Hollywood Shuffle is a series that celebrates our cultural icons in film and television whose performances have resonated with generations of viewers. From the pioneering actors and actresses who’ve helped break barriers and pave the way for those to follow, to the most promising and decorated thespians of today, their dedication to their craft is respected and appreciated.
Vivica A. Fox is one of Black Hollywood’s most beloved actresses. Hailing from Michigan, Fox got her start on the small screen with daytime soap opera roles before landing her first significant film gigs in 1996 with Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood and Independence Day. It wasn’t until the latter that Fox began to make a name for herself as Hollywood actress.
Fox kept busy with even more television shows before landing her next big role as Maxine in Set it Off. The ASCAP-winning film co-starred Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Kimberly Elise. It was there that viewers began to see Fox’s versatility, as she played a hard-working woman-turned bank robber in the film. Over the next several years, the revered actress went on to star in Booty Call, Soul Food, Why Do Fools Fall In Love, the Two Can Play That Game film series, Juwanna Mann, the Kill Bill film series and more.
Over the last two decades, Fox has taken on the gig of TV hosting and producing. Fox’s Lifetime crime series Missing won her an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2006. She’s also competed on season three of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, and more recently cameoed in SZA’s “Kill Bill” music video. As she turns 59 years old today (July 30), Fox continues to prove that she has no plans of stopping any time soon.
In this edition of Hollywood Shuffle, VIBE looks back on eight iconic roles that have defined Vivica A. Fox’s career.
Elizabeth Waters in ‘Why Do Fools Fall In Love’
Image Credit: Everett Collection
Year: 1998
Premise: Elizabeth Waters was one of three alleged wives of late singer Frankie Lymon. Waters found herself going through a week-long trial pleading her case as the true heir to Lymon’s estate, only to win in the end. Fox’s character stuck with Lymon through his trials and tribulations, including drug addiction and declining fame.
Memorable Line: “I loved Frankie. And yes, I would have done aynthing, ANYTHING to save his life.”
Jasmine Dubrow in ‘Independence Day’
Image Credit: Everett Collection
Year: 1996
Premise: Jasmine Dubrow is a single mom willing to do whatever she has to in order to provide for her family. She’s unapologetically works as an exotic dancer, making ends meet for her son and ultimately falls for Will Smith’s character, Captain Steven Hiller.
Memorable Line: “There you go, thinking you’re all that. But you are not as charming as you think you are, sir.”
Vernita Green in ‘Kill Bill’ Film Series
Image Credit: Everett Collection
Year: 2003
Premise: Vernita Green a.k.a Copperhead is a force to be messed with, as she is a member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. Having involvement in a massacre, Vernita has put a target on her back, as she is listed on the Death List Five by Beatrix Kiddo.
Memorable Line: “Black Mamba. I shoulda been motherf**kin’ Black Mamba.”
Frankie in ‘Set It Off’
Image Credit: Everett Collection
Year: 1996
Premise: Francesca “Frankie” Sutton is the fourth member of a bank heist crew of women. After losing her job as a bank teller, Frankie and her three best friends decide to fix their financial hardships by going on a series of successful bank robberies. Frankie’s prior knowledge of bank protocol makes her the brains of the crew.
Memorable Line: “The only way we gonna see cash is if we take a bank.”
Michelle in ‘Juwanna Mann’
Image Credit: Everett Collection
Year: 2002
Premise: Michelle is a WNBA All-Star playing for the Charlotte Banshees. Outside of her skills on the court, Michelle is in a relationship with a douchbag boyfriend who’s cheating on her. The athlete learns self-love after her friend Juwanna Mann, who’s posing as a woman, encourages her to do so.
Memorable Line: “One player can’t win games by themself. We need teamwork.”
Maxine in ‘Soul Food’
Image Credit: Everett Collection
Year: 1997
Premise: Maxine is the middle daughter of matriarch Big Mama. She marries her sister’s ex-boyfriend and has two children with him. Pregnant and all, Maxine tries to fill Big Mama’s shoes as “the strongest one in the family.”
Memorable Line: “Hands in the air for all those who want chitlins, black-eyed peas, greens, some fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and egg pie.”
Shanté Smith in ‘Two Can Play That Game’
Image Credit: Everett Collection
Year: 2001
Premise: Shanté Smith is a woman who offers other women advice on how to keep their men in check. However, her beloved advice becomes hypocritical when she finds herself trying to keep her own man from walking away.
Memorable Line: “They don’t act up during the winter time, cause they wanna get that indoor activity goin on. But as soon as the season breaks, girl, they show their a**es. It’s true. It happens ever year around spring, the breakup season. Time of year when women start wearing lil mini skirts, skimpy clothes lettin their lil stuff hang out. Causing men to lose their damn minds.”
Lysterine in ‘Booty Call’
Image Credit: Everett Collection
Year: 1997
Premise: Lysterine plays the wingwoman for her neighbor Nikki as they go on a double date with best friends Bunz and Rushon. Lysterine isn’t really interested in Bunz (Jamie Foxx), just wanting sex as the two have hilarious role-playing scenes.
Memorable Line: “Did you see his hair? Motherf**ka looks like Predator!”
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