There aren’t many actors who can say their first-ever film role was opposite Adam Sandler in one of the most tense thrillers of the decade. Julia Fox walked onto the set of Uncut Gems with zero acting experience and walked out a star.

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Birth date: February 2, 1990 ·
Film debut: Uncut Gems (2019) ·
Role in Uncut Gems: Julia De Fiore ·
Age during filming: 28–29 years ·
Public coming out: 2024 (as a lesbian)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact nature of her current relationship status after coming out
  • Whether she will prioritize mainstream Hollywood roles or independent projects
  • Specific long-term career plans in acting versus social media/fashion
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Continued acting: Him (2025) and potential future roles
  • Growing social media presence and fashion collaborations
  • Further public discussion of mental health and LGBTQ+ visibility

Eight key facts at a glance: a pattern of rapid personal and professional evolution.

Field Value
Full name Julia Francesca Fox
Birth date February 2, 1990
Birthplace Milan, Italy
Citizenship Italian-American
Notable film Uncut Gems (2019)
Role in Uncut Gems Julia De Fiore
Marital status Previously married to Peter Artemiev
Sexuality Lesbian (came out in 2024)

What does Julia Fox have to do with Uncut Gems?

Who is Julia Fox?

  • Julia Fox is an Italian-American actress, model, and media personality born February 2, 1990, in Milan, Italy, and raised in New York City (Wikipedia (biographical database)).
  • Before acting, she worked in fashion, photography, writing, and fine art, and was a well-known figure on New York’s downtown scene (Interview Magazine (arts and culture title)).
  • The Safdie brothers discovered her through that scene and cast her in Uncut Gems without any prior screen experience (i-D (youth culture publication)).

What role did Julia Fox play in Uncut Gems?

  • She played Julia De Fiore, a store employee and the love interest of Adam Sandler’s character Howard Ratner (IMDb (film database)).
  • The role was her first-ever acting credit, and her raw performance drew critical praise (Elle Canada (fashion and culture magazine)).
  • Studios initially wanted Scarlett Johansson for the part, according to Fox in a later interview (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade publication)).

The implication: Fox’s casting defied Hollywood norms, trading star power for authenticity — a gamble that paid off for the Safdie brothers and launched a genuinely new face.

This section shows how Julia Fox’s unconventional casting in Uncut Gems launched her career from a club scene to Hollywood.

How old was Julia Fox during Uncut Gems?

When was Julia Fox born?

  • Born February 2, 1990, in Milan, Italy (Wikipedia (biographical database)).
  • She moved to New York City at age 6 (Nylon (youth lifestyle magazine)).

How old was Julia Fox when she filmed Uncut Gems?

  • Uncut Gems was filmed in 2018 and released in 2019 (IMDb (film database)).
  • Fox was 28–29 years old during filming. Early 2020 profiles described her as 29 (Elle Canada (fashion and culture magazine)).

The pattern: She entered the film industry later than most breakout actors, with a fully formed identity from other creative fields — a rarity in Hollywood.

The paradox

A 29-year-old newcomer with zero acting credits was cast ahead of a global A-lister. That casting decision alone made Uncut Gems feel riskier and more real than most studio thrillers.

What is Julia Fox diagnosed with?

Does Julia Fox have any medical conditions?

  • Julia Fox has publicly discussed having Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and her journey with substance use recovery.
  • She has been open about mental health struggles in interviews and her 2023 memoir Down the Drain (Harper’s Bazaar Australia (fashion and lifestyle magazine)).

What has Julia Fox said about her health?

  • Fox uses her platform to destigmatize BPD and addiction, speaking candidly about both in press and on social media.
  • She has said that her mental health journey informed her approach to acting and public life.

Why this matters: Fox’s willingness to share her vulnerabilities has made her a relatable figure to many young fans, even as she navigates a high-profile entertainment career.

What did Julia Fox say about Uncut Gems?

Julia Fox interview quotes about Uncut Gems

  • Fox described the experience as surreal and praised the Safdie brothers for taking a chance on her.
  • She revealed that studios originally wanted Scarlett Johansson for her role (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade publication)).

How did Julia Fox describe working with Adam Sandler?

  • Fox has said Sandler was generous and supportive on set, helping her relax during her first acting job.
  • Their on-screen chemistry was widely noted by critics (Elle Canada (fashion and culture magazine)).

The trade-off: Landing the role meant proving herself under immense pressure, but it also opened doors she wouldn’t have had otherwise.

“It was surreal. I had never acted before, and suddenly I’m in a room with Adam Sandler and the Safdie brothers.”

— Julia Fox, speaking to Interview Magazine (arts and culture title)

When did Julia Fox come out as a lesbian?

Is Julia Fox LGBTQ?

  • Reportedly, Julia Fox clarified her sexual orientation as a lesbian in a 2024 interview with Page Six.
  • She had previously been in public relationships with men, including Kanye West in 2022.

How did Julia Fox clarify her sexuality?

  • Fox stated that she identifies as a lesbian, setting the record straight after speculation.
  • Her coming out was covered by entertainment media and celebrated by fans.

The pattern: Fox continues to redefine her public image on her own terms, using honesty as a tool to connect with her audience.

What to watch

Fox’s openness about her sexuality and mental health may influence how Hollywood casts her in future — roles could either lean into or step away from her personal narrative.

Timeline

  • February 2, 1990 – Birth of Julia Fox in Milan, Italy (Wikipedia (biographical database)).
  • 2019 – Uncut Gems premieres at Telluride Film Festival; Julia Fox makes her acting debut (IMDb (film database)).
  • January 2022 – Julia Fox publicly dates Kanye West.
  • 2023 – Publishes memoir Down the Drain (Harper’s Bazaar Australia (fashion and lifestyle magazine)).
  • 2024 – Comes out as a lesbian in a Page Six interview.
  • 2025 – Stars in film Him.

The signal: Each major life event — career, relationships, identity — has been public, making Fox a uniquely transparent celebrity.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • Julia Fox was born February 2, 1990.
  • She played Julia De Fiore in Uncut Gems (2019).
  • She came out as a lesbian in 2024.
  • She has discussed having Borderline Personality Disorder.

What’s unclear

  • Studios originally wanted Scarlett Johansson for her role.
  • Exact nature of her current relationship status beyond coming out.
  • Specific long-term career plans in acting vs. social media.
  • Whether she will take on more mainstream Hollywood roles.
  • Exact net worth is unconfirmed.

Fox has described herself as “a party girl in New York” who made her way into the Safdie brothers’ orbit, as noted in an interview with i-D (youth culture publication).

Julia Fox’s journey from club scene outsider to Hollywood actor and LGBTQ+ voice shows that authenticity, even when messy, can be a career accelerant. For aspiring performers without traditional training, the lesson is clear: a singular breakthrough role can rewrite your entire trajectory — but only if you’re willing to keep telling your own story.

Related reading: How Old Is Billie Eilish? · Tommy Lee Jones Filmography

Additional sources

famousbirthdays.com, hollywoodreporter.com, ellecanada.com, i-d.co, instagram.com, reddit.com, facebook.com, facebook.com

För den som vill veta mer om hennes bakgrund och väg till filmduken finns en utförlig beskrivning av Julia Foxs tidiga liv och karriär.

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Frequently asked questions

Was Uncut Gems Julia Fox’s first movie?

Yes, Uncut Gems (2019) was her debut film role.

Did Julia Fox win any awards for Uncut Gems?

She did not win major awards for the role, but her performance received critical recognition.

How did Julia Fox get cast in Uncut Gems?

The Safdie brothers discovered her through New York’s downtown scene and cast her without an audition.

What other movies has Julia Fox been in?

She later appeared in No Sudden Move (2021) and Him (2025), among others.

Is Julia Fox still friends with the Safdie brothers?

She has spoken positively about them and remains on good terms.

Why did Julia Fox and Kanye West break up?

The relationship was brief (early 2022); Fox has not detailed the reasons publicly.

What is Julia Fox’s net worth?

Exact figures are unconfirmed, but estimates range in the low millions from acting, modeling, and brand deals.

Where can I watch Julia Fox in Uncut Gems?

The film is available on Netflix and various digital platforms.