Career Spotlight: Nia Long

From soaps to films, this actress has done it all.

Memory Lane - While mom-to-be Nia Long is preparing for motherhood a second time around, we’re taking a look back at highlights from the star's acting career.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Memory Lane - While mom-to-be Nia Long is preparing for motherhood a second time around, we’re taking a look back at highlights from the star's acting career.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

A Star in the Making - The Brooklyn-born beauty was a force to be reckoned with on the small and big screens. Her first notable role on television was on the soap opera Guiding Light, and she later appeared in a number of movie classics, such as Boyz n the Hood, Friday and Made in America. (Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage)

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A Star in the Making - The Brooklyn-born beauty was a force to be reckoned with on the small and big screens. Her first notable role on television was on the soap opera Guiding Light, and she later appeared in a number of movie classics, such as Boyz n the Hood, Friday and Made in America. (Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage)

The Prince's Princess - We loved Nia as Will Smith's girlfriend "Lisa" on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Jada Pinkett-Smith was originally supposed to play Lisa, but was too short for the role, thus leaving Nia to take the part.(Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection)

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The Prince's Princess - We loved Nia as Will Smith's girlfriend "Lisa" on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Jada Pinkett-Smith was originally supposed to play Lisa, but was too short for the role, thus leaving Nia to take the part.(Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection)

Love Jones, Premieres Saturday at 9P/8C - Larenz Tate and Nia Long are writing their love story. Encore on Sunday at 5:30P/4:30C.(Photo: New Line Cinema)

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Jonsin' - Long played a leading role in several big screen favorites, including Soul Food, Big Momma's House, Are We There Yet? and Love Jones.

Hollywood Beauty - Following the success of The Best Man, Nia Long was voted one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in 2000.(Photo: Reuters)

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Hollywood Beauty - Following the success of The Best Man, Nia Long was voted one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in 2000.(Photo: Reuters)

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What a Win - Long won her first NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress for The Best Man in 2000, and later picked up two more in ’04 and ’05 for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her performance on Third Watch.(Photos: Fred Prouser/Reuters; Jim Ruymen/Reuters)

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What a Win - Long won her first NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress for The Best Man in 2000, and later picked up two more in ’04 and ’05 for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her performance on Third Watch.(Photos: Fred Prouser/Reuters; Jim Ruymen/Reuters)

Hip Hop Cutie - In 2006, Nia Long made a celebrity cameo in Kanye West's 70s-inspired video for "Touch the Sky." The actress is also an occasional music video director. (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

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Hip Hop Cutie - In 2006, Nia Long made a celebrity cameo in Kanye West's 70s-inspired video for "Touch the Sky." The actress is also an occasional music video director. (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Super Mom - Nia has a 10-year-old son, Massai, from a previous relationship, and her new bundle of joy is expected to arrive this fall. The actress expressed her excitement: “Words can’t explain how thrilled we are by the new addition to our family.”(Photo: Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup)

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Super Mom - Nia has a 10-year-old son, Massai, from a previous relationship, and her new bundle of joy is expected to arrive this fall. The actress expressed her excitement: “Words can’t explain how thrilled we are by the new addition to our family.”(Photo: Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup)