 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, and the sequels to the latter two films. ==early years== long was born in brooklyn, new york, to talita (gillman), a teacher and printmaker, and doughtry "doc" long, a high school teacher and poet.http://www.trinidadexpress.com/woman-magazine/uprooted-142164863.html her family is of trinidadian and grenadian descent.nia long biography (1970-)bv entertainment newswire december 21: lauryn hill, nia long - aol black voiceshttp://www.vibe.com/article/pandoras-box-mashonda-interviews-nia-long her name, nia, is one of the seven days of kwanzaa, which means purpose in swahili. long was two years old when her parents were 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 l.a. long's father currently resides in trenton, new jersey. long attended the roman catholic school st. mary's academy. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1264/is_12_30/ai_61185319  in addition to her academic classes, she studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar, and acting. she graduated from westchester high school in 1989. she has an older half-sister, the actress and comedian known as sommore. ==career== thumb|upright|long in 2009.  long's acting coach was betty bridges, better known as the mother of [
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