The actress is mom to sons Kez, 14, and Massai, 25
Credit: Max Montgomery for Playboy
NEED TO KNOW
- Nia Long says her co-parenting dynamic with exes Ime Udoka and Massai Z. Dorsey thrives on love and respect
- In an interview with Playboy, the actress says, “there’s obviously boundaries there, but we can still be a family”
- Long added she prioritizes her children and career over dating but is open to romance on her own terms
Nia Long is opening up about the strength of her co-parenting dynamic — and why it continues to work, even after her past relationships have ended.
In a new interview with Playboy, the actress, 55, said she’s found peace in redefining what family looks like with her exes.
“I have had beautiful relationships with both of my children’s fathers," Long said of NBA coach Ime Udoka (with whom she shares son Kez, 14) and actor Massai Z. Dorsey (with whom she shares son Massai, 25).
She went on to note that while their romantic relationships didn’t last, the love and respect didn’t disappear.
"It didn’t work out. It doesn’t mean I don’t love ’em. It doesn’t mean we’re not cool. It doesn’t mean we’re not friends. It doesn’t mean that we still can’t have family time together," she said. "It only means that we don’t have to be romantically involved with each other, but we can still celebrate our children.”
Credit: Nia Long/Instagram
That mindset has shaped what she describes as a thriving co-parenting situation.
“I love my co-parenting situation. We have the best: We go on holidays. We go on vacation. Sometimes we carve out space to go to dinner,” Long shared. “We went to dinner the other night, and we had a really good time. And then it’s like, ‘OK, bye. Have fun. Talk to you later.’ ”
Even with clear boundaries, Long said there’s still "a sense of community" between everyone. "I can call them if [our sons] need something or they can call me,” she said. “There’s obviously boundaries there, but we can still be a family.”
Credit: Max Montgomery for Playboy
Long added that while the dynamic is collaborative, she’s clear about who keeps things running smoothly.
“And it works. We make it work. Really, I make it work. I’m not giving anyone else the credit,” she said, before emphasizing the role mothers often play. “We are the designers. We are the architects. We are the ones who can visualize what we want to see for our children, and make them the priority.”
Elsewhere in her Playboy feature, Long opened up about her romantic life today, sharing that she's not rushing into anything new.
“Am I ‘dating?’ I don’t like that word,” she said, explaining that she’s currently prioritizing other things in life. “I’m really focused on my kids, my work, and my girlfriends, and going out and having a good time. I like to get up and do what I want to do when I want to do it.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to have a partner, but I was in a relationship for a very long time and I’m enjoying getting to know myself without feeling the need to be of service to a relationship,” she added. “I want to be of service to myself, to my children and to my career.”
Credit: Max Montgomery for Playboy
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Still, she hasn’t completely ruled out romance — on her own terms.
“When the right man comes along [whom] I choose to commit to, then perhaps he will be of service to me,” she said.
“I’m really picky,” Long admitted, explaining that while she’s not actively dating, she's open to dating younger men. "I’m a big fan of this. I love it. Why not? I think there’s something fun about younger. And they also go home."
“I got to get out there,” Long said.
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