Vivica A. Fox dreamed of being a model, but to receive her mother's blessing to move to Southern California, where the jobs were, she had to promise her one thing: she would go to college.
So that's what she did. At age 18, Fox left his hometown of Indianapolis for Huntington Beach, where he attended Golden West College and earned an associate's degree in social sciences. On weekends, she would drive to Los Angeles for auditions, get her first taste of show business while dancing on Don Cornelius' iconic television series, “Soul Train,” and then land her first acting job as Dr. Stephanie Simmons on “Young and the Restless,” a role she recently reprized after more than 30 years.
In Sunday Funday, the people of Los Angeles tell us step by step their ideal Sunday in the city. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.
“The rest is kind of history,” says Fox, who starred in other hit films such as “Kill Bill: Vol. 1,” “Two Can Play That Game,” “Soul Food” and “Set It Off,” which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
His latest project, “Is God Is,” hits theaters Friday. Directed by Aleshea Harris, who wrote the award-winning play of the same name, the film follows two twin sisters who embark on a vengeful quest to find their abusive father, who left them for dead. Fox plays God, the twins' mother, a burn victim and domestic abuse survivor who gives her daughters a simple but chilling instruction: “Make your daddy dead. Really dead.” Harris hand-picked Fox for the role.
“I was very honored,” says Fox. “Then when I got the script and I dove a little deeper into it, I thought, 'Ooh, this is a way no one has ever seen me. This is going to be a challenge.'”
He adds, “I thought, 'Wow. We don't like this stuff,' so honestly, it was a no-brainer for me.”
Sundays are the only day of the week that Fox can “do me,” he says. This is how I would spend it in Los Angeles
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for length and clarity.
6:30 am: Quick run for coffee
I usually get up at 6:30 or 7 am. I'm an early riser because I'm so used to having to be on set or when my publicist, BJ, lived on the East Coast and I had to respond to his emails in a timely manner. Once I'm awake and calm, I'll get something starbucks. I would order a white chocolate mocha venti with an extra shot of espresso, no whipped cream. I used to order kale bites, which I ate with the meat of the sausage and egg sandwich, but they discontinued them, so now I just buy the sandwich.
8 am: Floating in hot springs.
I would go to Beverly Hot Springs. They would give me a body care treatment. It's great because they rub you from head to toe with body oil, then wash your hair and make a cucumber and yogurt mask. After that, I would get a facial and float in the water. It's one of the only spas with natural alkaline hot springs in Los Angeles, so the water is simply divine.
2:00 p.m.: Margarita and fries with caviar with a view.
After that, I would meet a friend, probably BJ, at the rooftop restaurant of Waldorf Astoria. The reason I love going there is because of the view. On a beautiful, clear day, you can see all of Los Angeles. It has a 360 view which is absolutely amazing. I would start with the caviar fries and a spicy margarita with a tagine rim. Then I would do salmon and spinach or, if it was a super cheat day, I would have a cheeseburger.
4 pm: A Broadway show or sports game.
I would probably go home and take a short nap. But if my godson, Quentin Blanton Junior, is in town, I'd go see him perform at the Hollywood Pantages Theater. He is playing little Michael in “MJ: The Musical” at the Pantages Theatre. [Editor’s note: We interviewed Fox before the show ended earlier this month]. I'm very proud of him. But if he's not performing, I'd go to a Chargers or Lakers game. I am a sports addict. I'm from Indiana. We grew up playing soccer and basketball. I have always loved the Lakers. I remember going to games in Inglewood because I used to live there. I used to walk to games. That was the golden era of Magic and all those guys, then Kobe and them promoted Staples, which is now Crypto.
9 pm: Drink before bed.
I would end my Sunday with a nightcap at the delta club at the Lakers game. I would have a glass of wine before returning home and then drink a Lacroix to hydrate. I try to be in bed definitely before midnight.
