Soap opera fans knew that Vivica A. Fox was destined for greatness the moment she graced the screen as Days of our Lives' Carmen Silva in 1988. But it wasn't until she was playing The Young and the Restless' Stephanie Simmons in the mid-90s that other people in the entertainment industry recognized her talent.
In a new interview with Good Day Atlanta, the Indiana native opens up about the moment that took her away from soaps and changed the course of her career: being cast in the Oscar-winning blockbuster Independence Day, which was released 25 years ago.
"I remember that I had to fight to get the audition," the actress recalls. "I was on a soap opera, The Young and the Restless, at the time, and I remember calling my agent and going, 'Everybody's auditioning for Independence Day, why not me' And she's like, 'Oh, honey, you're just on a soap opera. They're looking for big names. This movie is going to be huge.' Two weeks later, I got a call, she says, 'It's your chance.'"
Fox took that chance and ran with it, and now she is a global star with credits like Kill Bill, Soul Food, Batman & Robin, and, of course, Independence Day, on her résumé.
"Now it's history," the actress says of landing her first major film role. "I am always connected to the Fourth of July, Independence Day, and forever with Will Smith."
Fox's recent projects include headlining two series streaming on Fox Soul: Cocktails With Queens, where she has happy hour with Claudia Jordan, LisaRaye McCoy, and Syleena Johnson as they discuss current topics; and Fox Soul's The Screening Room, where Fox interviews young Black filmmakers and gives them an opportunity to showcase their short films.
For more information on Fox's new projects, check out Fox Soul.