All About Nia Long

Nitara Carlynn "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. Early years Long was born in Brooklyn, New York, U.S. to Talita, a teacher and printmaker, and Doughtry "Doc" Long, a high school teacher and poet. Her family is of Afro-Trinidadian descent.Her stage 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, where her mother studied fine arts.Long attended the Roman Catholic school St. Mary's Academy and studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar and acting. She graduated from Westchester High School in 1989. Career For 30 years, Long was instructed by acting coach Betty Bridges, better known as the mother of Diff'rent Strokes star Todd Bridges. Her first notable role was a three-year contract role as Kathryn "Kat" and Speakes on the soap opera Guiding Light.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 appears in the video for Kanye West's "Touch The Sky". She directed Yolanda Adams's music video for "This Too Shall Pass". Long was voted one of the 50 most beautiful people in the World 2000 by People. She won a NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2004 for her performance on Third Watch. Long co-directed and appeared in Ashanti's music video, "Baby". Personal life
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. Dorsey and Long were engaged to be married, but ended their relationship. She came out as bisexual in 2006 during an interview with Readers Digest. When asked about relationships, Long admitted "I'm more attracted to women but my heart could belong to a man too!"