How Jamie Foxx Helped Cameron Diaz Return to Acting for Back in Action

In a surprising turn of events, Cameron Diaz made her return to acting in Netflix’s Back in Action, co-starring with Jamie Foxx. However, the film’s director, Seth Gordon, revealed that he was initially told not to even consider Diaz for the role, as she was “fully retired.”

Despite this, Foxx, who has been friends with Diaz for years, played a pivotal role in making her return possible. According to Gordon, Foxx’s connection to Diaz, including their shared manager, led to the script being sent to her.

Diaz had been away from acting since 2014’s Annie remake, but Foxx’s encouragement and the timing of the film’s premise, which mirrored Diaz’s real-life situation as a retired spy turned mom, helped coax her back into the industry.

Gordon described the timing as “extraordinary,” and credited Foxx’s access and friendship with Diaz for the success of the endeavor. Diaz’s husband, Benji Madden, also played a part in her decision to return to acting, further aligning with the film’s themes.

The film quickly rose to No. 1 on Netflix, and with Diaz signed on for two films, a sequel could be in the works. For now, fans are simply thankful that the stars aligned for this unexpected comeback.