2019’s Uncut Gems is notable for being a far cry from Adam Sandler’s usual comedic roles, which saw the actor putting his dramatic chops to the display. But while the Grown Ups Star was certainly the highlight of it, he wasn’t the lone reason why the Netflix original was a massive success, as newcomer Julia Fox wasn’t far behind in terms of performance.
While many major stars were eyed for the part of Julia De Fiore in the film, Fox wasn’t deterred by the noise surrounding her, as she was assured the role was made for her.
Julia Fox Was Unfazed Despite Facing Stiff Competition for Uncut Gems
Years before Uncut Gems finally hit Netflix, the directing duo of Josh and Benny Safdie would cross paths with Julia Fox at the SoHo café Jack’s Wife Freda. Following their encounter, Fox would succeed in leaving a lasting impact on the Safdie brothers, as they would eventually reach out to her for a role in the Netflix original, specifically made with her in mind. But even though there were many parallels between the actor and the character, the studio was reportedly inclined towards incorporating the likes of Lady Gaga or Jennifer Lawrence into the mix.
Moreover, a plethora of other actors would audition for the part as well, but Fox wasn’t deterred by the competition, considering the character was based on her life.
She told The New York Times:
“Pretty much every single girl in New York auditioned for the role of Julia. And they all knew that it was my role. It was so awkward to run into these girls: ‘Hey, I think I just auditioned for this movie that’s based on you.’ They thought it was a movie about my life.”
But despite the studio being against casting a relatively unknown name in the crime thriller, her screen tests would prove to be too good to ignore her.
Julia Fox Was in the Talks for This Role for 5 Years
Prior to hitting it big with Uncut Gems, Fox lived a pretty unconventional lifestyle and struggled with drug abuse for years until joining a recovery program in 2017.
While it was 2019 that saw her rising to prominence after the release of the crime thriller, Fox revealed Safdie brothers were in talks with her for almost five years before she was eventually cast.
She said:
“They’d been talking to me about this role for five years or something . Always telling me how perfect I am for it, and every few months they would send me an updated script, or ask me if I had any input in developing the character. I didn’t realise the magnitude of Uncut Gems at the time. I just thought: ‘Oh, an indie movie that my friends are making.’”
Fox also revealed that Adam Sandler was pretty supportive and guided her throughout the film, which certainly helped the actor flourish in the critically acclaimed feature.
Uncut Gems is available to stream on Netflix.
