A film and television actress, Vivica A. Fox moved from Indianapolis to California to follow her aspirations as a thespian, earning an associate arts degree in Social Sciences from Golden West College in Huntington Beach.

She first appeared on TV in such soap operas as Generations, Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless. One of her earliest roles was as Patti LaBelle's fashion designer daughter, Charisse Chamberlain, on the NBC TV series Out All Night. She also appeared on the hit show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

She got her big break in film, however, as Will Smith's girlfriend in the blockbuster movie, Independence Day. From there, she was cast in many other films and earned critical acclaim for her role in the 1997 movie Soul Food, for which she received MTV Movie Award and NAACP Image Award nominations.

She also appeared in the films, Idle Hands, Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Teaching Mrs. Tingle, Two Can Play That Game, Juwanna Mann and Kill Bill. Fox is currently starring in the drama series, Missing on the Lifetime Television Network. She is the show's co-producer. Ms. Fox also is participating in the third season of ABC's hit television show, Dancing with the Stars, which premiered Sept. 12. Ms. Fox continues to support IPS. In 2004, she lent her voice to a radio commercial for the district’s successful Phase II construction program.