NOIAFT INTERVIEWS JULIA FOX, STAR OF “UNCUT GEMS”

Taglianetti: So, you spent some of your childhood in Italy?

Fox: I was born there.

Taglianetti: Did you grow up there?

Fox: No, I moved to America when I was five or six. I speak Italian fluently. I learned Italian before English. My mom always speaks to me in Italian.

Taglianetti: It’s a beautiful language.

Fox: It’s gorgeous. I love it. I love the culture. I have family there and I can always go there.

Taglianetti: Have you ever considered now that the entertainment industry is becoming so global that, as a star on the rise, that you might consider going abroad to make your career or are you stuck in the New York groove?

Fox: If a cool project came up that filmed in Italy, I’d definitely do it. I love it. I love representing Italian culture. But I feel pretty tied down over here, to be honest.

Taglianetti: As a New Yorker, I feel the same way. I just love the New York vibe. But let’s talk about Uncut Gems. I’m sure you’re tired of talking about it, but I have to ask. It was your first role and you’re working with the Safdie Brothers. And you’re taking direction from two directors and it’s your first time doing it, so how did they divvy up the workload and how much were you allowed to inform decisions about your character?

Fox: They were really good about letting me micromanage my character. They really valued my creative input and, if I had something to say or a suggestion. they always gave it a try. And I think they’re really happy with the way the character turned out. Like a lot of the lines that I feel get quoted a lot, are lines that I wrote in.

Taglianetti: Oh, wow!

Fox: So yeah, I feel like it definitely was a real collaborative effort. You know, it was all, kind of, our first time doing anything like that. You know, even for them, they had made other movies before, but nothing on this scale. So it kind of felt like we were all new in figuring it out, and helping each other along the way.

Taglianetti: So you said you wrote some of the lines and that also the part was written for you. You also had mentioned that you beat out 300 other actresses. So what do you think you brought to the table that maybe these other actresses didn’t have or you just have in abundance?

Fox: I’m sure the other girls were great; I just don’t think that it was what they were looking for. You know, I don’t want to say that I was better than anybody else.  It’s just that I probably had the authenticity that they were looking for. Maybe with the other girls they didn’t feel it was real. I think that the Safdies are always looking for what’s real and showing that on the screen had something to do with it.

Taglianetti: Well, you’ve become the hero of the movie. How did you insure your character was someone we’d be rooting for besides what was written on the page?

Fox: I honestly don’t know. It just kind of came out that way. I feel like on the page, you didn’t root for her as much. Then, when it translated on screen, her character changed. And she was more endearing and people liked her. And I can’t tell you how that came out. That was just my take on her. And, I wanted people to like her. I didn’t want her to be the quintessential gold digger, mistress, negative connotation character which I feel like is so often what you see in this type of girl being represented. It’s always negative and I really didn’t want that because you can be that type of girl and have a heart of gold and be amazing. I feel that’s usually the case.

Taglianetti: There were a lot of non-actors in the film, that’s not to say that they were not characters themselves or performers in a sense. But did you feel more pressure when you had to carry a scene with other non-actors opposed to matching someone like Adam Sandler, which you certainly do, but he’s already so experienced. Did you feel more pressure with the non-actors or with the established?

Fox: No. Actually, I feel like there were plus sides to both. Like, when I was with Adam, I knew there was no way this scene is going bad because Adam is going to pick up the pieces and make this work. There were positive sides to both situations. The non-actors were really, really great actors, it turns out so the Safdies definitely got really lucky.

Taglianetti: One-hundred percent. Now, what about the pacing of the film? Everyone says its very anxiety-inducing and when you’re shooting a film out of order, how do really keep that energy up knowing how to match what comes before and what comes after, if you’re not doing it in an orderly sequence?

Fox: It’s just really about embodying the script. Putting yourself there and feeling the feeling and allowing yourself to really get lost in this made-up moment. You have to really put yourself there and feel it. And I think that’s what acting is. At any moment, even if you’re feeling a totally different way, you gotta be able to turn it on and be this whole other way. And I just think that’s acting.

Taglianetti: Well, the acting in the film was some of the best of the year. I think that’s what makes the film almost controversial in a way because everyone was talking about it, but it didn’t get nominated for Best Picture or any acting Oscars. How do you go forward and put that behind you? Is that something that even matters to you? Is that a measure of success for the film?

Fox: No, not at all. If anything, it makes me think that it’s even more special because I feel like when things are ahead of their time, or so different, they’re never received well. Like they’re always shunned. Anything different is always, you know, let’s ignore that, pretend that never happened. No, the people spoke. Everyone knows what’s up. It’s an incredible movie and I’m not just saying that because I was in it. Even if I wasn’t in it, it would still feel undeniable! I never experienced anything like that in my life. So, I think it being snubbed is a testament to how avant-garde it is, in a sense. I don’t think the Academy even knew what to do with anything like it. And I think that is a compliment. Also, I think all these awards shows is all politics, it’s all so unfair. And I think that anyone who knows what’s up, knows that. But it would have been nice to see Adam get a very much deserved Oscar nomination for his lifetime that he’s dedicated to acting and the role.

Taglianetti: More than awards, I think ticket sales and breaking box office records represents how audiences felt. That’s a testament as well, that people were interested and they were.

Fox: At the end of the day, do you make movies for the Academy, or do you make movies for the average Joe? You make movies for the people. You want to give something to the people. You don’t make a movie thinking about the Academy. If you do, there’s something wrong with you. You’re making movies for the wrong reason.

Taglianetti: Well, now that streaming services are challenging the theatres as to what is the most desirable way to exhibit a film, as an actress taking on new roles and thinking of the future, does it matter to you what platforms they’re seen on?

Fox: No, not at all. I mean, I’m totally all for streaming services. It’s just the future. You just have to get with it. I’m fine with it.

Taglianetti: So, what are your plans with your production company? I think it’s called Extra Virgin Films. You have a lot going on?

Fox: Yeah, I do. I can’t really talk about it right now. But I’m definitely going to be having my own project coming up which I might act in, in a very small supporting role. Really, all I really want to do is just write, direct and produce. Then maybe act a little bit, if I really love the project or if I really love who’s involved. But I definitely still feel more comfortable behind the camera.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Special thanks to Jamie Skinner, Mila Geffner and Anna Gandolfi.