Nia Long - wikipedia Nia Long Nia Long Long in February 2012 Nitara Carlynn Long ( 1970 - 10 - 30 ) October 30, 1970 ( age 46 ) Brooklyn, New York, U.S. Occupation Actress Years active 1986 -- present Home town South Los Angeles, California, U.S. Partner ( s ) Ime Udoka ( 2010 -- present ) Children Relatives Sommore ( half - sister ) Website twitter.com/nialong Nitara Carlynn Long, known professionally as Nia Long ( born October 30, 1970 ) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the television series The Fresh Prince of Bel - Air and Third Watch, and the films In Too Deep, Boyz n the Hood, Friday, Boiler Room, Soul Food, Love Jones, The Best Man, Big Momma 's House, Are We There Yet ? and the sequels to the latter three films. Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Filmography 4.1 Film 4.2 Television 5 Awards and nominations 6 References 7 External links Early Life Long was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Talita Long ( née Gillman ), a teacher and printmaker, and Doughtry Long, a high school teacher and poet. Her family is of Trinidadian, Grenadian, Vincentian, and Bajan descent. She has an older half - sister, the actress and comedian known as Sommore. Long was two years old when her parents divorced. She accompanied her mother when she moved to Iowa City, Iowa, to study fine arts. Her mother moved to South Los Angeles when Long was seven years old, as she planned to marry there. She and her fiance called off the wedding, but Talita chose to stay in Los Angeles. Long 's father resides in Trenton, New Jersey. Long attended the Roman Catholic school St. Mary 's Academy in Inglewood, California. She was bused from South Los Angeles to Paseo Del Rey Elementary School in Playa Del Rey from 3rd grade through 6th grade. In addition to her academic classes, she studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar, and acting. She graduated from Westchester High School in Los Angeles in 1989. Career Long in 2009. This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately. Find sources : `` Nia Long '' -- news newspapers books scholar JSTOR ( August 2010 ) 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. Long played Brandi in Boyz n the Hood. The film excited Long, who was doing her `` first real movie role ''. It helped Long build her confidence as an actress. `` It introduced me to the world in a way that it was okay for me to be who I am and still find success, '' she added. `` I did n't have to conform to anything. '' From 1994 -- 1995, she played Will Smith 's girlfriend and fiancée Beulah `` Lisa '' Wilkes on The Fresh Prince of Bel - Air. Jada Pinkett Smith was originally supposed to play Lisa, but was too short for the role ( opposite a 6'2 '' Will Smith ), thus leaving Nia to take the part. In 2000, Long was offered the role of Alex Munday in Charlie 's Angels, but she turned it down, and the role was eventually given to Lucy Liu. 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. In 2016, Long was cast in a recurring role for the TV series Empire. She acquired the role of Giuliana, a Las Vegas club owner. Long appeared in supporting roles in a number of movies such as Friday and Made in America. Long 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 starred alongside Michael Beach in Soul Food and in the TV series Third Watch. Long appears in the video for Kanye West 's `` Touch the Sky ''. She directed Yolanda Adams 's music video for `` This Too Shall Pass ''. 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 ''. She also made a guest appearance on the successful sitcom Living Single during its first season. She appeared in the 2013 film The Best Man Holiday, reprising her role from the original 1999 film. Unlike the original film, however, her character is in an interracial relationship with a caucasian man. Long was revealed to have pursuing an interracial relationship in the film and explained : `` We 're living in a modern world where it happens and it 's OK and it 's no disrespect to any black man. I love black men, but the reality is the sistahs are marrying white men and the brothas are marrying white women and that 's the world that we live in and it 's not to be judged, and if it works for you then embrace it ''. Director Malcolm D. Lee also supported the interracial relationship being portrayed in the film. `` African - American women who are extremely successful ca n't always find black male counterparts on that level so it 's a little bit of a reflection of reality that black women are starting to date outside their race -- and why not ? '' Personal Life Long started dating Ime Udoka in 2010, and gave birth to their son, Kez Sunday Udoka on November 7, 2011. The couple became engaged in May 2015. She also has another son, Massai Zhivago Dorsey II ( born November 26, 2000 ), from a previous relationship to Massai Dorsey. The actress contributes her time to the Sterling Children 's Home in Barbados, as a motivational speaker. Long is a supporter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes Buried Alive Fingers 1991 Boyz n the Hood Brandi 1993 Made in America Zora Mathews 1995 Friday Debbie Love Jones Nina Mosley Nominated -- Acapulco Black Film Festival Award for Best Actress Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Hav Plenty Trudy Soul Food Ryla `` Bird '' Joseph 1998 Butter Carmen Jones 1999 In Too Deep Myra The Best Man Jordan Armstrong Black Reel Award for Best Actress NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Stigmata Donna Chadway Held Up Rae The Secret Laughter of Women Nimi Da Silva 2000 The Broken Hearts Club : A Romantic Comedy Leslie Boiler Room Abbie Halpert Nominated -- Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress Big Momma 's House Sherry Pierce Nominated -- Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress in a Comedy Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture 2003 BAADASSSSS ! Sandra The N - Word Herself Documentary Alfie Lonette Nominated -- Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress 2005 Are We There Yet ? Suzanne Kingston 2006 Big Momma 's House 2 Sherry Pierce - Turner 2007 Premonition Annie Are We Done Yet ? Suzanne Kingston - Persons 2008 Gospel Hill Yvonne Palmer 2009 Good Hair Herself Documentary Mooz - lum Safiyah Nominated -- Black Reel Award for Best Actress 2013 The Best Man Holiday Jordan Armstrong Acapulco Black Film Festival Award for Best Cast Nominated -- Black Reel Award for Best Actress 2014 The Single Moms Club May Miller 2016 Keanu Hannah 2017 Lemon Cleo Roxanne Roxanne Peggy Television Year Title Role Notes 1986 227 Girl ( uncredited ) Episode : `` Slam Dunked '' Walt Disney 's Wonderful World of Color Darla Perkins Episode : `` The B.R.A.T Patrol '' 1991 -- 93 Guiding Light Katherine `` Kat '' Speakes Unknown episodes 1991 The Fresh Prince of Bel - Air Claudia Prescott Episode : `` She Ai n't Heavy '' 1993 Living Single Stacey Evans Episode : `` Love Takes a Holiday '' 1994 -- 95 The Fresh Prince of Bel - Air Lisa Wilkes 15 episodes Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 1995 Live Shot Ramona Greer Unsold TV pilot ER Christy Wilson Episode : `` Baby Shower '' Moesha Ruth 2 episodes 1998 Black Jaq Jaqueline `` Jaq '' Blackman Unsold TV pilot 2000 If These Walls Could Talk 2 Karen Television movie Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special 2001 -- 02 Judging Amy Andrea Solomon 6 episodes 2002 Sightings : Heartland Ghost Lou Television movie 2003 -- 05 Third Watch Officer Sasha Monroe 35 episodes NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series 2006 Everwood Cassie Episode : `` Truth '' 2007 Boston Legal Vanessa Walker 3 episodes 2007 -- 08 Big Shots Katie Graham 11 episodes 2009 -- 10 The Cleveland Show Roberta Tubbs 13 episodes Boston 's Finest Taylor Sanchez Unsold TV pilot 2011 Chase Melissa Randolph Episode : `` Narco : Part 2 '' 2012 House of Lies Tamara 8 episodes Nominated -- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 2014 The Divide Billie Page 8 episodes 2015 - 16 Real Husbands of Hollywood Herself 2 episodes 2016 Uncle Buck Alexis Smith - Russell 8 episodes 2017 Beaches Hillary Whitney Television movie Nominated -- Black Reel Award for Best Actress in a Television Movie or Limited Series Dear White People Neika Hobbs 3 episodes Empire Giuliana ' Giusi ' Green 8 episodes 2017 -- present NCIS Los Angeles Assistant Director Shay Mosley Main Cast Season 9 -- ) Awards and nominations BET Comedy Awards Year Category Result 2005 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Theatrical Film ( Alfie ) Nominated Black Reel Awards Year Category Result 2005 Best Supporting Actress ( Alfie ) Nominated 2001 Best Supporting Actress ( Boiler Room ) Nominated 2000 Best Actress ( The Best Man ) Won Image Awards Year Category Result 2005 Outstanding Actress in a Television Drama ( Third Watch ) Won Outstanding Actress in a Television Drama ( Third Watch ) Won 2001 Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture ( Big Momma 's House ) Nominated Outstanding Actress in Television Movie / Mini-Series ( If These Walls Could Talk 2 ) Nominated 2000 Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture ( The Best Man ) Won References ^ Jump up to : `` Nia Long Biography ''. TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2015. Jump up ^ Cummings, Renée ( March 9, 2012 ). `` Talita Long, mother of actress Nia Long... ''. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Nia Long Biography ( 1970 -- ) ''. FilmrReference.com. Retrieved July 31, 2015. Jump up ^ Lauryn Hill, Nia Long. BV Entertainment Newswire -- AOL Black Voices. December 21, 2005 Jump up ^ Pandora 's Box : Mashonda Interviews Nia Long. vibe.com. September 15, 2010 Jump up ^ `` In Step With : Nia Long ''. Parade Magazine. January 16, 2005. Jump up ^ Melton, Nicole Marie Nia Long Reflects on 20th Anniversary of ' Boyz n the Hood ' ( July 14, 2011 ) Jump up ^ Imarenezor, Christine. `` Nia Long Snags New Role On Season 3 Of ' Empire ' ''. Vibe.com. Retrieved 27 November 2016. Jump up ^ Ramos, Dorkys ( November 18, 2013 ). `` Nia Long Wanted a White Boyfriend on The Best Man Holiday ''. BET. ^ Jump up to : Rebecca Macatee ( November 10, 2011 ). `` '' Nia Long Gives Birth to Son Kez Sunday Udoka `` ''. US Magazine. Jump up ^ Mackie, Drew. `` Nia Long Is Engaged to Ime Udoka ''. People. Jump up ^ `` Nia : A Purpose - Driven Life ''. Ebony. November 2010. Jump up ^ `` Nia Long Poses Naked in Subway Car to Save Animals ''. celebritybrands.net. August 15, 2009. Retrieved November 8, 2013. http://tvline.com/2016/08/16/nia-long-beaches-remake-lifetime-hillary/ External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nia Long. Nia Long on IMDb VIAF : 76516236 LCCN : no95048441 ISNI : 0000 0000 7841 065X GND : 141140100 SUDOC : 165794836 BNF : cb14043512n ( data ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nia_Long&oldid=805024206 '' Categories : 1970 births 20th - century American actresses 21st - century American actresses Actresses from Iowa Actresses from Los Angeles Actresses from New York City Actors from Trenton, New Jersey African - American actresses American actresses American film actresses American motivational speakers American television actresses American voice actresses American people of Barbadian descent American people of Grenadian descent American people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines descent American people of Trinidad and Tobago descent American soap opera actresses Living people People from Brooklyn People from Iowa City, Iowa Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from January 2014 Articles with hCards All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from May 2016 BLP articles lacking sources from August 2010 All BLP articles lacking sources Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu Azərbaycanca Deutsch Español Esperanto فارسی Føroyskt Français Gaeilge 한국어 Հայերեն Italiano Монгол Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Simple English Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Tagalog Türkçe اردو Yorùbá Edit links This page was last edited on 12 October 2017, at 15 : 54. 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Question: who plays lisa on fresh prince of bel air
Answer: Long