Nia Long

Nia Long is an American actress known for her work in film and television, with a career spanning drama, comedy, and crime genres. Long first gained widespread recognition for her role in John Singleton's drama "Boyz n the Hood." She followed this with a recurring role as Beulah Lisa Wilkes on the NBC sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." Her filmography includes roles in "Friday," "Soul Food," "Love Jones"—which won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival—and the comedy "Big Momma's House."

Long's career includes a starring role in Malcolm D. Lee's "The Best Man," for which she won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture. She reprised her role as Jordan Armstrong in the sequel "The Best Man Holiday" and in the Peacock limited series "The Best Man: The Final Chapters," earning another NAACP Image Award. On television, Long portrayed NYPD Officer Sasha Monroe on NBC's crime drama "Third Watch," earning two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. Her television credits also include appearances on "Empire," "NCIS: Los Angeles," "Dear White People," and Kenya Barris' "#BlackAF."

Long has produced and starred in the Netflix thriller "Fatal Affair" and appeared in the Apple TV+ film "The Banker," earning an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress. She also starred in Sony's "Missing" and the Netflix comedy "You People." In addition to acting, Long has directed music videos, including Yolanda Adams' "This Too Shall Pass" and Ashanti's "Baby."

Long portrayed Katherine Jackson in Lionsgate's biopic "Michael," directed by Antoine Fuqua and co-starring Colman Domingo and Jaafar Jackson. The film achieved significant box office success. Gallery Books published Long's memoir, and she has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing her contributions to the entertainment industry.