Hollywood Shuffle is a series that celebrates our cultural icons in film and television whose performances have resonated with generations of viewers. From the pioneering actors and actresses who’ve helped break barriers and pave the way for those to follow, to the most promising and decorated thespians of today, their dedication to their craft is respected and appreciated.
In a career spanning over three decades, Nia Long has earned a reputation of being one of Hollywood’s most talented and beloved starlets of her time. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Long briefly moved to Iowa with her mother before settling in Los Angeles as a child, where she landed her first acting roles with bit parts on TV shows 227 and Disney’s The B.R.A.T. Patrol. Graduating from high school in 1989, Long further established herself in the entertainment industry, landing her first movie role in the 1990 film Buried Alive.
From there, Long quickly became a face that fans gravitated towards, with a succession of appearances in films and television shows during the ’90s and ’00s that were later hailed as cultural classics. Several of the projects she’s contributed to over the years have helped push Black thespians and directors to the forefront of the industry, making her an indispensable component in some of the most unforgettable moments captured on film to date.
In celebration of Nia Long’s 53rd birthday, VIBE‘s Hollywood Shuffle column highlights the 10 iconic movie roles that have defined the legendary actress’ career.
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Zora Matthews In ‘Made In America’
Image Credit: Courtesy Of Everett Collection In 1993, Nia Long earned her first marquee movie role as Zora Matthews in the film Made in America. The daughter of Whoopi Goldberg’s character, Sarah Matthews, Zora’s search for clarity behind her identity leads herself, her mother, and friend Tea Cake Walters (played by Will Smith), on a wild goose chase in search of the truth, with surprising results. Also starring Ted Danson and Jennifer Tilly, Made in America was a massive success and showed Long’s ability to hang with two of the biggest A-Listers in Hollywood at the time.
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Brandi In ‘Boyz n the Hood’
Image Credit: Courtesy Of Everett Collection Nia Long first turned heads on the big screen with her role as Brandi, the girlfriend of Cuba Gooding Jr.’s character Jason “Tre” Styles in the 1991 classic Boyz n the Hood. Released when Long was 20 years-old, the Oscar-nominated film helped launch and propel the careers of several Hollywood figures, including Ice Cube, Morris Chestnut, and late director John Singleton among them.
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Debbie In ‘Friday’
Image Credit: Courtesy Of Everett Collection Adding to her list of performances as the wholesomely sweet, around-the-way girl, Nia Long appeared as Debbie in the 1995 film Friday, playing the neighbor and elusive love interest of Ice Cube’s character, Craig Jones. While Long would not return to reprise her role in the subsequent films in the Friday franchise, her contribution to the original remains equally indelible as it is unforgettable.
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Nina Mosley In ‘Love Jones’
Image Credit: Courtesy Of Everett Collection Nia Long turned in one of her most enduring performances in her role as Nina Mosley in the 1997 film Love Jones. Pairing up with actor Larenz Tate, Long and her costar’s chemistry proved undeniable, resulting in a quintessential, generational examination of the trials and tribulations many experience for love’s sake.
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Robyn “Bird” Joseph In ‘Soul Food’
Image Credit: Courtesy Of Everett Collection Taking on the role of Robyn “Bird” Joseph in the 1997 drama Soul Food, Nia Long joined a star-studded ensemble cast, with Vanessa Williams, Vivica A. Fox, and Mekhi Phifer among her costars. The youngest daughter of the Joseph clan, Bird, the wife of recently released ex-con Lem (Phifer), attempts to help her husband get back on his feet in a manner that’s well-intentioned, but ultimately stirs up drama and lasting repercussions.
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Myra In ‘In Too Deep’
Image Credit: Courtesy Of Everett Collection In 1999, Nia Long assumed the role of Myra, a model who falls for Omar Epps’ character Jeffrey Cole, the protagonist undercover cop in the cult-classic In Too Deep. The actress shined while playing opposite Epps as part of a strong cast, including stars LL Cool J, Stanley Tucci, Hill Harper, and Pam Grier.
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Jordan Armstrong ‘The Best Man’
Image Credit: Courtesy Of Everett Collection In the 1999 romantic drama The Best Man, Nia Long plays Jordan Armstrong, an assertive career woman whose yearning for romance has eluded her in light of her professional ambitions. A fan favorite among the characters in the original film, Long also appeared in the sequel film The Best Man Holiday in 2013, as well as the spinoff miniseries The Best Man: Final Chapters in 2022.
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Sherry Pierce In “Big Momma’s House’
Image Credit: Courtesy Of Everett Collection In 2000, Nia Long played opposite of Martin Lawrence in Big Momma’s House, a comedic classic in which Lawrence, undercover federal agent Malcolm Turner, poses as the grandmother of Long’s character, Sherry Pierce. Finding refuge from her convict ex-boyfriend in the arms of the fake Big Momma, Pierce eventually discovers the truth, but is won over by Turner, with their romance continuing in the 2006 sequel Big Momma’s House 2.
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Suzanne Kingston In ‘Are We There Yet?’
Image Credit: Courtesy Of Everett Collection Fifteen years after having first shared the screen together, Nia Long and Ice Cube reunited in the 2005 romantic comedy Are We There Yet? Playing Suzanne Kingston, a divorced mother of two who falls for Cube’s character, Nick Persons, Long and Cube would reprise their roles in the sequel film Are We Done Yet? in 2007.
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Peggy In ‘Roxanne Roxanne’
Image Credit: Courtesy Of Everett Collection Appearing in the 2017 Netflix original Roxanne Roxanne, Nia Long portrayed Peggy, the stern, albeit loving mother of pioneering rap legend Roxanne Shanté. Turning in a strong supporting performance, Long’s depiction of Peggy was as raw as it gets and stands among her most criminally unsung moments in film.