The co-star Cameron Diaz called “literally the most talented man”
Once upon a time, you couldn’t move for Cameron Diaz. Everything the star touched seemed to turn as golden as her flowing locks.
It didn’t matter if she was in a comedy, a drama, or anything in between; during her heyday, she would make it work. She became an untouchable star at the box office, a bankable name for well over a decade, and she still commands a great deal of respect in the industry even after taking a lengthy break from the silver screen.
Prior to her temporary retirement, Diaz worked with all the biggest names in the business. Her breakout role in The Mask saw her paired up with Jim Carrey, a similarly hot property in the 1990s. She oozed chemistry opposite all the heartthrobs—Leonardo DiCaprio in Gangs of New York, Tom Cruise in Knight and Day—and worked alongside incredible female talent like Julia Roberts and Kate Winslet. Then there are all the stars who lent their voices to the Shrek franchise, listing all of whom would keep us here till next month.
This made an appearance on Complex’s GOAT Talk show a little tricky. The YouTube segment requires guests to name their ‘Goat’ (greatest of all time) in a number of different subjects. Diaz, who was there to promote her comeback movie Back in Action, was asked to name her favourite mannerism that she had noticed in her co-star, Jamie Foxx. Given how many talented performers she has worked with over the years, there could have been some awkward comparisons here. Instead, Diaz had no trouble at all singing his praises.
“What I’ve observed with you, with your mannerisms, is that… literally there’s nothing you can’t do,” she told Foxx to his face, adding, “You’re literally the most talented man…in entertainment, period”.
This may seem like hyperbole designed to butter up somebody present in the room, but Diaz’s kind words ring true. Before he was a star in the movies, Foxx made waves on TV, through comedies like In Living Color and The Jamie Foxx Show, establishing himself as a reliable funnyman before taking on more dramatic and Oscar-winning roles in films. Then there’s his music career, which has seen him top the US singles chart and win a Grammy.
Alongside his pick for the greatest stand-up comedian of all time, Foxx also used this interview to inflate the ego of his co-star. “Usually when you’re doing a movie, an actor or an actress shows up, they do their thing, and they leave,” he explained, before referring to his colleague. “When she got the script, she says, ‘Hold on a second. Get this here, put that there, put that there, let’s do this here’, and I thought…like, ‘wow, that’s amazing’.”
It should be noted that Foxx was performing all sorts of crazy hand gestures while saying all this, and so to get the full idea of what he meant, you probably need to watch the clip.
Foxx’s personal life hasn’t always run smoothly, but his contributions to the entertainment world are truly exceptional. He defines the phrase ‘multi-talented’ and is living proof that there is time to do it all if you have the requisite talent and dedication.
