Nitara "Nia" Carlynn Long was born on October 30, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York to an Afro-Trinidadian couple. Her father was a high school teacher and her mother was an art teacher and bus driver. Her parents divorced when she was only two years old and thereafter her mother took her to Iowa City. There, Long attended a Christian school and submerged herself in the arts, taking up ballet, jazz, gymnastics, guitar and acting. For fifteen years, Long was instructed by acting coach Betty Bridges, and later on landed a role on Guiding Light as Kathryn Speakes. She remained with the soap for three years and on her last year she was given the role of Will Smith's love interest in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In 2003, she was cast for the role of Officer Sasha Monroe in the drama Third Watch and in 2005 to 2006, she appeared on Everwood as Cassie. Long was also signed to appear on Boston Legal's 2006-2007 season. In 2007, she was cast for the role of Katie Graham for the series Big Shots. Long has also appeared in numerous films, a few of which are Made in America, Soul Food, Love Jones, Boiler Room and Big Momma's House.
Katie Graham is portrayed by Nia Long on the television series Big Shots.
(Photo courtesy of ABC)