On July 30, 1964, Vivica A. Fox was born in South Bend, Ind. A celebrated actress, producer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and writer, Fox got her big break starring in the blockbuster hit, “Independence Day.” Celebrating her 54th birthday today, she recently published her motivational memoir, “Every Day I’m Hustling,” to inspire others to follow their dreams.
Although Fox excelled in sports in high school, her real dream was to become an actress. So she headed to California for college. After graduating from Golden West College, Fox hit the Hollywood audition circuit to break into acting. After she was discovered by producer Trevor Walton, she started scoring parts in soap operas throughout the late 1980s. However, Fox became a household name when she starred alongside Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum in the box office hit, “Independence Day.” She went on to star in a series of successful films including “Booty Call” (1997), “Soul Food” (1997) and “Kill Bill” (2003).
Through the years, Fox has also been a leading Lifetime star. From 2003 to 2006, she co-starred and produced the popular Lifetime crime drama, “Missing.” In 2006, she received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of FBI agent Nicole Scott on the show. Then, in 2017, she hosted the spicy Lifetime reality show, “Vivica’s Black Magic,” about male exotic dancers. Her latest Lifetime venture, “The Wrong Cruise,” premiered on July 28, 2018.
Amidst her busy acting career, Fox has also managed to start her own wig and extension line, the Vivica A. Fox Hair Collection. She donates many of her collection’s wigs to cancer patients. Alongside her entrepreneurial and philanthropic ventures, Fox recently published her motivational memoir to inspire her many fans. In “Every Day I’m Hustling,” she chronicles her path to success while keeping it real about the challenges she faced in her 25-year-long career: “For 2018, my mantra is ‘live, love, laugh!… I’ve been on the treadmill of success for a long time. I really feel that finally in my life, I am happy in the skin I’m in.”