BY DANA JACKSON
Q: Whatever happened to actor Jamie Foxx? I read that he was in a coma, but came out of it. Is he OK? -- P.F.
A: Jamie Foxx was rushed to the hospital back in April after reportedly suffering some kind of medical emergency before heading to the set of his movie “Back in Action,” with Cameron Diaz. There were rumors that he was near death, in a coma, possibly having suffered a stroke. While he hasn’t given details about what caused his collapse, he recently emerged in video form on social media looking very much alive and well. He issued a statement thanking everyone who prayed for him and sent him messages. He further stated, “I cannot even begin to tell you how far it took me and how it brought me back. I went through something that I thought I would never, ever go through.”
Foxx says he remained silent for so long because he didn’t want fans to see him with “tubes running out” of him, and thanked his sister and his daughter for protecting him from the media. He denied reports that he lost his vision or was paralyzed. It’s uncertain when he’ll finish shooting “Back in Action.”
Q:
Didn’t the director of the new “Barbie” movie start out as an actress? I think I saw her in an indie movie years ago. When did she make the transition to directing? -- L.L.
A:Greta Gerwig has earned the multi-hyphenate title of actress-writer-director, but started out acting in independent films. She first gained the attention of critics when she starred opposite Ben Stiller in the
indie film “Greenberg,” and later for “Frances Ha.” Both films were directed by her now longtime partner in love, Noah Baumbach. The two have partnered together in writing screenplays, including the current big-budget Hollywood pic “Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie. Gerwig first added the title of director to her resume in 2008 with the film “Nights and Weekends,” in which she also starred. In 2017, she earned an Oscar nomination for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for her film “Lady Bird,” and then received another nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Little Women” two years later. She recently made history with “Barbie” after it generated the highest opening weekend at the box office for a film directed by a woman. Her last acting role was in the 2022 film “White Noise,” opposite Adam Driver.
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