Third Watch" awarded her two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Drama series. Long's other TV accomplishments include "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Boston Legal," "Judging Amy," and "Big Shots." Long also voiced "Roberta" in the first season of the Fox hit "the Cleveland Show." Making her directorial debut on Ashanti's music video "Baby" and Yolanda Adam's "This Too Shall Pass," Nia continues her work behind the camera and is developing a feature film that centers on renowned world champion boxer and trainer Ann Wolfe. In addition to her film and TV work, Long's passion lies in serving her community. With her family roots planted in Trinidad, Grenada, and Barbados, Long's long term goals are to connect women in the US to those of the islands and to mentor young girls to regain their self-esteem. Additionally, Long lends her support to Black Girls Rock, an organization that promotes the arts for young women of color and encourages dialogue on the ways women of color are portrayed in the media. In 2012 she was named an official surrogate to the Barack Obama reelection campaign. A Brooklyn native, Long now calls Los Angeles home where she lives with her 12 year old son, Massai, 14 month old son, Kez and partner Ime Udoka, an Assistant Coach for the San Antonio Spurs. Long loves to cook organic farmer's market fresh meals adding a twist of her Trinidadian heritage. When she's not juggling between her career and motherhood, she enjoys staying active by doing pilates, boxing, hiking, and horseback riding. Long also finds pleasure in traveling and experiencing different cultures throughout the world. One of her favorite locations to visit is Jamaica, a place she calls her second home where she can reflect and refuel.
Voted one of the 50 most beautiful people in the World 2000 by People Magazine
Nia and her beau, Massai Z. Dorsey , have announced that they are expecting their first child in November 2000. They also announced that they will wed in June 2001.
Took Third Place by the readers of Black Men Magazine for "The 10 Sexiest Women of the Year."
First child Massai Zhivago Dorsey II, with Massai Z. Dorsey was born on November 26th, 2000 in Los Angeles.
Was a registered Girl Scout.
She is of Trinidadian, Granadian, and Barbadian descent.
Career got started by Betty A. Bridges , mother of actor Todd Bridges. Betty was her acting coach for 15 years.
She and Massai Z. Dorsey were to wed in June 2001, but ended their relationship before getting married to each other.
Younger half-sister of comedian Sommore.
Nia and Ime Udoka welcomed a baby boy named Kez on Monday November 7th 2011 he weighed 7lbs 15oz and was 19.5 inches long at birth.
Returned to work 12 months after giving birth to her son Kez in order to begin filming The Single Moms Club .
(January 2004) Is currently portraying "Sasha Monroe" as she returns as a regular cast member for her second on NBCs multi-faced drama "Third Watch" .
(April 2005) Currently filming Big Mommas House 2 .
Friends with F. Gary Gray.
Early in her career at a casting call she was once told that your eyebrows are too sophisticated.
Nias very first acting job was as an uncredited extra on the TV series "Silver Spoons" in which she had just one forgettable line of dialogue.
Mentioned by name in the lyrics of many rap songs including, J. Cole (No Role Modelz), Kanye West (Touch the Sky), Dave East (Dreams of F
G Nia Long), Ghostface Killah (The Hilton), Papoose (Control), Lil Wayne (Novacane), Nas (Oochie Wally), Chingy (Dem Jeans), Webbie (Like That), Meek Mill (Im Leanin), Juicy J , etc.
She was once coached by Ivana Chubbuck.
Attended the same junior high school as friend Regina King.
I took a little break - I was coming back to work and the last thing I,was going to do was take a step backwards, so I knew that if I was,going to take a feature it was going to have to be taking a step,forward.
I was happy she got it and I have to sort of - and one of the reasons I,did Third Watch is because I wanted to break that thing of just being,the pretty girl and play it down and let it be about the work.
