You Betta Werk! With Vivica A. Fox
When I think of Vivica A. Fox, the first thing that comes to mind is a beautiful, talented, sistahgurl, with staying power. I remember Vivica on “Out All Night” in the 90’s with the incomparable Patti LaBelle and then unknown actor, Morris Chestnut. I recall being drawn to her because I grew up with a girl who shared the unique name, Vivica. Initially, I watched the show because her and my childhood friend had the same name but as time went on I just liked seeing a young Black girl doing her thing. Today, Vivica A. Fox is a household name and she has become a friend in my head. In the past I missed chances to meet her making this opportunity to interview her nostalgic to me. I met with her at the Sistahs In Business Expo, Celebrating Entrepreneurial WOMEN OF COLOR at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, NJ. Vivica’s radiant persona exemplifies grace and a level of self-confidence that is empowering. Our interaction was as natural as that of long time friends. We talked about everything from a woman’s mid-life changes to which camera angle accentuates our beauty on the red carpet.
Sit down with Vivica A. Fox and you’ll instantly see why she is considered one of the greatest celebrities that you’ll ever meet. She has the ability to transcend time and make believable all of her characters. Whether she is portraying kick butt, Vernita Green, the sassy Lysterine, ghetto fabulous Shante Smith, street woman in love Elizabeth Waters, bank robbing Frankie, or Officer Valdez, she’s believable.
Darlene: What would you tell young girls today who are looking to break into the entertainment business?
VAF: I tell everybody that you have to learn to DO THE WORK! I tell young girls that in order to have longevity in this game, you’ve got to learn to have versatility. For example, when I was in the movie, Kill Bill, I had to learn martial arts and when I was in Dancing With the Stars, I had to learn how to dance. Getting a lot of “likes” does not make you a star! Being beautiful does not make you a star! You have to do the work! In this world of “Instafame” and “Instaswipe” you must have versatility. You must be a triple threat. Entertainers need to know how to dance, sing, and act.
Darlene:Who is your role model?
VAF: Growing up, my role models were Pam Grier especially in her role of Foxy Brown. I named my production company after her, Foxy Brown Productions. Diana Ross, & Michael Jackson were also role models for me. Diana Ross was the first female that I saw in concert and I loved it. I loved her wigs, makeup, nails, clothing, and performances, I loved it all! She was the only one who could change a million times and come out looking fabulous each time. Michael Jackson gave Black people hope that they could be on television doing what they love to do! I wanted to do that! I wanted to be that! Michael Jackson gave me motivation to live in California. Michael was there and I wanted to be where Michael Jackson was...in California! However, once I got to California, I realized that I had to do the work. I went to college and I took acting classes.
Darlene: Have your role models changed or are they the same?
VAF: My role model today, I would have to say is my girl, Ms. Regina King. Regina has earned everything that is happening for her right now. She does the work! She is an actor, director, producer, friend, and excellent mother. She can do it all. She does the work and she does it so gracefully. I just love her and I respect her and her work. She is never full herself. Some lose themselves in fame. Fame is very easy to make you forget where you’ve come from and Regina has never done that.
Darlene: Have you ever been full of yourself?
VAF: Why, Yes! Of course there was probably a time in my career when I was a little full of myself, when I was younger and new on the scene, I would say, “yes!” probably back in the day when I had five movies back to back, you couldn’t have told me I wasn’t all of that and a bag of chips, okay! I have been full of myself.
What makes you not lose yourself in fame? When you go into a different chapter in life.
What was the pivotal point? Hollywood is a business that is always looking for what’s next and who is next and you’ve got to be able to learn how to go into those next chapters and do so gracefully. You must learn how to go from playing the young sexy roles, to the mature roles, then the behind the scene roles like producing and directing.
From a producer standpoint, what’s next in line for you? Directing! Directing will be next but that’s going to be a minute. It will be down the line as I am producing a lot of stuff right now and I am going to ride that until the wheels fall off. I do a series for lifetime, the “Wrong” franchise. We’ve done our tenth film The Wrong Teacher, The Wrong child, The Wrong Roommate, The Wrong Cruise, girl, if it’s Wrong, it’s right!
The Lifetime Network is for women so it was a great opportunity for me and I love being in a position to provide work for my fellow and upcoming actors. Also I get to stay in the business that I like to do.
Darlene: One word that describes Vivica A. Fox is….
VAF: Loyal! That loyal lion! Leo Nation baby!
Darlene: Is there another book on the horizon?
VAF: She hesitates, she chuckles, Vivica then looks at her longtime beloved friend and publicist, Mr. BJ Coleman, and he says, “in due time”. Vivica wrote this book as a motivational memoir to share her secrets, inspire others about how to overcome adversity, how to love, how to become successful, and how to do many things on a budget.
Now it is time to wrap it up and allow Ms. Fox to do what she’s come to do, but first we take a few pictures in front of the step and repeat. Ms. Fox is on her way to interact with her admirers who await her arrival in the ballroom. We hug...no, we do tha sistah girl hug and we agree to talk again soon! We both say, we’re looking forward to it and we go to take care of business.
Photo Credit: www.thehigherlevelmethod.com