Vivica A. Fox is a proud Los Angeles actress and producer of African-American and Indigenous descent originally from Indiana. Since the start of her professional career out of college merely thirty years ago, she has proved her talent working in various genres on television like on the big screen numerous times. Fox has namely worked on Generations, Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, Out All Night, getting her big break on Independence Day, and Set It Off alongside Will Smith. Her portrayal of “Maxine” in Soul Food earned her critical acclaim and NAACP Image Award and MTV Movie Award nominations. She has since worked on City of Angels, Teaching Mrs. Tingle, Two Can Play That Game, and Kill Bill: Vol. 1. In 2007, she even showcased her versatility as an artist by starring as a contender on Dancing with the Stars! Fox has often starred on the Lifetime Network since her recurring role on 1-8-00 Missing from 2004-2006 and has recently produced two films on Lifetime’s Wrong Cheerleader film franchise. 

Before your move from Indiana to California for Golden West College, had you ever considered acting professionally for film and TV? What sparked your interest?

I started out as a model and was discovered by Trevor Walton who was a producer at Paramount Studios. Later we ended up at Lifetime Networks and both producing movies.

Have you felt well surrounded and supported by your loved ones since the start of your professional career?

Absolutely! My family has been on this amazing journey of becoming an actress, producer, and author, and have always been supportive.

Had you not become a professional actor – what other professions would you have considered?

A sportscaster! I love watching ESPN. Growing up I played volleyball, basketball, track, and I was a Cheerleader. So my sports knowledge is on point!

You have a lot of experience and are undoubtedly familiar with the Lifetime Original Wrong franchise produced by Hybrid LLC. What has kept you coming back to the franchise (the team/crew/cast, the stories, etc.)?

The So Wrong It’s Right Franchise has turned me into a movie producer, and as an actress, I get to play roles that I normally don’t get cast in. I’m so grateful I can give upcoming actors and veteran actors an opportunity to work on my films.

You are set to star in and produce “The Wrong Cheerleader Coach” premiering October 17, 2020. This is your second year being featured in Lifetime’s Annual Cheerleader movie event following up 2019’s “The Wrong Cheerleader”. Do you feel you have grown as an artist behind the scenes and in front of the camera in the past two years? If so, in which ways?

Yes! What I love about the franchise is that I can see the growth as a producer and actor. I’m so involved with everything, I can see the overall growth of the franchise trajectory. It gets better with each film. I wear so many different hats and here we are, 20 films later with so many more ways to grow.

Are you interested in pursuing future producing roles or new behind-the-scenes roles? Would you ever consider going behind-the-scenes full-time?

In the future I would love to be a director. Right now, I happy producing and acting in films. I’m going to ride this train till the wheels fall off!

How was your experience working with Tara Reid on “The Wrong Cheerleader Coach”?

It’s always a pleasure working with Tara Reid. It’s like working with a family member. We did the Sharknado franchise together and now we are working on the So Wrong It’s Right franchise. I love working with Tara.

Since the start of your career, you have worked on soaps, various television series, feature films, and reality television, namely. What role are you most proud of having embodied thus far, and what project are you most proud of?

I’m really proud of all my female-centric films, like Set It Off, Two Can Play That Game, and Kill Bill. It’s amazing to see female-centric films accepted and to be successful.

What projects do you have in the works for the next few months, and years – perhaps with Lifetime? And/or what films, series, or other media projects are you hoping to take on? 

Coming up, we have the Wrong Cheerleader Coach on Lifetime premiering Oct 17, 8 pm PT/ET. For the Holidays I’ll be starring in A Christmas for Mary on OWN Network and Christmas Together on Ion Network. Also, I’ll be celebrating a decade of my hairline, Vivica Fox Hair Collection. My podcast, Hustling with Vivica Fox, continues to have so many amazing guests from Tina Knowles to Tiffany Haddish. I’ve also had the pleasure of interviewing Ian Ziering and Blaire Underwood. 

As a proud woman of color of African and Indigenous descent, do you feel the industry has allowed you to take on the projects and tell the stories you want to tell? 

I’ve been very blessed that my projects are able to tell African American stories from an African American perspective. From romantic comedy (Two Can Play That Game) to drama films (Set it off). Now, with The So Wrong It’s Right Franchise I’m producing films that my fans love. It is very rewarding for me!

How are you perhaps hoping to see the industry keep evolving in the next decade so young women of color may see even more women on screen and behind the scenes who look like them?

We have to be in power positions! What I mean by that is that we have to be producers, writers, directors, stars in films or tv shows, and be able to get funding for projects. We have to be in control of projects from beginning to end. That is how we move women, especially women of color, forward in the industry.