Nia Long (born Nitara Carlynn Long on October 30, 1970) is a three-time Image Award-winning American actress and occasional music video director. She is best known for her roles in The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, Soul Food, Love Jones, The Best Man, Big Momma's House (and sequel), Third Watch and Are We There Yet?.
Nia Long was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Doc and Talita Long. Nia's parents divorced when she was a little over two years old. She moved with her mother to Iowa City, Iowa, where her mother studied fine arts, and then to a lower-middle-class South Central Los Angeles neighborhood when Nia was seven. She attended Catholic school for a while and studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar and acting. Due to the lack of employment opportunities in the Arts in Los Angeles when Nia and Talita first arrived there, Talita took various low-paying jobs, in spite of being equipped with two master's degrees, that resulted in financial straits for the mother and daughter. Nia's motivation to be successful was driven by her desire to help ease her mother's financial burden.
