Cover Gallery > Click here to return to the Cover Gallery main menu

When Vivica Fox drops the phrase, "You know what I mean?" during conversation, the temptation to say "Yeah!" is tempered by reality. Frankly, the typical Indianapolis woman doesnít count Will Smith and Jada Pinkett among her best friends. She doesnít have Joel Schumacher writing special scenes in Batman and Robin for her. She might have watched character Jasmine DuBrow save her son (and dog!) in Independence Day, but she wasnít on the big screen herself. And she canít claim a new Fox TV sitcom based around her talents debuting this year.

So itís no wonder that the 33-year-old beautyís Hollywood fast lane appears ever farther out of reach than the 2,060 physical miles that separate her current home in the Tarzana suburb from her childhood home on Indyís eastside. "Everyone sees the success now and says, ëOh yeah, thatís what she always wanted to do,í" Fox says. "But this has been 12 years in the making ñ only the last three years have been incredible."

Although no one would deny that Fox looks every inch the star sheís become, she quickly learned that beauties are a dime a dozen in the land of dreams. "When you come out here, you may think youíll get by because you are cute," she says. "But when you go into the audition room, there are 20 other cute girls sitting there, so it requires timing, talent and faith in yourself."

And while sheís made it big, Fox shuns the star trip in her personal life and revels in her Hoosier roots. "When I go home, Iím still good ole Angie," she says.

Home, in her recollections, is that great place for families and children, the city she credits for setting an excellent foundation for the morals and discipline her mother and siblings instilled in her. Through her eyes, Indianapolis is a place that hasnít mired itself in the past ñ race relations are one area in particular she sees as making great strides ñ but still contains that refreshing work ethic that has made her a star.

Born on July 30, 1964, in South Bend, Fox remains the youngest among four siblings. Her mother, Everlyena Fox, chose the name Vivica because of its image of colorful flowers, and the middle name Anjanetta because it rolled off the tongue. But either name was a mouthful for youngsters, so the baby became known as Angie.

The family moved to the Circle City when Fox was 3, and her parents divorced a short time later. Although her father, William E. Fox, remained part of her life, it was Mother and her job as a pharmaceutical administrative assistant at Eli Lilly & Co. that shouldered the financial responsibilities of raising the two boys and two girls in their middle-class home across the street from a Methodist church they attended regularly.

Never one to be a spectator, Fox recalls her Indianapolis childhood as "hyper." She spent Friday and Sunday nights at the USA East roller skating rink in the days before she went out for cheerleading, choir, volleyball, track and basketball at Arlington High School. A guard whose growth spurt shot her to her adult height of 5-foot-7 in one season ñ and moved her to the more aggressive forward and center spots ñ Fox played on the city championship team in 1982. "Iím so proud of that, because we worked really hard," she says. "I wish weíd known then that we could go to the WNBA. But hey, then I probably wouldnít have become an actress."

Despite the sports bent, acting was the only future the starry-eyed teen-ager could envision. "When I was a senior, Iíd get in trouble all the time because Iíd finish my work and immediately open movie magazines," she says. Her own performance portfolio consisted of talent shows and fashion modeling gigs at her church instead of school plays, but the lack of acting opportunities made no impression on her dreams. As soon as she graduated, Fox announced that she was heading to Los Angeles to live with her brotherís girlfriend and grab the headlines she knew were waiting for her arrival. It had all the markings of a pipe dream destined to fade with the first puff of reality.

While most families might discourage a pretty girlís ambition at such a long shot, Foxís kin saw enough promise ñ and had enough faith ñ to let her go. "When she was 14, she modeled hair styles for her cousin, and I saw then that she could go on in this business," says Everlyena Fox. "But she was only 17 years old. I had to pray and ask the Lord what to do. I finally realized she could be nothing here, and I released her into His care." Mother also tacked on an addendum to her blessing. Fox would enroll in a California college to give herself something to fall back on in tough times ñ she chose to pursue social sciences at Golden West College in Orange County.

In reality, Foxís no-nonsense attitude toward hard work carried her. In between classes and auditioning, she held down a series of odd jobs, including tackling retail sales at WaldenBooks, serving wieners at the Famous Amos Hot Dogs stand, and proudly displaying the smiling star logo on her uniform at Carlís Jr., a hamburger stand. Her first television job was a commercial for Clearasil, where she ran from zits. "I was so excited, so happy. I felt like, ëYes! Iím on my way!í" she says. "It was weird because after that shoot, the next day I was back out auditioning and waiting tables."

That routine became the norm: audition in the day, change clothes in the back seat of her car if she didnít have time to stop at a gas station restroom between appointments, and then wait tables at LA Pasta & Pizza in the Beverly Center at night. "You walk into that room and the casting director says, ëHello, your name is? OK, let me get your picture and resumÈ. Hmmm, you havenít really done a lot of movies have you?í," Fox says, imitating the smooth, obviously insincere tone she heard time and again. "Meanwhile, youíre sitting there trying to be charming and convincing as the character." After reading the part, the casting director says, ëThank youí and youíre done ñ 5 minutes tops. If itís a great audition and the director likes you enough to engage in conversation, it might be 10," she says. "You hear ëNoí more than ëYesí in this town. It used to affect me tremendously. A lot of doors were closed, but I just kept knocking."

Her pounding eventually landed her a part on NBCís now-defunct soap opera Generations, where she played Maya Rubens. The workload was light enough at first to allow her to continue waiting tables nights and weekends. "I made good tips," she says, still laughing at the shock one table of customers expressed one night when they recognized her from TV.

Although full-time acting paid well ñ she landed spots on Days of Our Lives, Family Matters, Matlock, Beverly Hills 90210, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (starring rapper Will Smith), Out All Night and The Young and the Restless ñ the work wasnít a given, and the cost of living on the West Coast offset the financial gains. The money eventually ran out, and it was Everlyena and her siblings (Alicia, who works for Federal Express in South Bend; Marvin, a telecommunications manager in Georgia; and William, a Mississippi packing company employee) who came up with the cash loans to keep a roof over Foxís grateful head. "My brothers and sister told me to keep my head up, that they were praying for me and urged me to pray for myself," she says. "They said I should humble myself to the Lord and tell him this is what I really wanted to do with my life."

Faith, in fact, remains a buoy for the entire family. "Yes, the Lord is still watching over her, and thatís why I never take credit for what she has achieved or speak for her," says Everlyena Fox. "We were just the support."

Still, Fox became so discouraged that she toyed with the idea of selling the condo, chalking up her limited exposure as a good try and moving back east. Enter acting coach Sheila Wills, who didnít sugar-coat her opinions: "She said, ëVivica, your life could change in a day in this business, and you have to stay focused,í" Fox recalls. "If an opportunity comes your way and you let it pass by, you have nobody to blame but yourself."

Independence Day

That break was a sci-fi action flick called Independence Day. This time fate overcame a skittish director: Lead Will Smith put in a good word for Fox, and the executive producerís wife was a fan of The Young and the Restless who had admired Fox as Dr. Stephanie Simmons. The ingenue was so ecstatic that she didnít pay much attention to the filmís box office potential ñ until the day she walked on to the set where a big spaceship rested. While she was clowning between takes, Smith pulled her aside and chided her, "This is a $70 million picture. Your life will totally change. Get ready," Fox recalls.

"I said, ëWill, quit being so serious.í" Yet while the cameras were rolling, she fed off his focused attitude, delivering a polished performance even in scenes she didnít think were important. And she ate that snappy remark after the movie was released and stomped all over then-current box office ticket sales. Suddenly, Vivica A. Fox was hot property who didnít have to bother with the peon audition route. "Now I have meetings!" she jokes, but with a bit of the wide-eyed, down-to-earth Midwesterner intact. "Independence Day opened the doors to my destiny."

She has rubbed elbows with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jeff Goldblum, Jada Pinkett, Vanessa Williams, Babyface and Jamie Foxx. "Every time I see the casting lists, itís like ëThis is really cool!í" Fox says, eagerly leaning forward with a big smile plastered across her face, as if sheís sharing secrets at slumber party. Her idea of heaven: working with Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Angela Bassett, Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro or Harrison Ford. "I hope I never lose this star-struck quality, although I donít rush up to people and babble, ëOhmigod, Iíve got every one of your movies, youíre in my scrapbook, and when I was growing up I worshipped you!í" she says. Instead, a more level-headed "I really admire your work" hides the excited child within. She freely admits that when legendary musician Smokey Robinson complimented her at a chance meeting over sushi, it put her over the moon. "Smokey Robinson is proud of me," she says in awe. "Thatís a great feeling. All you can say is, ëWow.í"

The downside, if you can call it that, is the sudden demands on her time. Sheís currently wrapping up filming on Why Do Fools Fall in Love?, and spent several weeks in Europe last summer promoting The Story of Solomon, in which she stars as the Queen of Sheba opposite Chariots of Fireís Ben Cross. (Between the two engagements, sheís missed a good portion of the Laker home games, to which she has season tickets. "I am a Hoosier basketball-loviní babe!" she says ñ and a rabid Reggie Miller fan.) She recently turned down the coveted cover of US magazine and an appearance on Regis and Kathy Lee in a small effort to curb the fast pace. "Sunday is the one day I donít let anybody touch," she says. "It is the Sabbath day; God says you shall rest. That day I get my religion and my rest." Often, she spends the afternoons cuddled up with her cats Tiger, Snookie and Sheba, watching sports and eating tacos.

So why would she sign on to add a weekly half-hour comedy on the Fox network to this packed schedule? Four practical reasons: The role offers security; she can predict her work schedule Monday through Friday; she can stay at home in Los Angeles versus traipsing off to various locations; and she can be more selective as to which film sheíll take on during the off-season.

Reaping the Rewards

Scan the entertainment press and youíll be hard-pressed to find a journalist who doesnít refer to Foxís sassiness. "Itís much more acceptable for a woman to be strong these days, to have attitude," she says. "But mine is a controlled sassiness. I will speak up for myself. I love life and the pursuit of happiness. But Iím not rude. Iím just very confident in my talents, so I guess that fun is whatís coming across."

The movie-going public also grins at her rebellious streak, since it smacks more of playful naughtiness than malcontent. For instance, to celebrate her 30s, Fox sauntered into a tattoo parlor and had a fox permanently engraved into her upper right arm. "I was born a Fox and I shall die one!" she teases. The size-6 femme fatale followed that up with a heart tattoo on her stomach and a ring tattoo on the second toe of her right foot. "Thatís for courage," she says as she kicks her shoe off and hikes her leg up on the make-up counter to show off the delicate blue band. "When things go crazy, have the courage to walk away."

She also pierced her navel and her upper ears. "I hated it. It hurts when you answer the phone," she says. "And my belly button ring killed. I canít believe people pierce their tongues, their noses or their eyebrows. That is so gross."

She used her rapier wit to swashbuckle Entertainment Weeklyís throw-away question on what she would change if she ran Hollywood: Women would get the same outrageous salaries. "Youíve heard that itís a manís world," she says. "Well, itís a manís world in Hollywood, too. If you make the studio $200 million, you should get 10 percent. But Iím just glad that theyíre handing out the million-dollar checks to the chicks. Thatís cool with me."

The luxuries her paychecks have accumulated include a Mercedes she doesnít hesitate to park two blocks away in an unattended pizza parlor lot, a complete wardrobe from the Victoriaís Secret catalog, a Gucci watch and a custom-built two-story dream home featuring a spacious kitchen, in-ground pool, master bedroom retreat, walk-in closets and a Jacuzzi to soak away the aches. Still, itís not exactly the movie-capital-of-the-worldís definition of living high. "You must handle your salary ñ donít let your salary rule you," she says, echoing the advice Momma packed in her bags when she put Fox on that plane in June 1982.

She practices what she preaches: The word about town is that Fox still shops at Target with coupons in hand. In fact, she carefully considers her beliefs on moneyís proper role. "I am a very aggressive person, but when you start making money, your decisions become a lot more important so that you donít lose it.

"I know Iím only going to be this young, this hot for so long, then I will age gracefully out of the spotlight. I wonít fight it," she says as her make-up artist begins applying the butter foundation, burgundy blush and chocolate chip lipstick that will transform Fox from the pretty Midwestern girl to a sizzling star. When the lights snap off, Fox fully expects to find herself behind the camera as a director and producer. Thereís also room in her plans to mentor and train other young hopefuls in an attempt to prepare them for what she terms her crazy world.

"Itís a great time for black actresses," she says. "Five years ago it was so bleak ñ we were all fighting for that one token role." In addition to acting, Fox sees it as her mission to show the studios that there is money to be made in black films, and that her face can get people into the seats. "Itís a great feeling to be trusted like that, and I want the audience to always see a quality project from me," she says. "Do you know what I mean?"

In retrospect, yes, we do.

Foxy Lady

In every movie role, Vivica A. Fox gives audiences a kernel of her own personality. It seems to be her magic key, as her name now headlines major movies.

Independence Day (1996): Besides the opportunity to show she could be trusted with a big part, the Jasmine DuBrow role gave Fox the chance to show the physique she works hard to maintain and combine it with the sweet single-mom lifestyle to shatter a few stereotypes about jocks. "I didnít care for the stripper part, and Iím glad that scene was short in the movie, but, hey! I was happy they trusted me to carry a little sexiness in a PG-13-rated film," she says.

Set It Off (1996): The role as Frankie, who loses her job as a bank teller after a hold-up that fires up friends Jada Pinkett and Queen Latifah to start their own criminal gang, reflects Foxís hard-working streak. "Iím a try-to-do-right-by-the-system gal who a lot of people donít know has a bit of rough edge around her," the Indianapolis native confesses. "People see me smiling and happy, but they donít know that I have a strong business mind and can be extremely direct. But I would never rob a bank, because I love my freedom!"

Booty Call (1997): Her role as the luscious babe insisting on safe sex practices allowed her comedic side to escape. "Comedies are a lot harder than people think because it either works or it doesnít," she says. "A drama is black and white, so you know what kind of performance you are giving; with comedy, youíre hoping you know." Her new television show debuting on Fox this winter also is a comedy, as was her short-lived attempt at this niche on ABCís Arsenio a year ago.

Batman and Robin (1997): Ms. B. Havenís sparkling moments as the frosty-haired vixen who tries to seduce Mr. Freeze (a.k.a. Arnold Schwarzenegger) highlights her playfulness. It also represents her growing status in Tinsel Town: producer Joel Schumacher wrote the part just to have Fox in the cast.

Soul Food (1997): Fox was given her choice of roles to play in this African-American film by another Indianapolis native, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmunds. She quickly ruled out the oldest sister, a lawyer, in favor of either mother Maxine or cute-girl Bird. The director chose Maxine. Then Fox balked a bit when she discovered the character was pregnant and had an 11-year-old son.

"He said, ëI sense a lot of good maternal instincts with you,í and he was right because I love children," she explains. (And the pregnant look allowed Fox to dig into the fried chicken, catfish, black-eyed peas, greens and other table-groaning foods served during the scenes. "But now when someone asks where I want to eat, Iíll say sushi or Italian ñ anything but soul food!" she adds.)

"All nationalities, men and women, come up to me and thank me for this movie. Thatís what you want to hear ñ not ëThat was good for a black movie,í" she says. And, to her amazement, men have responded just as favorably to her toned-down, maternal performance as the siren roles.

The Story of Solomon : Fox plays the Queen of Sheba in this soon-to-be-released film about one of the Bibleís most famous kings. The film was shot on location in Africa last summer.

But no matter the character: Fox credits the final polish to her ability to embrace hard work. "Hard work is working 16-hour days, going home to sleep ñ if you can ñ getting up and going right back to work," she says. "Hard work is watching everything that goes in your mouth and working out five days a week. Hard work is sacrificing yourself for the part, becoming a character that you donít like personally and arenít comfortable being.

"Hard work," she says, "is success."