Holiday 99 Interview: Nia Long
Part II - Holiday (See Part I - October 99)

On lack of roles for Black women in Hollywood do you share that sentiment?

I think there aren't a lot of roles but I think there aren't a lot of roles for women of any race. There are not roles for Black women and other women and we've been saying this for years and personally I'm really tired of complaining about it. I think in order to change something you can voice your opinion but you have to do something about it. I don't think I have all the answers but I will certainly try to make other moves to maybe change that. Or try to influence the minds of producers some sort of way or inspire them to give us more chances.

R

Is there a particular role or character that you would like to play?

NL

Not really. I kind of take it as it comes. I read scripts and if I like them I respond and if I don't I move on to the next thing. But as far as the ideal role I haven't seen it yet and I'm still trying to figure out what that would be for me.

R

The NAACP has declared a potential boycott against television networks to increase minority roles. How do you feel about this?

NL

I feel that there needs to be more Black people behind the scenes making moves. We need to produce, we need to write, we need to be show runners - no one can represent us better than we can. And there needs to be a variety of ethnicities behind the scene because our society is not just white and Black. There are so many things in between and until we are represented both behind the scenes and in front of the scenes we are not really getting very far. But we cannot be afraid. The thing is that Black people, in general, were not raised with the same opportunity. So I'm saying when you look at us as a whole we were not always raised with the same opportunities and so we have to teach ourselves some of the things that are important in order to succeed behind the scenes at this work.

R

Who was your role model and support?

NL

Betty Bridges, Todd Bridges mother was very, very influential in my life. She helped so many people throughout the years get started. I also had a lot of support from my family - my Mom, my grandmother. People have always been there for me. So I knew if I fell I could get back up again.

R

Many of the roles you played were the quintessential girlfriend and or love interest. Is there anything you are looking to do career wise that might separate you from that image?

NL

It's interesting because you know as women we either play the girlfriend, the lover, the mistress, the doctor, the lawyer so as I get older I'm sure I'll play a mommy. As women we don't get to play the super hero, we don't get to play the killer, unless it's like for 5 seconds and maybe longer if it's something super natural. So I try to make the characters that I play as interesting as possible with the parameters that I'm given. I haven't read one role that was different for a woman.

I was thinking sort like the female role in Matrix. Something that's a little more action oriented?

NL

Yeah, but how many roles are out there like that?

R

There aren't many. I was wondering if there was any thing of particular interest?

NL

Oh I would love to play a film like that or a character like that but even for white women it doesn't happen every day. It's a gender thing.