It’s hard to believe that actress and mother Nia Long has been in the game for more than 20 years. Though we all know and love her from her roles in films such as Boyz n the Hood, Love Jones, and The Best Man, Nia’s been taking a break from the big screen and taking on more television gigs to give her more family time with her 12-year-old son .
Nia sat down with Black Voices to talk about her first feature film appearance since 2007′s Are We There Yet (no, her appearance in Good Hair doesn’t count). In Mooz-Lum, Nia plays Safiyah, mother to Tariq (Evan Ross). They are a Muslim American family in a post 9/11 United States. Directed by Qasim Basir and also starring Danny Glover, Roger Guenveur Smith , Dorian Missickand Summer Bashil, this film isn’t only bringing out the heavy hitters, it’s tackling an even heavier message.
On Her Role In the Film
I play Safiyah, the mother of Tariq. She’s a Muslim African American woman, obviously. She’s a very contemporary, soulful, passionate woman who I think her main focus is on her children.
On Working with Evan Ross and Roger Guenveur Smith
Awesome. Evan is a doll and Roger is amazing. He’s such a real actor. When you have that theater background and you’ve been in all those iconic films like Roger has, he really makes it easy. He made my job very easy.
On the Lack of Black Faces in the Academy Awards Nominations
Black people don’t run Hollywood. And it’s that simple. That’s why we have to continue to tell our stories and make movies that we believe in and not just make the big, fancy shiny movies with the big budgets, but do a very small film that’s going to help get our voice out there. I’d rather be a part of the crusade any day. I’d rather be the underdog any day.
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