There was no shortage of work for actor Jamie Foxx in the 2000s, with him starring in some of the biggest films and music videos at that time. The recognition was plentiful, while his career celebrations proved endless.
However, the Academy Award winner recently reflected on the time prominent figure Oprah Winfrey pulled him aside amid his fun to gently caution him about his partying animal-like behavior.
The “Project Power” star recalled the moment during a recent conversation with “Access Hollywood” where he told reporters, “She said, ‘You’re blowing it.’…because we’re just out hanging and we wasn’t taking the moment seriously.”
She said, ‘I want to take you somewhere so you can understand the significance of what you’re doing.”
That somewhere ended up being the home of legendary musician Quincy Jones, where they staged an intervention alongside the late acting icon Sidney Poitier. Foxx said that while doing impressions of the two entertainers, Jones told him, “You’re doing a great job on ‘Ray,’ but you’re just f–king everything else up” with his antics.
“ ‘Man, you gotta buckle down, baby,’ ” Foxx added as he impersonated Jones. The jazz composer gave the actor a tour of his home, showing him plaques he’s earned because of his contributions to music. “ ‘You see that that’s 54 million records, man ‘Thriller.’ You can do it, man…we’re counting on you, baby.’ ”
Foxx continued, “So, then Oprah says, now are you ready to meet the person that I’ve brought you here to talk with, and it was Sidney Poitier.” The actor questioned whether he remembered seeing the veteran at a party. “He says when I watched your performance, it made me grow artistically two inches.”
The history-making Bahamian and American actor continued his praise, “ ‘and I give something, I give you responsibility that from now on throughout your career, you be responsible for what you give and what you show.’ ”
In 2004, Foxx portrayed singer, composer and pianist Ray Charles in the biographical musical drama film focusing on 30 years in the life of the prolific artist.
The performance earned Foxx his first career Oscars award in 2005 for “Best Actor” as well as the Golden Globe, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild and Critics’ Choice; he became the second actor to win all five major lead actor awards for the same performance, and the only one to win the Golden Globe in the Musical or Comedy category, rather than in Drama.
Since the meeting, Foxx said, “I have done as best I can to sort of live up to that because it is very important.”
