Why Is Julia Fox So Famous? (2024)

Since her feature film debut in Uncut Gems, actor Julia Fox has become quite the talk of the town, from her bright and outspoken personality to her social life, including a relationship stint with musician Kanye West. There are a multitude of reasons why Julia Fox has become famous. While the most obvious answer is her talent and beauty as an actor that put her into the limelight in a big way, it is essential to look at where she came from and how her various accomplishments have led to the popularity behind the charismatic Fox.

A Rough Path on the Way to Stardom

Many actors in Hollywood follow the path of having a family in the industry, helping them to make those big breaks. While this does not belittle their innate talent, for actors like Drew Barrymore, having a famous father in John Barrymore and a lineage that goes back to the mid-19th century London stage helped her transition into the limelight. Julia Fox's upbringing was in stark contrast to those who grew up in a family involved in the arts.

Born in Milan, Italy to an Italian mother and American father, Julia Fox spent her childhood bouncing between households and experiencing periods of relative homelessness after her parents split when she was young. During this period, Fox struggled to form a meaningful relationship with her parents, with her dad being "volatile and verbally abusive," while her mother was absent for long stretches. And when she was around, the two would get into explosive fights.

This was just the beginning of Fox's rough childhood. Starting at 15, she moved in with her boyfriend, a drug dealer who was soon arrested and started threatening Julia and her family. After leaving him to live on her own, Fox would work several odd jobs to stay afloat, including sex work. Fox would also turn to crime, resulting in a three-year probation sentence for stealing, grand larceny, and credit card fraud.

After a suicide attempt at 16, Julia Fox was placed under psychiatric care and diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. During this period she also developed a heroin addiction, and at the age of 17, she overdosed and had a near-death experience, which drastically changed the actor's perspective on life.

On October 10th, 2023, Julia Fox published her first book, a memoir of her childhood called Down the Drain. For her novel, she took inspiration from some of her favorite literary works, including brilliant quasi-autobiographical works like William S. Burroughs' Junkie, James Frey's A Million Little Pieces, and David Sedaris' Naked.

Breaking Into Film

Julia Fox was brought to the attention of many for her role in the Safdie Brothers' film Uncut Gems, where she starred alongside Adam Sandler playing the role of Julia De Fiore, girlfriend to Sandler's Howard Ratner. She met the brothers in a random café in New York City, and they were so taken by her charismatic charm that they decided to cast her in their next movie. This proved to be the perfect set-up for the large personality of Fox, as she has stated that the Safdie Brothers allowed her plenty of freedom and creative license to shape the character and make it her own.

The critics also agreed with the casting choice, and Julia Fox saw her debut in a feature film, finding accolades with various publications. Killian Fox of The Guardian called Uncut Gems one of the best films of the year but drew particular attention to Fox's performance, saying that she was "radiating brassy, sexy attitude." Julia Fox also won a Breakthrough Actor Award for her performance at the 2019 Gotham Awards.

Julia Fox continued to impress with her follow-up role in the movie PVT Chat. While not seeing the same amount of popularity, it still gained praise, with Collider stating it was her greatest performance so far. This would also be followed up with a memorable role in Steven Soderbergh's No Sudden Move alongside an ensemble cast including Don Cheadle and Benicio del Toro.

Still young in her acting career, Julia Fox is set to further establish her name in the upcoming film The Trainer, from American History X director Tony Kaye. Set to star alongside other standout actresses Bella Thorne and Gina Gershon, Julia Fox's career appears to remain on an upward trajectory.

So, Why Is Julia Fox so Famous?

One of the primary reasons why Julia Fox is so famous is that everyone loves an underdog story, and seeing someone who faced great adversity and accomplished so much is inspiring. While no one wants to hear that someone they admire has suffered, the ability to bounce back and create something of oneself from such a troubling background speaks to our faith in humanity and our ability to overcome life's toughest obstacles.

Combining this with Julia Fox's online persona, described as unique, refreshing, and with a sharp eye for fashion, it is easy to see why she has become so endearing to many. Considering her background, her constant optimism shows her gratefulness for her success while still acknowledging her past as essential to where she is now.

Julia Fox's optimism has also seen her trend with other celebrities, including her much-talked-about relationship with musician Kanye West. She has also made an impact in the art world, both as a fashion designer and as a painter. This included the launch of "Franziska Fox," a successful women's knitwear luxe line she started with her friend Briana Andalore. In 2017, Fox hosted a much-hyped and talked about exhibit titled "R.I.P. Julia Fox," which featured silk canvases painted with the artist's blood.

While it is evident that Julia Fox has risen to popularity thanks to her breakout role in Uncut Gems, the actor and author has proven to be much grander than that role with a larger-than-life personality, sharp fashion sense, social presence, and fascinating life story. The reasons she gained fame are many, but simply put... Julia Fox is famous because she is Julia Fox.