COVER STORY: VIVICA A. FOX IS INVINCIBLE

By Teryl Warren 

What does it mean to “be invincible?” It means you’re impossible to defeat. And in a career that has produced everything from big budget box office hits to poignant independent films and so much more, Vivica A. Fox has not only remained invincible – she’s mastered an industry that’s well known for eating people alive. This month, she stopped by to share some of the rules of the game with us.

RULE #1 – BE A BOSS

In the wake of the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements, women in Hollywood are increasingly leveraging their power on both sides of the camera. As executives, writers, producers and directors, women are shaping and owning the narrative in Tinsel Town like never before.

“It’s a wonderful time for us right now. Almost all of my friends who I’ve acted with – from Tasha Smith to Regina King – they’re all directing now and I’m so proud of them.”

But activism hasn’t been the only thing to shake things up. Vivica and her peers have learned the art of evolution in the ever-changing Hollywood landscape.

“A lot of talented actresses are discovering the next chapter for themselves. You start out as a child actor then you transition into playing roles like the ingénue or the hot chick. But you can only play certain roles for so long. A lot of women are recognizing that, by becoming producers, directors and so on, we can still be a part of the business and shape the business in a different way. And we’re also getting another check!”

This month, Vivica makes her highly anticipated return to Lifetime Movies Network’s successful “Wrong” films franchise.  After starring in last year’s The Wrong Cruise and The Wrong Friend, Vivica is continuing her relationship with the network, starring in and producing all four new movies, The Wrong Stepmother, The Wrong Boy Next Door, The Wrong Mommy and The Wrong Tutor.

The Wrong movies will air each Friday night at 8pm ET/PT during the month of July exclusively on Lifetime Movies Network.

RULE #2 – BE NICE

Hollywood is a town built on relationships.  When the fame and the money start rolling in, the whispers in your ear can make even the most humble head swell. It’s easy to lose perspective on what got you there and, more importantly what will keep you there.

“I always tell young actors to watch how you treat people, because shows come and go, and you never know who will one day be in a position to hire you or fire you or finance your project. It’s so important to treat people the way you would want to be treated.”

That wisdom has come from growth and maturity. Over the years, Vivica has learned how to balance her beauty and strength with a temperament that is conducive to being a good person and a good businesswoman. And that lesson is still paying dividends.

“My relationship with Lifetime goes back a way,” she explained to us. “Lifetime was the first network to offer me my own series called Missing and then we did Vivica’s Black Magic. So when they offered me the Wrong film series, I believe it was just the network’s way of saying ‘Hey, we love you and we still want to be in business with you.’”

Whether in business or in our personal lives, healthy relationships are built on trust. And after making close to 20 films together, Vivica has learned what connects with her audience, and Lifetime clearly trusts Vivica to deliver.

“Lifetime wants to see real, relatable female characters that are strong. These women are conniving, manipulative and that’s why women like this franchise so much. These films are a guilty pleasure! Audiences can enjoy them and totally escape.”

Actress/Producer Vivica A. Fox stars in Lifetime Movie network’s The Wrong Stepmother.

RULE #3 – BE FEARLESS

Not surprisingly, some people weren’t as happy for her as they could have been when she found success and steady work at Lifetime. Like they say: haters gon’ hate. But being invincible means having the courage to sometimes step out of your comfort zone.

“I stopped doing big budget movies for a bit and did theater because, all of a sudden, people were more concerned about my love life than my talent!  Next thing you know, people started saying, ‘Oh my God. She’s doing theater – her career’s over.  Oh my God. She’s doing a hair collection – her career’s over.“

But what they didn’t know is, while they were busy talking, Vivica was busy listening.

“It doesn’t always have to be about your looks if you’ve really got talent. Sometimes you gotta get raw with it. Guess who taught me that lesson? Quentin Tarantino.”

A-List actresses like Halle Berry, Charlize Theron and Nicole Kidman had learned that lesson for themselves, and all three of them had the Oscar hardware to prove it.

“Quentin told me that when you’re an attractive woman, the only way Hollywood will respect you as a serious actress is when you get down and dirty and ugly. So, onstage, I played a character who looked a mess and got cheated on, but who fought her way back and won. And suddenly, people were like ‘Oh my God, we never knew you were so talented!’”

RULE #4 – BE UNBREAKABLE

“Versatility is the key to longevity” is a motto and state of mind by which Vivica A. Fox lives. Her versatility is evidenced in her body of work and her diverse business interests.  And her longevity is a testament to her ability to keep going no matter what life throws at her. Being invincible, after all, doesn’t mean never stumbling.  It means never letting the stumbles in life keep you down.

“I have a saying that I used to tell people on my show Face the Truth. These were people whose spirits had been absolutely broken from awful relationships. I would hold their hand and look into their eyes and say: ‘The person who hurt you didn’t make you, so don’t you dare let them break you. Look in the mirror, love yourself, walk forward and win.’”

Actress/Producer Vivica A. Fox’s Wrong series of films will air every Friday in July exclusively on Lifetime Movie Network.

Check out the first installment of the Wrong film series – The Wrong Stepmother Starring Vivica A. Fox, Cindy Busby, Corin Nemec, Calli Taylor, Tracy Nelson when it airs on Lifetime Movies Network  –  Friday, July 5 at 8pm ET/PT

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