Nitara “Nia” Long (born October 30, 1970) is an American actress and occasional music video director. She and her mother moved to Iowa City, Iowa, where her mother studied fine arts. They subsequently moved to a South Los Angeles neighborhood when Long was seven. Long attended the Roman Catholic school St. Mary’s Academy and studied ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, guitar and acting.

With regard to being a working mother, Long says “she is up for the challenge so long as it does not require disturbing her family’s well-being.” “If I’m gonna hustle, I want to hustle in one place… I uprooted everything, moved to New York for two years, moved back and it was great but really, I’m enjoying the stability.”