Julia Fox, known for her striking presence in the art and fashion worlds and rising star in films, lives a surprisingly grounded life in New York City. On a bustling Labor Day weekend, Fox’s backyard reflects both the unpredictability of city life—a loud bird and ongoing nearby construction—and the calm sanctuary she’s created, living with her son and close friends. This insight into Julia Fox surprisingly normal life reveals the balance she maintains between the vibrant chaos around her and the peaceful home she cherishes.
Despite the noisy interruptions, Fox embraces the moment with humor and patience. The setting—her brownstone garden in NYC—feels organic and lived-in, not staged. It is a space inhabited not only by Fox’s family, including her four-year-old son Valentino, but also her best friend Richie Shazam, his partner Ben Draghi, and a steady flow of visitors. Together, they form a communal household, far removed from the tumultuous past Fox experienced in her youth in both Italy and New York City, marked by instability and hardship.
From Tumultuous Past to a Stable Home Life
Fox’s life today contrasts sharply with her difficult childhood, which included periods without a stable home and various family struggles. Buying her brownstone in 2023 with Richie Shazam marked a major milestone.
“This is my dream life — having a home I bought with my best friend from childhood,”
Fox explains, describing her household as warm, colorful, and full of art and music. She emphasizes it’s not about fame or glamour, but about creating a nurturing environment for her son and herself, a goal she intentionally pursued.
Her domestic life revolves around everyday activities like cooking, cleaning, and playing with Valentino, which Fox values deeply. The routines and moments of connection resonate with her more than the public fame.
“We have a child in the house and animals and it’s messy. But it’s warm and it’s colorful and there’s art everywhere and music playing and it always smells like food because someone’s always cooking. That’s the dream I always dreamt,”
she says.
“It wasn’t so much being famous or being a star — that just happened. This is what I actively worked toward.”
Balancing Fame with Family
Though Fox’s rise to fame caught her by surprise, she’s embraced the opportunities that came with her breakout role in 2019’s “Uncut Gems.” She describes herself as “very much a mom,” focused on family life and child-centered activities, contrary to some public perceptions of her as a wild party girl.
“Sometimes I see stuff and I’m just like, Wow. If only you knew. I wish I was that exciting and interesting. I’m very much a mom; my life revolves around my child and doing child-centered activities. I’m not this raging party girl that I think people think I am. Sorry. I wish I was, though,”
she shares.
This down-to-earth side of Fox often surprises those familiar only with her striking style and celebrity circle, which includes Madonna and Paris Hilton. Despite her public image as a bold fashion icon and socialite, Fox remains rooted in the simple pleasures and responsibilities of everyday family life.
A Creative Career That Reflects Her Authentic Self
Julia Fox continues to build her creative career with diverse projects, including a role in the CBS drama “Elsbeth” and starring in the upcoming Netflix film “Night Always Comes,” alongside Vanessa Kirby. She is soon to appear in “Him,” a horror movie produced by Jordan Peele and directed by Justin Tipping, where she plays Elsie White, a complex character connected to a fading football star portrayed by Marlon Wayans.
Fox recalls the filming experience as surprisingly comforting:
“We bonded like a little family unit, because we were all in New Mexico for quite a while. Sometimes on set there will be people who are a little weird, but on this set, everyone was amazing. Even though the movie’s so scary, the filming process wasn’t giving that at all.”
This description again highlights how her professional life integrates seamlessly with her preference for close-knit community and authenticity.
Addressing Public Misconceptions About Her Personality
Many people may mistake her for being superficial, erratic, or immersed in nightlife and substance use, but Fox pushes back against those assumptions.
“I suspect people think I’m superficial or crazy — or that I do drugs or party a lot,”
she says.
“Sometimes I see stuff and I’m just like, Wow. If only you knew.”
She emphasizes that her primary focus is motherhood.
“I’m very much a mom; my life revolves around my child and doing child-centered activities.”
She also expresses a strong sense of individuality and disinterest in conforming to public expectations:
“I’ve just been me this entire time. If people think otherwise, that’s their business.”
This authentic self-acceptance is linked to greater societal observations she makes about prejudice:
“There’s people that just, you know, hate women and hate anyone who’s different or doesn’t conform, or doesn’t live to please the male gaze,”
she explains, referring to her ongoing challenge against sexist stereotypes.
Parenting Philosophy Challenging Gender Norms
Fox is intentional in how she raises Valentino, believing firmly in equality between boys and girls. She stresses the importance of teaching boys that they can be strong and vulnerable on their own terms.
“You just need to raise your boys the same way you raise your girls. We put so much more pressure on our girls, and we fill their heads with so much more cautionary tales,”
she states.
“You need to be teaching them that they can grow up and their fists can be weapons.”
She shares a recent example of Alberto’s curiosity and openness about gender expression:
“We were watching a movie, and this guy comes out wearing a wedding dress. [Valentino] was like, ‘Mommy, why is he wearing a dress?’ And I was like, ‘Well, Uncle Ben wears dresses. If I wore a suit, would that be weird?’ And I saw the wheels turning.”
This reflects Fox’s commitment to having honest and sometimes challenging conversations early, despite the effort involved.
She admits the parenting process is exhausting but important:
“Sometimes I’m just like, ‘Do I really have to do this?’ But no, I do because God forbid he goes out into the world and becomes the exact epitome of everything I hate because I was just like, ‘It’ll be fine.’ As soon as they start making those remarks, we have to start deconstructing that.”
Fox maintains a coparenting relationship with her ex-husband, Peter Artemiev, describing their current dynamic as positive, though she acknowledges it could change.
“In a couple months, he might do something and then we’re not anymore, but compared to a lot of other coparenting situations, mine’s heaven.”
Openness with Fans and Embracing Imperfections
Fox has been candid about her life on social media, sometimes airing personal disputes and challenges with her nearly 2 million followers. She views this transparency as therapeutic and a way to build community.
“In the moment when I do it, it’s about me just being like, ‘Hell, yeah,’ like, whatever. And then it always ends up being super therapeutic for me and my community. It always ends up being the way to connect with people,”
she states.
She rejects maintaining a polished public image, appreciating rather the messy realities all people face.
“I’m not better than anybody. I go through the same petty-ass s**t we’re all going through. I can see how maybe some people in the public sphere want to maintain the optics of not being messy, but that was just never my brand. I am messy, and I love mess, and if there is a messy opportunity to be had, I’m gonna seize it. You did me wrong, and now I have to protect your dirt? Like, no. If you don’t want me to talk about it, don’t do it.”
Future Aspirations and Personal Boundaries
Looking ahead, Fox has many creative plans, including writing a second book, directing, and pursuing Broadway roles in original plays. She hopes to collaborate with filmmakers she admires, such as Greta Gerwig and Yorgos Lanthimos. Her family plans vary day-to-day, alternating between dreaming of a large family and feeling content with her current household.
When asked about dating, Fox is dismissive, emphasizing her focus on her home life and personal priorities.
“No offense to you, that’s such an annoying question,”
she states. She values the life she has built and finds contentment in it:
“I’m a grown-up. I’m an adult. For a long time, I would say yes to everything because I was a people-pleaser and I didn’t want to have FOMO or miss an opportunity. Now I don’t have the fear of missing out, I have the fear of being invited. I just like to be home. That’s really what keeps me sane.”
The Significance of Julia Fox’s Grounded Existence
Julia Fox’s surprisingly normal life offers a nuanced portrait beneath the public persona of an It Girl. While embracing her career successes and creative ambitions, she prioritizes a stable home environment, meaningful relationships, and conscious parenting that challenges societal norms. Her openness about personal struggles, rejection of superficial judgment, and focus on authenticity resonate with many who seek balance amidst modern chaos.
As Fox continues to evolve, both personally and professionally, she exemplifies how unconventional figures can craft fulfilling lives rooted in ordinary, essential experiences. For those fascinated by celebrity culture, her story reminds us that fame does not define one’s identity, and that the greatest achievements often lie in everyday moments of love, responsibility, and self-acceptance.
