Nia Long Quotes

“I took a little break - I was coming back to work and the last thing I was going to do was take a step backwards, so I knew that if I was going to take a feature it was going to have to be taking a step forward.”

— Nia Long

Well, the studios don't really want to take those risks right off the bat. They'll take the risk after they've seen the finished product and say oh yeah we want that. This is a great film but they are hesitant to take the risk when you just see it on paper.

— Nia Long

“They have the big ferris wheel and we've been out of town for two months, so he just was like, 'Mommy I want to go to Toys R Us and I don't care if you have a movie coming out and all that.' He was just being a kid. But I had to allow him to have that moment.”

— Nia Long

“I know for me like I have a reputation of being kind of tough, I have a reputation of also being the girl next door, kind of sweet but I have standards and my thing is, it's me on that screen and I don't have control over everything in this and I'm grateful and thankful.”

— Nia Long

“I was happy she got it and I have to sort of - and one of the reasons I did Third Watch is because I wanted to break that thing of just being the pretty girl and play it down and let it be about the work.”

— Nia Long

“First of all when you're a mommy like you like the consistency of being on a show like that's just peace of mind, I know I have financial, you know stability.”

— Nia Long

“I think Nina Simone has had an amazing journey. She was spicy and she had attitude and she didn't care, she wanted her money in a paper bag and don't mess with me and I've been doing some research on that so.”

— Nia Long

I think you grow through your experiences; you get better as you grow and I'm not nearly where I think I'm going to be eventually where I inspire to be and hopefully the opportunities will continue to come.

— Nia Long

“I think for me to find that project is going to be something that I'm going to have to develop for myself.”

— Nia Long

“You need the words, you need the script, you need the material, you need the commitment, you need the passion, it's like we depend on writers, we depend on producers, directors depend on us and once things are in the divine order as they happen.”

— Nia Long

“I've seen some great write ups and I emailed her the other night because I saw her on an awards show recently.”

— Nia Long

“I don't think you should reprimand your child for everything you're feeling because for them it's as serious as when something happens in our day and we get upset about it.”

— Nia Long

“It's my motor, it's the thing that keeps me going and so when I have these auditions for these big movies, I can depend on myself because I've been working consistently.”

— Nia Long

“I know where I'm going to be, I'm not traveling here and there and everywhere. That didn't necessarily prompt me to it but it definitely opened up my mind of saying okay, maybe this is a good time to do this.”

— Nia Long

I said 'Brian, no one is going to respect me as a mother after this.' He said, 'oh no, yes they will, this is a movie, don't worry about it.' But they're not.

— Nia Long

I think there are a lot of other actors that are just talented, it's just about this opportunity - it's just about when are we going to be put in those positions where we can shine.

— Nia Long

“I'm not going to live my life unhappy and why should he and we talk about it and I think what's great about the film is that it shows is the meaning of family doesn't have to be as traditional as it once was, like you can make a family.”

— Nia Long

“In terms of Cube I think he's very conscious of the technical aspect of the business whereas when you're just hired as an actor, you're not really secure in that part of your work and you're not really paying attention to where the camera.”

— Nia Long

It took a long time to get that film made. I went in for it almost right after or like maybe six or seven months after I had my son and actually auditioned for the Regina King part and they just were like, 'No, you're just - you just don't really seem the part.'

— Nia Long

“We haven't even gotten a start date but we'll see what happens with that and that will be fun. I've gotten a couple of other things but I'm not really committing myself to anything yet.”

— Nia Long

I admire the women who can have babies and jump right back to work. As a nursing mother, I couldn't sit there and just pump all day. I needed to be close to my baby.

— Nia Long

“Enjoy life, study hard, play hard, be kind to other people, set high standards, and don't be afraid to say "No."”

— Nia Long

I attribute my talent and my success to God, but I believe that the only way you can manifest what He has ordained for you is by being close to Him and by making it happen. But we have to stay close to Him in order to be an image of Him.

— Nia Long

“Every woman deserves diamonds, and even if you can't afford to go out and buy diamonds for yourself or you don't have actual stone diamonds, I think when we look at ourselves we should refer to ourselves as a precious stone.”

— Nia Long

Weave sex is a little awkward.

— Nia Long

“I'm working on a project called Lemons, produced by Killer Films. The director has a great perspective on character development.”

— Nia Long

“I don't feel less loved or less loving because I'm not married.”

— Nia Long

“I'm also working on another independent film called Roxanne, Roxanne, about Roxanne Shante, who was one of the first African American battle rappers from Brooklyn. It is produced by Forest Whitaker and Pharrell [williams], so I'm really in great hands.”

— Nia Long

“So I think if we'd just take our time as women, and do what comes natural to us and for us, we would make fewer mistakes.”

— Nia Long

“I'm kind of pinching myself in the morning. Like, wait, you really did pray to have a body of work that stays diversified and interesting. And I have it!”

— Nia Long

“I am not supporting Donald Trump. I think he does this country such a disservice. And I'm gonna leave it there.”

— Nia Long

“I think we need to talk about mental illness a lot more. People complain about tax dollars and say we don't have the money. But if we can't put some of our investments, or some of our money back into humans, isn't that where it all begins?”

— Nia Long

“I will say that I appreciate Hillary Clinton's awareness and passion for women. I think she is overqualified in the sense that she's been in the White House, so she knows the drill. I am hopeful that she will continue to support minorities and create better opportunities.”

— Nia Long

Collaboration is necessary for making great art. Everybody has a perspective on what they think or feel the material should ultimately look like when it hits the screen.

— Nia Long

“I try to do the same thing when I'm with young actors who are new and unsure. I try to do the same thing for them that I saw Laurence [Fishburne] and Angela [Dasset]do for all of us on Boyz n the Hood.”

— Nia Long

“So much of parenting is following your instincts, and taking the time to actually know your child.”

— Nia Long

“The minute your child is born, your life is changed forever. I think I've become so aware of how important balance is in life.”

— Nia Long

“I believe everyone should have the freedom to represent what they believe-in in their own way.”

— Nia Long

“I think it's a beautiful thing when you wear a uniform or a garb which represents a group of people, because what it immediately symbolizes is oneness, togetherness.”

— Nia Long

“I believe that whatever your religious preference, there has to be a commitment to family because everything really does start there.”

— Nia Long

I think that if something matters to you, and is important to you, then you give it the attention and energy it deserves. So, I don't look upon it as a price, but as an opportunity to influence the community in a healthy way.

— Nia Long

Directing music videos is all about capturing images.

— Nia Long

“I know how to make other women look beautiful: from hair to makeup to wardrobe. So, I feel that I have a gift with imaging, and that's kind of fundamental to the music video process.”

— Nia Long

“As long as the acting is good, I can appreciate it.”

— Nia Long

“I am in constant search for that project that speaks to me personally. And when all the pieces come together properly, it'll happen.”

— Nia Long

I love shoes. I am a shoe fanatic. I have a special closet in my home just for my shoes.

— Nia Long

“I'm a self-made woman. I've never compromised myself.”

— Nia Long

“Good shoes and a good scent make the perfect day.”

— Nia Long

“I'm more of a short-hair girl; short hair is a lot more low-maintenance than long hair. And when you're in front of camera every day and your hair is being flatironed and blow-dried it's easier to have a weave so you don't damage your own hair.”

— Nia Long

“I've always been raised to love everyone, to accept everyone for their differences, and to just be open. But at a young, a very young age, I realized what racism was all about.”

— Nia Long