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Nia Long

Nia Long

Actor, also producer · Born October 30, 1970 (55) · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Nia Long (born October 30, 1970) is an American actress and occasional music video director. She is best known for her roles in the television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Third Watch, and the films Soul Food, Love Jones, The Best Man, Big Momma's House, and Are We There Yet?   Long was born in Brooklyn, New York, U.S. Her family is of Afro-Trinidadian descent. Her name, Nia, is one of the seven days of Kwanzaa, which means purpose in Swahili. Long's parents divorced when she was two years old, and she and her mother moved to Iowa City, Iowa. They subsequently moved to a South Los Angeles neighborhood when Long was seven. Long's father currently resides in Trenton, New Jersey. Long's half-sister is comedienne Sommore, one of the stars of The Queens of Comedy. She attended the Roman Catholic school St. Mary's Academy and studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar, and acting. She graduated from WestchesterHigh School in 1989. Long's acting coach was Betty Bridges, better known as the mother of Diff'rent Strokes star Todd Bridges. Her earliest role was in the Disney television movie, The B.R.A.T Patrol alongside Sean Astin, Tim Thomerson and Brian Keith. Her first notable role on television was a three-year contract role as Kathryn "Kat" Speakes on the soap opera Guiding Light. Long portrayed Kat from 1991 to 1994, then f rom 1994 - 1995, she played Will Smith's girlfriend and fiancée Beulah "Lisa" Wilkes on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. In 2003, she 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 appeared on Boston Legal during its 2006-2007 season. Long also starred in Big Shots from 2007-2008 alongside Michael Vartan and Dylan McDermott. She also made a guest appearance on the successful sitcom Living Single during its first season. Long appeared in supporting roles in a number of movies including, Boyz n the Hood, Friday, and Made in America. She played a leading role, or a member of the primary ensemble, in several films, including Soul Food, Love Jones, Boiler Room, Big Momma's House, Are We There Yet?, and The Best Man. Ice Cube has starred with her in four films, while (fellow Westchester High alum) Regina King has starred with her in two. Long was voted one of the 50 most beautiful people in the World in 2000 by People. She won a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2004 for her performance on Third Watch.   In addition to her film credits, she directed Yolanda Adams's music video for "This Too Shall Pass" and co-directed and appeared in Ashanti's music video, "Baby". She also appears in the video for Kanye West's, "Touch The Sky". Long and her former long-time boyfriend and fellow actor Massai Z. Dorsey have a son, Massai Zhivago Dorsey II, born on November 26, 2000.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 30, 1970 (55)
From
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
57 on MovieCove · 67 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 26% in 30 days

What are Nia Long's films like?

Across their 41 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 17th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 16th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
33%
Self
23%
Society
14%
Morality
13%
Survival
9%
Power
4%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds14 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth7 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 38 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 15 · Serious 13 · Dark 10

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 30 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 14 · Charged 14 · Intense 10

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 11 · Shifting 21 · Whiplash 6

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 9

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 18 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 22 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 4

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 15 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 8

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 28 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

20 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 11 of 20 analyzed roles.

Ally
11 of 20
Hero
4 of 20
Shapeshifter
4 of 20
Threshold guardian
1 of 20
Show the 20 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
21
Melancholic
18
Warm
12
Joyful
9
Dread
6
Other
51

How their films linger

Feel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet19
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous6
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Nia Long's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 47 of their 57 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (17).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Nia Long's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

67 credits, 57 with a MovieCove page; 16 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Michael(2026)

    as Katherine Jackson

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story(2024)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • You People(2023)

    as Fatima

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Missing(2023)

    as Grace

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Best Man: The Final Chapters(2022)

    Show 8 episodes · as Jordan Armstrong

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Look Both Ways(2022)

    as Lucy Galloway

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Life in a Year(2020)

    as Catherine

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Fatal Affair(2020)

    Producer · as Ellie Warren

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • #BlackAF(2020)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lavette

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all shows

  • The Banker(2020)

    as Eunice Garrett

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • 47 Meters Down: Uncaged(2019)

    as Jennifer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Dear White People(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Neika Hobbs

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all shows

  • Lemon(2017)

    as Cleo

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Roxanne Roxanne(2017)

    as Ms. Peggy

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Beaches(2017)

    as Hillary Whitney

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Uncle Buck(2016)

    Show 8 episodes · as Cindy Russell

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows

  • Keanu(2016)

    as Hannah

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Empire(2015)

    Show 8 episodes · as Giuliana

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Divide(2014)

    Show 8 episodes · as Billie Page

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Single Moms Club(2014)

    as May Miller

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Best Man Holiday(2013)

    as Jordan Armstrong

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • House of Lies(2012)

    Show 8 episodes · as Tamara

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Mooz-Lum(2010)

    as Safiyah

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Cleveland Show(2009)

    Show 21 episodes · as Roberta Tubbs (voice)

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all shows

  • NCIS: Los Angeles(2009)

    Show 30 episodes · as Shay Mosley

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Wendy Williams Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Gospel Hill(2008)

    as Mrs. Palmer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Big Shots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 11 episodes · as Katie Graham

  • Are We Done Yet?(2007)

    as Suzanne Persons

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Premonition(2007)

    as Annie

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Big Momma's House 2(2006)

    as Sherri

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Are We There Yet?(2005)

    as Suzanne Kingston

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Alfie(2004)

    as Lonette

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Boston Legal(2004)

    Show 3 episodes · as Vanessa Walker

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Baadasssss!(2003)

    as Sandra

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Sightings: Heartland Ghost(2002)

    as Lou

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Everwood(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Cassie

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • 106 & Park (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Big Momma's House(2000)

    as Sherry Pierce

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • If These Walls Could Talk 2(2000)

    as Karen

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Boiler Room(2000)

    as Abbie Halpert

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy(2000)

    as Leslie

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Secret Laughter of Women(1998)

    as Nimi Da Silva

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Best Man(1999)

    as Jordan Armstrong

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Held Up(1999)

    as Rae

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Third Watch(1999)

    Show 45 episodes · as Sasha Monroe

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Judging Amy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 6 episodes · as Andrea Solomon

  • Stigmata(1999)

    as Donna Chadway

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • In Too Deep(1999)

    as Myra

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Butter(1998)

    as Carmen Jones

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Soul Food(1997)

    as Robin (Bird)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Hav Plenty(1997)

    as Trudy

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Love Jones(1997)

    as Nina Mosley

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Moesha(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Babysitter

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Live Shot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 13 episodes · as Ramona Greer

  • Friday(1995)

    as Debbie

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Christy Wilson

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Living Single(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Stacey

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Made in America(1993)

    as Zora Mathews

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Boyz n the Hood(1991)

    as Brandi

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air(1990)

    Show 16 episodes · as Claudia

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Buried Alive(1989)

    as Fingers

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The B.R.A.T. Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Darla Perkins

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Darla Perkins

  • Are They Gone Yet? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Suzanne Persons

  • Don't Ever Wonder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · Actor

  • Unsung Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 67 titles, 64 of them dated from 1954 to 2026; peak year 1999.

Biggest box office

Michael (2026)

$1B worldwide

Highest rated

Boyz n the Hood (1991)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Michael (2026)

Film career

19542026

Peak 1999 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 16 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting66 of 67: 64 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdProducing3 of 67: 1 only producing, 2 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1980s2 · acting1990s19 · acting2000s19 · acting2010s13 · acting2020s10 · 9 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 3% of 33 roles
910111

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Nia Long's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 50th percentile, the median of all 41; across their 38 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 43rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 38

Approval · how many liked their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 38

Reach · how many have seen their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 38

Midcredits score across 57 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up19
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th18

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 57 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Divisive3
  • Crowd Pleaser19
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed25

Most divisive · actor

Uncle Buck (2016)

93rd percentile spread · 40% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Boyz n the Hood (1991)

Midcredits 97th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 36 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 43. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Nia Long's work okay for kids?

Across up to 23 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore16 titles12–73 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity23 titles16–59 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity16 titles33–88 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs15 titles23–62 · median 37 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense14 titles27–75 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Nia Long work with?

People who share at least 2 of Nia Long's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Morris Chestnut shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles