From growing up with NYC as her playground to now, dating one of hip hop's biggest names, Julia Fox has proven herself an international celeb. Here's a deeper look at what we know about the Uncut Gems actress.
Humble Beginnings
Fox was born in Milan to an Italian mother and American father. But at age six, she and her dad moved to NYC, where they lived Uptown. Unfortunately, she and her recluse father became homeless at one point.
Today, the East Coast is still the actress's playground. Fox lives and breathes New York City. As a frequent party goer in the NYC nightlife, the star knows the ins and outs of the city, and it doesn't seem she'll be leaving the Big Apple anytime soon.
She Has a Son
Fox announced her pregnancy in February 2021 through a series of Instagram posts showing off her baby bump. The news came after she had already given birth to her baby boy, who is now one year old. The photos were snapped right before she went to the hospital to welcome her child.
She frequently posts Instagram snaps showing her "forever Valentine, Valentino." In celebration of her son's first birthday, she shared a series of pictures and videos. "My greatest accomplishment, My masterpiece. I don't deserve you, but somehow we're here, and I promise to love you unconditionally," she wrote.
She Was Previously Married
In 2018, she married pilot Peter Artemiev - but it didn't last long. In February 2020, the couple filed for divorce, and Fox took her thoughts straight to Instagram. "This man left me with a 5-month-old and a dog and a home and ALL THE BILLS. It's wrong!!! It's not fair," the actress called him out.
But recently, she actually apologized to her ex-husband for all of the shady comments made prior. "All I want to say is, I'm sorry. You're not a deadbeat," Fox confessed on the podcast Forbidden Fruits. While perhaps we'll never truly know what went down, we hope the apology made the cut.
She Co-Hosts a Podcast
Fox has been sharing her thoughts on Forbidden Fruits for quite some time now. The Spotify series went live in October 2021. Co-hosts Fox and actress Niki Takesh started the podcast to “uncover the hilarious, weird and sometimes dark reality of being human” while sinking “into issues that the world is too afraid to touch.”
During their segments, Fox and Takesh interview "outcasts of all shapes and sizes," as they put it. Guests have already included TV stars and members of cults. The duo has also welcomed celebrities such as Real Housewives Of New York star Leah McSweeney and Tuesday rapper ILoveMakonnen on the show.
Her Run-Ins With the Law
Back in the day, Fox was arrested for stealing clothes from Bloomingdales, often later seen on her during nights out in NYC. Ironically, she later went on to join the Bloomingdales family in an episode of Studio 59s Style Out, where she picked out some of her favorite pieces of the season.
In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2020, she admitted to shoplifting during her teen years. "You're seeing this really extravagant display of wealth, and you're trying to look like that, but you have to do it by stealing," she explained. So many questions.
Her Age is a Mystery
As the saying goes, age is just a number. But actually, age is a number, and Julia Fox does not talk about hers. In an interview with Insider in 2020, it was revealed that "her team wouldn't confirm her actual age, which only just added to her mystique." Since then, it has been discovered she is indeed 32 years old.
Earlier this month, the actress celebrated her 32nd birthday with friends and loved ones, including Kanye West, at Lucien in Manhattan. The two were reported to be cuddling up the entire evening, alongside guests such as model and good friend Richie Shazam and playwright Jeremy O. Harris.
Fox Is Fully Sober
The Uncut Gems star confessed that she had been on probation before and struggled with substance abuse growing up. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, she revealed: “It’s kind of a miracle that I’m OK because a lot of the people I grew up with aren’t doing so well.”
The actress admitted to flirting with death a few times. In an interview with Huff Post, she said, "I guess I've always been fascinated with death. I've had a few near-death experiences. In one particular instance, I saw the infamous tunnel of light and felt my spirit elevate from my human body and shoot into space."
Uncut Gems Acting Debut
Fox made her acting premiere alongside stars Adam Sandler, Kevin Garnett, and The Weeknd in the 2019 film Uncut Gems. Fox played a high-dollar showroom sales associate and Sandler’s mistress, coincidentally also named Julia. The movie had its world premiere in 2019 at the Telluride Film Festival.
Fox had no previous acting experience but called herself "an actress of life." She described her first day on set as "insane," but "being a New Yorker, I adapted really well," as she told Elle. This was Fox's first time on the big screen, and she made headlines after beating out hundreds of other women for the role.
Her Ties to the Safdie Brothers
In a New York Times interview, she shared more detail about being cast in the role of Julia for the Safdie brothers' film, Uncut Gems. The actress scored her spot in the movie at a SoHo cafe, Jack's Wife Freda. We can only imagine how many business deals have been made over green shakshuka and coffee.
"The character was just kind of constantly evolving to become more specific to her," the filmmakers revealed. The long-time friends knew it was the proper role for Fox. "Josh always thought of me as a star," Julia recalled. "I think he wanted to be the one to discover me and put me on the map." And he did.
The Actress Was Nominated for Several Awards
The actress was nominated for multiple awards, such as best supporting actress for the Toronto Film Critics Association Awards, based on her time in Uncut Gems. She did not win any of the awards - however, co-star Adam Sandler snagged a few awards along the way.
While she didn't earn any awards for her breakout role, the rookie actress instantly attracted viewers. And as she put it, with good reason: "[For] being independent, resilient, being a hustler, having a ride-or-die mentality, and overall just being really cute," she joked.
Fox's Second Movie Role
Fox continued her acting debut in the film, No Sudden Move, released in 2021 on HBO Max. The movie followed a group of criminals who worked together to solve bigger answers, with Fox playing a fiery mistress yet again. “I’m totally being typecast right now, but I love it,” Fox told Refinery29.
Steven Soderbergh's No Sudden Move made its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2021 after a long year of lockdown, so Soderbergh was "very happy" with the release success in Tribeca. Stars such as Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, and Jon Hamm joined Julia Fox on-screen.
Fox’s Passion For Directing
Fox wrote, produced, and directed a short film, Fantasy Girls, based on working girls in Reno. The first-time director published her movie to multiple festivals in 2019, with hopes to continue making more. As she explained to Insider, her "dream is being in the writer's room."
In regards to her directing debut, Fox further explained that she hopes to "do more things like that and give people a voice using hers, while also raising awareness for causes that she thinks are really important and special," as she revealed to Paper magazine.
She Has Several Tattoos
Through taking a closer look at the stars’ Instagram, we see Fox is no stranger to ink. However, her most iconic tatt was spotted on a night on the town with Kanye West. The actress rocked a cello tattoo on her lower back while sporting ultra-low rise black leather pants and a matching leather top.
Some other tattoos spotted on the model have been the Latin phrase, "Sancti Spiritus," meaning "of the saint spirit/holy ghost" on her shoulders in red ink, the letter "R" on her right hand, and an ex-boyfriend's name tattooed on her ring finger. No comment on that last one.
Fox Is Writing a Memoir
During quarantine, Fox embarked on her writing journey. As she told Insider in 2020, she is working on a memoir. In the interview, she explained, “I feel like, for writers, this time has been like a godsend because we can just stay at home and write and not like feel weird about it.”
"I wanted to tell stories, and I knew that I had good stories," she later told Elle magazine in an interview. There is no update on when the memoir will be released, but the actress dropped a few hints here and there that she is still in the writing process. We can't wait for the Kanye chapter(s)...
She Held an Art Exhibit
In 2017, Fox put on an art exhibition titled “R.I.P. Julia Fox” as she combined her artistic eye and fascination with death to produce a one-of-a-kind show. The exhibit was infused with many different layers and brought a lot of attention to Fox as an artist.
Fox even used her own blood as her medium of choice to paint on silk canvases in order to make the show as "authentic and personal as possible," she revealed to Huff Post. Along with her paintings, Fox included installations that further explored "death in all forms, one of them being sacrificial."
Her Photography Journals
The artist has published two photography books, Symptomatic of Relationship Gone Sour: Heartburn/Nausea, showcasing previous romantic relationships and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, sharing details of an intense few months she once had in Louisiana.
"The photos are so vibrant and have so much life," photographer and friend Richie Shazam praised, who curated her 2016 PTSD exhibit at Magic Gallery. PTSD displayed a series of photos from Fox's challenging time in the South after taking "a sabbatical" from NYC.
Co-Founded a Clothing Brand
Fox and her business partner/best friend, Briana Andalore, co-founded a clothing knitwear line in 2014 called Franziska Fox. She told Elle that her vision for the brand was to “have a collection that is unafraid within today’s fashion landscape,” however, the brand has not been so famous since.
Fox is quite the style icon herself, rocking bold and magnetic looks on and off the carpet. Rumer Willis starred as the new campaign face for the 2014 Franziska Fox brand, sporting cool, sleek, cut-out pieces showing off the clothing. Willis has even been seen repping the brand on the carpet herself.
Her Style Icon
Being a style icon herself, she must get her inspiration from somewhere. In an interview with Vogue in 2021, she named Anna Nicole Smith as her muse - which we find very fitting. She praised Smith for being “unapologetically herself, and that’s what drew so many people to her.”
Fox went on to say, "I love her because she's flawed and open about it." The Uncut Gems star has been described by Vogue as a "bombshell but also with a bold bite," so we can see where the inspiration to follow in Anna Nicole Smiths' footsteps initially came from.
Her Upcoming Role
Fox has landed a leading role in the upcoming film, Upper Cut: Highlights of My Hollywood Life, following the story of the "First Lady of Hairdressing," Carrie White. The film is based on the internationally bestselling memoir, and Fox will be playing White, portraying her life as a hairdresser in the '60s, '70s, and '80s.
The play has been adapted by screenwriter Susan McMartin, who shared she is "equally thrilled that the beautiful, smart, talented," Julia Fox will be playing the role of Carrie. "Julia and I have worked together on a couple of projects, and she is a force to be reckoned with." We'll be sure to update when we know more details.
Her NYFW Debut
Julia Fox, now a high fashion runway model, strutted down the catwalk in New York Fashion Week. Fox opened the LaQuan Smith show, wearing a revealing black cut-out turtleneck dress and white pumps, statement earrings, and silver bracelets. The actress had a slick-back hairdo and intense eye makeup to complete the look.
The Uncut Gems actress welcomed her New York Fashion Week debut right after her alleged breakup with Kanye West, making headlines as she opened the show in a sleek, black number. But according to Fox, she's still got nothing but love for the Donda rapper.
The Start of 'JuliYe'
West and Foxs' whirlwind romance began when they were first spotted together in Miami on New Year's Eve. Ambitious evening for a first date, some would say. However, Fox expressed that there was an "instant connection," and she was immediately put on the "Kanye workout plan." We wonder what that plan includes...
Fox continued to reveal moments from their lavish date nights that included nights out with Foxs' friends. She explained, "His energy is so fun to be around. He had me and my friends laughing, dancing, and smiling all night." Fox and Ye continued their first date all the way to NYC for date number two.
"A real Cinderella moment"
The couple had an even hotter and heavier second date in NYC: JuliYe started their glamorous date night at the famous Carbone restaurant, where Kanye directed a whole photoshoot of Fox while the other diners were enjoying their dinner. We can't imagine trying to eat spicy rigatoni while this was happening.
But the evening did not stop there! After the impromptu restaurant photo shoot, the Donda singer had a surprise waiting in his hotel room. "Ye had an entire hotel suite full of clothes. It was every girl's dream come true. It felt like a real Cinderella moment." We bet there were glass slippers too.
JuliYe’s Red Carpet Debut
The couple's first red carpet appearance had people buzzing everywhere. And perhaps with good reason. Twitter went crazy over the matching denim pieces, with people noting Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake's 2001 look. "Britney and Justin walked so Ye and Julia could run," one user shaded.
JuliYe made their official red carpet debut during Paris Fashion Week at the Kenzo Fall/Winter 2022/2023 runway show. Fox wore a Schiaparelli denim jacket matched with oversized denim boots by Y/Project, and Ye sported a Balenciaga look. And we wouldn't have expected anything less.
Her Tell-All About Kanye
The actress took her dating adventures to Interview Magazine. She wrote an open letter to all detailing the steamy details of her first dates with Kanye, attached with PDA-filled evidence. A week later, she sat down with the magazine to open up more about her star-studded gatherings.
Although she considers herself the "anti-it girl," she wasted no time detailing the lavish lifestyle she and Ye have been enjoying. "I don't know where things are headed, but if this is any indication of the future, I'm loving the ride," Fox confessed.
She's a Fan of KUWTK
On multiple occasions, Fox confessed that she was a major fan of the Kardashians, even before she met Kanye. In an episode of her podcast, Forbidden Fruits, the actress explained she had been “watching Keeping Up since it first came out in 2007 when like, watching it was embarrassing.”
Fox continued to share more information about her love for the reality family: "I wanted them to be my family. You feel like you know them." And she might just be right. People around the world have been keeping tabs on the famous family for almost 20 years now.
Her Work With Kim
Another beautiful full-circle moment: in 2020, the actress struck a pose in a few pieces from the SKIMS’ Summer Mesh collection. Fox shared a photo of herself in the pieces to her story, and tagged SKIMS, who later reposted the image to their gram. If only we knew then what we know now.
However, in a recent episode of her podcast, Forbidden Fruits, she talked about how she isn't a stalker or superfan. As a matter of fact, Fox doesn't "even own one Lip Kit," she assured, referencing Kylie Jenner's successful makeup brand. Nonetheless, she seems to have no problem supporting Kim Kardashian's shapewear brand.
She's Friends With Madonna
Well, it might not get any better than being pals with Madonna herself. In Fox's Interview magazine, the actress revealed she had a "date with Madonna" at Delilah. But obviously, she "invited Ye because they know each other, they work together, and they respect each other as artists."
It sounds like Fox secured quite the array of celebrity friends, even before she started dating Ye. It has been rumored that Fox might be landing a role playing Debi Mazar, one of Madonna's closest friends, in the singer's upcoming biopic. Now that's going to be interesting...
Her Past With Pete Davidson
Believe it or not, Fox and Davidson (Kim's current boyfriend) actually have a past together. The two modeled for Paper magazine back in 2019. The photo shoot was inspired by a rather dark version of Barbie and Ken in a profile about Davidson. Photographer Tommy Dorfman said Fox was "the perfect outer-borough Barbie to Pete's Ken."
The images included the duo posing in multiple Barbie and Ken moments for the magazine spread. Fox wore colorful pumps, lace tights, and a latex bodysuit, making the Barbie vibes more her own. Remember Kim's "Break the Internet" moment with Paper Magazine? Life is a full circle, yet again.
Her Unexpected High School Job
Fox has had several unexpected gigs over the years. When she was a teenager, she began working as a dominatrix in order to financially take care of herself. In a recent episode of the podcast, Call Her Daddy, she opened up about her experience and the self-learning that came with taking this job.
The actress openly talked about her experiences with her after-school job and how it has taught her many valuable lessons to this day. She explained to host Alex Cooper, “It’s really like role-playing, it’s acting,” among other details she revealed about her job at the time.
Where Are JuliYe Now?
Apparently, the power couple has already called it quits. Fox deleted her Instagram posts with her now ex and took to her Story to address the matter. As Fox revealed, she and Kanye are on “good terms,” and she has “love for him, but she wasn’t in love with the man.”
Fox continued to explain the breakup, writing in a now-deleted Instagram story: "Why not see me for what I am, which is a #1 hustler?" It looks like the short-lived relationship is officially over. And we can't help but wonder who Fox will be linked to next. Until then, stay tuned.