Nia Talita Long (born October 30, 1970) is an actress from the United States. She has won three NAACP Image Awards and a Black Reel Award, among other honors.

Long is most recognized for her appearances in Boyz n the Hood (1991), Love Jones, Soul Food (both 1997), The Best Man (1999) and its sequel The Best Man Holiday (2013), Big Momma’s House (2000), and Big Momma’s House 2 (2000).

She played Beulah “Lisa” Wilkes on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1991–1995) and Sasha Monroe on the criminal thriller series Third Watch (2003–2005) on television.

Nia Long Parents

Long was born to Talita Long, a teacher and printmaker, and Doughtry Long, a high school teacher, and poet, in Brooklyn, New York.

Meet Doughtry Long and Talita Long

The parents of Nia Long are Talita Long and Doughtry Long.

Her mother was born in Trinidad and is of Trinidadian, Grenadian, and Bajan ancestry. She has an elder half-sister, Sommore, who is an actress and comedian.

Long’s parents split when she was two years old. She came to Iowa City, Iowa, with her mother to pursue a degree in fine arts.

When Long was seven years old, her mother relocated to South Los Angeles with the intention of marrying there. Talita opted to stay in Los Angeles when she and her fiancé called off their wedding.

Long grew up in Trenton, New Jersey, with her father.