---
name: "Nia Long"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/nia-long"
fi1m_id: "nia-long"
imdb_id: "nm0000505"
tmdb_id: 9781
wikidata_id: "Q272956"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "30 October 1970"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 66
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-17T15:06:15.986970+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Nia Long

## Identity

Nia Long

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/nia-long
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** nia-long
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000505
- **TMDB ID:** 9781
- **Wikidata ID:** Q272956
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nia_Long, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q272956, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000505/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/9781

Actor. Born 30 October 1970 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 30 October 1970, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1991–present
- **Also known as:** Nitara Carlynn Long, Nia Talita Long
- **Average Fi1m score:** 66, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 86 (1), 2020s 56 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 66 to 65 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Crime 1, Music 1, Mystery 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,139m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nia_Long, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q272956, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000505/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/9781

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Boyz n the Hood*](https://film.one/film/boyz-n-the-hood.md) (86)
- **Disney+:** [*Missing*](https://film.one/film/missing.md) (64)
- **Apple TV:** [*Michael*](https://film.one/film/michael.md) (47)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Nia Long

> Nia Long brings an unforced warmth to romantic leads and a credible steadiness to mothers. We value both, but her films too often give her too little to do.

In *Michael* (2026), Nia Long’s Katherine Jackson stands in doorways looking worried while Colman Domingo’s Joseph dominates the household scenes. We were frustrated by those appearances, which leave her registering concern while he gets to shape the scene. Antoine Fuqua has cast an actor known for making maternal figures credible, then given her little beyond the job description. We rate Long’s grounded presence, but it needs a part worth playing.

The problem was there in *Boyz n the Hood* (1991), her breakthrough as Brandi for John Singleton. We strongly recommend the film for the time it gives its young men, yet Brandi belongs to its less fully imagined group of women. Angela Bassett brings conviction to Reva Styles without being granted the freedom the men have to be complicated. Long’s part is another reason to regret that limit, not a reason to think less of her.

During the 1990s, she also appeared in *Friday* (1995), *Love Jones* (1997) and *The Best Man* (1999). As Nina Mosley in *Love Jones* and Jordan Armstrong in *The Best Man*, she became a central presence in Black love stories. Her ease in romantic pairings matters: attraction has to feel plausible before any complication is worth our attention. Those parts are worth remembering when another film employs her chiefly to lend steadiness to a family.

The later work takes her into thrillers, though a change of genre does not guarantee a fuller part. In Will Merrick and Nicholas D. Johnson’s *Missing* (2023), she is Grace, the mother whose failure to return from Colombia sends her daughter June, played by Storm Reid, searching through screens. We found it tense for an hour before the accumulating twists strained its plausibility; Reid does more to hold it together than the script. It is a qualified choice for thriller enthusiasts, rather than the place to begin with Long. For a first encounter with her work, we would choose *Love Jones* over either of the later films.

## Biography

Nia Long is an American actress. Born Nia Talita Long on 30 October 1970 in Brooklyn, New York City, she graduated from Westchester High School in Los Angeles in 1989 after attending the Roman Catholic St. Mary's Academy in Inglewood. She studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar and acting, and trained with acting coach Betty Bridges.

Long began her career with a role in the 1986 Disney television film The B.R.A.T. Patrol and a three-year contract on the soap opera Guiding Light (1991–1994). She rose to prominence with her performance as Brandi in Boyz n the Hood (1991) and as Lisa Wilkes in the television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1991–1995). She has appeared in films including Friday (1995), Love Jones (1997), The Best Man (1999), Big Momma's House (2000) and its sequel, and 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019).

More recent credits include Grace in Missing (2023) and Katherine Jackson in the biopic Michael (2026).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, deadline.com, hollywoodreporter.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *Michael* (2026), Fi1m 47, as Katherine Jackson — [page](https://film.one/film/michael.md)
- *Missing* (2023), Fi1m 64, as Grace — [page](https://film.one/film/missing.md)
- *Boyz n the Hood* (1991), Fi1m 86, as Brandi — [page](https://film.one/film/boyz-n-the-hood.md)

## Complete filmography (65)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Michael* (2026), as Katherine Jackson — Fi1m 47, [page](https://film.one/film/michael.md)
- *Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story* (2024), Executive Producer
- *You People* (2023), as Fatima
- *Missing* (2023), as Grace — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/missing.md)
- *The Best Man: The Final Chapters* (2022), series, as Jordan Armstrong
- *Look Both Ways* (2022), as Lucy Galloway
- *Life in a Year* (2020), as Catherine
- *Fatal Affair* (2020), as Ellie Warren · Producer
- *#blackAF* (2020), series, as Lavette
- *The Banker* (2020), as Eunice Garrett
- *47 Meters Down: Uncaged* (2019), as Jennifer
- *Dear White People* (2017), series, as Neika Hobbs
- *Roxanne Roxanne* (2017), as Ms. Peggy
- *Lemon* (2017), as Cleo
- *Beaches* (2017), as Hillary Whitney
- *Uncle Buck* (2016), series, as Cindy Russell
- *Keanu* (2016), as Hannah
- *Empire* (2015), series, as Giuliana
- *The Divide* (2014), series, as Billie Page
- *The Single Moms Club* (2014), as May Miller
- *The Best Man Holiday* (2013), as Jordan Armstrong
- *House of Lies* (2012), series, as Tamara
- *Mooz-lum* (2011), as Safiyah
- *The Cleveland Show* (2009), series, as Roberta Tubbs (voice)
- *NCIS: Los Angeles* (2009), series, as Shay Mosley
- *Gospel Hill* (2008), as Mrs. Palmer
- *Big Shots* (2007), series, as Katie Graham
- *Are We Done Yet?* (2007), as Suzanne Persons
- *Premonition* (2007), as Annie
- *Big Momma's House 2* (2006), as Sherri
- *Are We There Yet?* (2005), as Suzanne Kingston
- *Alfie* (2004), as Lonette
- *Boston Legal* (2004), series, as Vanessa Walker — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)
- *Baadasssss!* (2004), as Sandra
- *Sightings: Heartland Ghost* (2002), as Lou
- *Everwood* (2002), series, as Cassie
- *106 & Park* (2000), series, Actor
- *Big Momma's House* (2000), as Sherry Pierce
- *If These Walls Could Talk 2* (2000), as Karen
- *Boiler Room* (2000), as Abbie Halpert
- *The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy* (2000), as Leslie
- *The Secret Laughter of Women* (1999), as Nimi Da Silva
- *The Best Man* (1999), as Jordan Armstrong
- *Held Up* (1999), as Rae
- *Third Watch* (1999), series, as Sasha Monroe
- *Judging Amy* (1999), series, as Andrea Solomon
- *Stigmata* (1999), as Donna Chadway
- *In Too Deep* (1999), as Myra
- *Butter* (1998), as Carmen Jones
- *Soul Food* (1997), as Robin (Bird)
- *Hav Plenty* (1997), as Trudy
- *Love Jones* (1997), as Nina Mosley
- *Moesha* (1996), series, as Babysitter
- *Live Shot* (1995), series, as Ramona Greer
- *Friday* (1995), as Debbie
- *ER* (1994), series, as Christy Wilson — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Living Single* (1993), series, as Stacey
- *Made in America* (1993), as Zora Mathews
- *Boyz n the Hood* (1991), as Brandi — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/boyz-n-the-hood.md)
- *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* (1990), series, as Claudia
- *Buried Alive* (1989), as Fingers
- *The B.R.A.T. Patrol* (1986), as Darla Perkins
- *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as Darla Perkins
- *Don't Ever Wonder*, as Producer
- *Are They Gone Yet?*, as Suzanne Persons

## Gallery

- ![Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles City Councilmembers celebrate African American History Heritage Month. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is presented with the Lifetime Ac (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/6812/gallery-c699a1cf3edf.jpg) Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles City Councilmembers celebrate African American History Heritage Month. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is presented with the Lifetime Ac (2015) — Eric Garcetti, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Mayor_Garcetti_at_African_American_Heritage_Celebration_in_Los_Angeles_City_Hall_%2815954008613%29.jpg/1280px-Mayor_Garcetti_at_African_American_Heritage_Celebration_in_Los_Angeles_City_Hall_%2815954008613%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles City Councilmembers celebrate African American History Heritage Month. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is presented with the Lifetime Ac (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/6812/gallery-2ca2ae451868.jpg) Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles City Councilmembers celebrate African American History Heritage Month. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is presented with the Lifetime Ac (2015) — Eric Garcetti, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Mayor_Garcetti_presents_Nia_Long_with_the_Dream_of_Los_Angeles_Award_%2816572548441%29.jpg/1280px-Mayor_Garcetti_presents_Nia_Long_with_the_Dream_of_Los_Angeles_Award_%2816572548441%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Nia Long](https://film.one/media/person/6812/gallery-1ac88ba86be7.jpg) Nia Long — MingleMediaTVNetwork, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Nia_Long_2012.jpg/1280px-Nia_Long_2012.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Nia Long and Vivica A. Fox backstage at the 2009 Heart Truth fashion show.](https://film.one/media/person/6812/gallery-a3106f62715b.jpg) Nia Long and Vivica A. Fox backstage at the 2009 Heart Truth fashion show. — The Heart Truth, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Nia_Long_and_Vivica_Fox_backstage.jpg/1280px-Nia_Long_and_Vivica_Fox_backstage.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Nia Long](https://film.one/media/person/6812/gallery-17205a6ff402.jpg) Nia Long — Image via TMDB
- ![Nia Long](https://film.one/media/person/6812/gallery-585d9e2097bd.jpg) Nia Long — Image via TMDB
- ![Nia Long](https://film.one/media/person/6812/gallery-8fe9108ac4a9.jpg) Nia Long — Image via TMDB
- ![Backstage at The Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection Fashion Show during New York Fashion Week. February 13, 2009 at Bryant Park.](https://film.one/media/person/6812/gallery-d0ddbec2fef3.jpg) Backstage at The Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection Fashion Show during New York Fashion Week. February 13, 2009 at Bryant Park. — The Heart Truth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Nia_Long_at_The_Heart_Truth_2009.jpg/1280px-Nia_Long_at_The_Heart_Truth_2009.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Nia Long](https://film.one/media/person/6812/gallery-f2aff5088dda.jpg) Nia Long — Image via TMDB
- ![Nia Long](https://film.one/media/person/6812/gallery-c7fd8c0863f9.jpg) Nia Long — Image via TMDB
- ![Nia Long](https://film.one/media/person/6812/gallery-3fb5a0eaeaa2.jpg) Nia Long — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/nia-long