Vivica A. Fox on how 'Is God Is' director compares to Quentin Tarantino

One of my advice that I give to women is don't force fashion

So don't force yourself to fit somewhere that doesn't work. If it doesn't work for you, it's okay

To be able to say no and it's a complete sentence is a beautiful thing. If there's something that you admire, study somebody that's successful

and what things did they do to get there so that then you can pay attention

Do your homework. So don't force something. If it's not a good fit for you or if it's something you want

there's nothing wrong with trying. there's nothing wrong with trying that you can say well I gave it a try

just didn't work for me but don't force it if it doesn't work I've been watching your movies my entire life

which is an incredible privilege I did not know what role you were going to have

in Is God Is I did not I had seen the trailer, I missed the play downtown

you were so incredible in this film thank you because growing up in the 90s

you were always playing these women who had a lot of character and a lot of energy

and who there was a certain level of like, she might get beaten, but she's not going to be broken

And like, like set it off. And like, why do fools fall in love? And like Independence Day, like these were just so formative to me

And then I think that's so interesting in contrast to what we see in this film. Absolutely

Because Ruby's story begins at that place. Can you tell us a little bit about like what drew you to this part and this character

Absolutely. Is God is? I play Ruby, a.k.a. God. and to be honest with you, I was contacted directly

My agents hit me and said, the director of this wonderful new film

wants to speak with you. And I said, go for it. So her and I, Alicia Harris, got, I had a Zoom call

and she says, Vivica, I have a new movie that I'm about to do called Is God Is

And first of all, the title just makes you kind of go, what did you say

Is God Is? And she says, yes. And you are my first and only choice to play God

Right. And so once again, she says, I'm a huge fan of Kill Bill. And the style that I want the film to have a taste of is Quentin Tarantino's style of Kill Bill and his film noir, the way that he makes films

I'm totally inspired by him. And I want this to be a film. We don't normally get films like that. Sure

You know, so I can say now with the success of Sinners, that people are opening their minds to seeing African Americans

in different type of film noir. And so it makes me happy

Totally. Because, you know, we can do horror. We can do... This film had so much

It had horror. It had drama. It had comedy. You know, it had action

It was just a little bit of everything that just comes together so beautifully

And that's such a good point. Because Tarantino obviously pulls a lot from blaxploitation and a lot of Pam Grier movies

But even though people love his movies, they're not necessarily going back to the source material

So it's interesting to hear that she's inspired by him and now we get Is God Is

I know a young African-American director, female director. It's her first time

It's her debut. Was that at all intimidating to you? No. No, no, no

Can I tell you, Alicia was so prepared. She reminds me of Tarantino

She's now in my top three of directors that I've worked with in my career

Tarantino, F. Gary Gray, and now Alicia Harris. She was so prepared, down to the tea, down to the dialogue

She really helped me when my character was severely burned to not forget that

That she was tired, that she was toward the last of her days

So I was really impressed with her preparation for this debut. There was no guessing with her

She knew exactly what she wanted. So having seen the film, I got to go in

I had seen the trailer. I knew a teeny bit about it. But I was blown away as a first time director

Because the visual language is so strong. Yeah. Like down to like the way the father character is introduced

Where we like, we don't. See his mouth. I didn't know until this movie that I can recognize Sterling K. Brown with this much of his face. Really

I guess I'd never thought about it. To me, it was his voice. True

but I don think we hear him right away Well I guess it was a trailer You right you right you do see his mouth I was like because I in it and I saw that I was like oh my God That sterling So much of your performances are so much about your physicality And in this

because your character begins the plot line of the movie covered in burns, you are in a bed

Your physicality is deeply restricted. You're wearing prosthetics all over. Well, I mean

at least from here, from what we see. And like, I'm curious, how did that impact you? How did that

affect your process? Well, I loved it. I'm going to let you know, I had a 2.30 a.m. call time

How long did it take to get all the scar makeup on? The scar makeup and the nails and the wig and

the whole process was four hours. So just so you know, I've never had a 2.30 a.m. call time

So, you know, because usually when you go to set, it's usually five, six o'clock. It's usually a

12 hour day. Um, but yeah, it was too, when they hit me with it, I was like, well, I just didn't

go to sleep, but I did. I just went to sleep rather early. You're like, I'm going to use this? Yeah. She said she's tired. She's tired. Um, but the prosthetic process really helped a lot

because you know, from the hands, but then there was the beauty in it with the nails and then the

way that they braided my, the braided the hair and then the bandages that were covering me were

all lace and really beautiful. That's why I got on lace for you today. I love that

I love these types of details. Even the structure she has over her face, which I wish to me is supposed to be like..

The mask, the bandages, yeah. They're trimmed in pearls. Yes! Like, it's again that thing of when I think of characters you tend to play, they tend

to be women who, like Frankie, are going through it. Yes, yeah. But they're like... Strong

Yeah, but she's going to find her joy. She's going to find her moment and she's going to find her beauty

And it's like, it's interesting because it's reflected in the twins too, where they are burned and they are definitely self-conscious about it

They're strong. They're strong and they're beautiful. Like, yes, they are scarred, but this film is so gorgeous and dirty and gritty

And like, it was just, it reminded me. I love all those descriptions you just said

Great. Because this morning after we all saw the film, those were descriptions that we were like, could you believe it

It kind of sticks with you. Yeah. part of what I found so powerful in the film is like the way you start off in this position

right you're so visually striking with all of the things that have been built into this but also

your body of work leads behind that where it's like we recognize Ivica A. Fox as a fighter and

so to see the character in this position it's like even before we get the backstory there's

like a meta layer of something must have gone down yeah is that something that like you are like is

that persona something you're aware of when you're in the role? Good question again

She def Alicia. I remember saying that she wanted her to be godly. Like that when you see her

that it's so striking and it's like, Whoa, what happened? But then look at her. And then she's

like, you got to have it come through the eyes, the pain, the hurt. You are the catalyst to start

this whole revenge mission. So have that strength in you. Have that pain in you

But then also have the love that you miss time with your daughters

You know, I love, there was one time where the daughter played by Kara Young

who's incredible, that I touched her face and you can just see the tenderness

you know? And that when she told him, she's like, yeah, I know I may be ugly

but come on over here, my girls. So there was strength in the dialogue

that you had to find, you know? And then to just, I guess, I was a victim

but she was trying to fight back. She's like, you know, this is something, the last thing I need y'all to do for me

And so the word ugly is used a lot in the film, and what I think is interesting is

it also reflects on, I think when women express anger, it's considered an ugliness

Isn't it? Right. Especially with black women, you know? Yeah. Angry black, you know

Absolutely stigmatized. And part of what I found so stirring in this film is

Alicia makes no apologies for that. Exactly. And like... Ooh, that's a very good point

that Alicia makes no apologies for our anger because usually we crucified for it Right Yeah there like a sense of I mean I think And I love Set It Off but I think even in Set It Off there a sense of like it a gangster drama and all that kind of stuff There always a sense

take it back to even the Hays Code, but a sense that like, if we're going to make an American movie about gangsters

somebody has to pay in the end. We have to, like, crime doesn't pay. Like, that has to be like, you know what I mean

But what I love so much about this film is like, without getting into spoilers

I didn't feel that the film is at any point judging these women

I don't think Set It Off judges them, but I feel like the conventions of Hollywood demand a certain blood tour

Do you know why? Because the dots were connected. It wasn't unexplained anger that came out of nowhere

I love that Alicia showed you each woman's journey with this one man, the monster

So it made sense that you're like, yeah, get him, get him. Right. Kick his ass

I mean, you've done a lot of Lifetime movies. I'm like, yeah, get him. That's what I'm here for

So that's what I'm saying. Women like to get a little even. There's nothing wrong with it

A hundred percent. And I don't think we're given an outlet enough for that. I think there's so many examples of like anti-hero men who are like, which is, you know, in that

case, the woman is usually just like a woman who exists for a moment. Like, oh no. And then she's shot

I'm the damsel in distress. Come save me, please. She's so pretty and dead

It's so sad. Not anymore. Right. That's changed. That's changed. It's so electrifying

Like I was just so. Was it rewarding for you? Yeah. Yeah. Like, I was just saying to some of you the other day, like, I get annoyed when, I feel

like, even in like the Mean Girls remake they made, we don't let women be es in movies anymore

Well, that's changing the devil wears pride. Well, honestly, the sequel, everyone's a little bit softer

But it's just like, and I'm not calling the women in this movie es. Oh, really? They're softer. Yeah. Everyone gets a little bit of like, well, but she has kids now

And you're like, okay. Oh, okay. Oh, they're trying to humanize it. Exactly. Okay. And I'm not saying the women in this movie are es, but it's like, I appreciate when

the rage. They were es that were es because of love. Yeah. And being

disappointed in love. Right. Each one was disappointed by someone they really loved. And they're taking it out

on someone else. Yes. But they wanted to get revenge. Right. And was unapologetic

about getting revenge. And like that's the thing it's like. Except Divine

Divine was still the star. Girl. It's an Erica Grace. So good

I love Erica. I mean and that's the thing. It reminded me why do fools fall in love? Yeah. Because like that was another

one I rewatched recently and it's just the three of you are so good in it but it's like to also get to see how three smart capable women

caught by one man you know what i'm saying happens happens happens to the best of us especially when

he looks like sterling k brown what are you gonna do like exactly it's just i mean i get it happens

you know what it reminded me of eve's bayou which is like a slept on like that movie is just so

It was incredible. Yes. And it's also a film about, like, about black sisters and about, like, trying to understand vengeance

And the interesting thing about do we really want vengeance? Is vengeance justice

Sure. I love a good old revenge clap back. You know what I mean

Revenge is a dish best served cold. Yeah. Kill Bill. I also watched a bunch of your true crime show about investigations where you talk about that

I am curious, doing that show as a host where you're talking about these investigations

did that impact you as an actor? Did you watch these things and try to pick up when people are lying on camera

Well, the beautiful thing about doing that, hosting that detective show, was that I played a detective in a television show called Missing

So I had that in my library to pull from. Because in Missing, I was a lead detective

So she was always looking at things and solving crimes or connecting the dots

So kind of like my body of work kind of always serves me in a new role or a new position

And that's why I always tell young actors, make sure you have versatility. Be able to sing, act, dance, kick butt, because you never know what a role may call for or where you can use that in another place

It also just seems like you're not afraid to try different stuff. Yeah, versatility has equaled the key to my longevity, to be very honest with you. 100%

that I can do comedy I can do drama I can host you know Do it all why not Because then you just never know It keeps me evolving It keeps me going into new chapters of my career gracefully To that point because you have had such an incredible and storied career

Do you ever find it difficult? Because sometimes when people say, like, I can do everything, it's like people want a

label to apply so that they can pin that and be like, well, we're looking for this

Yes. Is that a struggle you've ever faced? Well, just being good looking, to be very honest with you. Sure

I mean, not to toot my own horn, but be... That's facts. Yeah. But I, that's what I learned being in truck. Cause I used to model back in the day

That's literally how I started. Um, I was discovered on sunset Boulevard by a gentleman

by the name of Trevor Walton after I had visited my, uh, modeling agency in Los Angeles. So I kind

of got a little bit of a Lana Turner story going on there and discovered on sunset. And so Trevor

got me an agent and I got my first job like three months later. And I've been working now for over

three decades but yes good looking can be to your benefit and to your detriment because they want to

say oh because for the longest time that's all I played was the good looking girl right but then I

was like okay we need to go in a different direction here because I don't want to just be

the good looking girl so then I got set it off yeah and that's where I got my street credit

everybody was like oh I didn't know if I could be a little ghetto hey pretty girl got a little hood

dinner. Yeah. So, you know, I found that doing different things and then kill Bill and that got

to everybody's like, Oh, and she can kick butt too. Then that led to missing. So they've all led

to different chapters of my career. I don't know if I did that strategically or it just kind of

unfolded that way. Sure. But now I'm very conscious of it though. Well, I think I will say as, as

someone who's also an entertainment reporter, like, I think we like to create a narrative as

if actors have a ton of choice and they are like, yeah, because it makes, it makes for

a good story. But the more I talk to the actors, the more they're like, man, sometimes it's just a job

Like sometimes you're just taking what it is. Well, at this point in my career, I can be very honest with you

I'm very blessed that I now executive produce my own films. Yeah

Lifetime literally turned me into a filmmaker. Yeah. And I'm grateful for that

I have a franchise called The Wrong Franchise where I've done up to 50 films with them

Guess what? I get to pick what role. I'm usually always the hero, but at least I can play the cop, the teacher, the mom

I can play different roles that Hollywood wouldn't normally give me, especially being

a woman. I'm now in my sixties that in that time of building that resume with lifetime that I

was in my fifties and normally Hollywood back in the day, let's keep it real

They put you out to pasture after you turn 40, like you can't still get it and you ain't

still got it. Okay. Yeah. And we've changed that. Yeah. You are seeing your baby boomers of today that are now directing, producing

And that is, I tell, I believe because women are in more power positions

Yeah. And I think that that's, I think you're a very good example of that because like, and you, you know, I know you, you have a memoir about this

You have a podcast that you did about hustling and about the idea of like creating your own opportunities

Absolutely. And like, I think the wrong series is a really good point to that because as you said, I

mean, even Meryl Streep has said that like she turned 40 and she got witches roles for

like a solid year. And now look at her now. You know what I mean? She's the devil that wears Prada

Okay. There's this idea, especially, I think, you know, with women, and I'm sure it's even more complicated with black women, where they're like a box that they want to put you in

Of course they do. And at a certain point, we as women are told like, well, but there's a 20-year-old over here

Yeah. And it's like. Well, you know, especially nowadays, it's all about clicks and how many followers do you have

Yes. You know, we went through that phase of business as well

And you know what? This is me. I ain't no hater. I'm a congratulator. Yeah. So me and my team, we figure out how we can then fit in that genre

We do more social media. We get relationships with companies that want people that have things that fit the brand

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's not forced. So, you know, I try to go with the flow

I do my best to pay attention. Yeah. You know, because the business is evolving so fast nowadays

Do you know what I mean? Now it's verticals are about to happen. I'm about to do one of those when I get back

So you just pay attention to the business. Don't let the business leave you