Crystal Fox on 'His & Hers': The Invisibility of Black Women, Maternal Sacrifice, and Honoring Nina Simone's Legacy
Exclusive Interview: The veteran actress discusses her riveting performance in Netflix's #1 thriller and the responsibility of carrying forward her aunt Nina Simone's artistic integrity
Crystal Fox has never been one to shy away from complex characters. From her unforgettable portrayal of Hannah Young in Tyler Perry's "The Haves and the Have Nots" to Officer LuAnn Corbin in "In the Heat of the Night," Fox has built a distinguished career playing women who refuse simple categorization. Now, in Netflix's psychological thriller "His & Hers," which has claimed the number one spot on the streaming platform, Fox delivers what may be her most layered performance yet as Alice, a mother harboring devastating secrets in a small Georgia town.
Based on Alice Feeney's bestselling novel, "His & Hers" follows estranged spouses Anna (Tessa Thompson) and Jack (Jon Bernthal) as their lives collide through a murder investigation in Dahlonega, Georgia. Fox's Alice serves as both the emotional center and one of the series' most shocking revelations, exploring themes of maternal protection, social invisibility, and the consequences of long-buried trauma.
I sat down with Fox for an in-depth conversation about her approach to playing Alice, the series' commentary on how society overlooks older Black women in service positions, and her responsibility to honor the legacy of her legendary aunt, Nina Simone.
A Role Too Good to Pass Up: Working with Tessa Thompson
For Fox, the opportunity to work alongside Tessa Thompson was a primary motivation for taking the role. "Being part of such a high-profile project is about more than just a job," Fox explained. "It's about representing my community and proving my staying power in an ever-changing industry."
The chemistry between Thompson and Fox becomes one of the series' most compelling elements, with their mother-daughter dynamic serving as both tender and terrifying. Alice's character appears to be suffering from early dementia, wandering her house at night showing signs of mental decline. But as the series progresses, viewers discover there's far more to Alice than meets the eye.
"As Alice watched Anna enter the house and see her mother, I believed she had no purpose until then," Fox shared. "She lost her purpose after losing her granddaughter and daughter."
The Invisibility of Black Women in Service Roles
One of the most powerful themes Fox explores in "His & Hers" is the societal invisibility of older Black women, particularly those in blue-collar service positions. Alice works as a housekeeper in Dahlonega, moving through the homes of the town's elite families, seeing their secrets while remaining unseen herself. It's a position Anna later uses to devastating effect in her investigation.
"She was living it on a daily basis, because it didn't have to be," Fox explained. "If you are a woman of color and a blue-collar worker, you will undoubtedly face disdain. I don't care what age you are, but the elderly are frequently overlooked, and her housekeeping work placed her in all of the different families in town, allowing her to observe how they are treated."
This theme of invisibility became deeply personal for Fox during her preparation for the role. "As I grew older, I started to experience this myself, but I never recognized its necessity until I faced it," she continued. "So, she was aware, which is something I believe happens a lot. I believe that as people of color, we frequently have to be aware of our surroundings to know how to ebb and flow in them, and so you either move around certain situations if they are unpleasant, or you keep it in your back pocket in case you need it. Use what you need, but don't use what you don't."
Fox believes this invisibility gave Alice a strategic advantage. "Nobody was the type that took to pay attention to her because of her job. The fact is that as people age, they are invisible. She used this to her advantage," Fox noted, referencing how Alice's position allowed her to move through the community gathering information while being dismissed as just another service worker.
Maternal Protection and Moral Complexity
Throughout her career, Fox has specialized in playing mothers whose fierce protection of their children leads them into morally ambiguous territory. Alice continues this tradition, but with a shocking twist that reframes everything viewers think they know about her character.
The series reveals that Alice is actually responsible for multiple murders in the town, motivated by a decades-old trauma. When Anna was a teenager, she was raped by one of her St. Hilary's school classmates during a party in the woods. The revelation devastated Alice, who had sacrificed enormously to give Anna access to better schools and social opportunities.
"What drove Alice to do what she did was to provide Anna with access to a better school, she was getting access to good people," Fox explained. "Alice thought these girls were her friends. They are not her friends, and they continued to have a life while her daughters plummeted. That caused her to snap. The situation became non-negotiable, negatively impacting the rest of her life."
Alice's response to her daughter's trauma was extreme: she systematically murdered the three classmates involved, staging their deaths and staying under the radar for years by leveraging her invisibility as an older Black service worker. She even faked dementia to divert suspicion.
"It was the toughest scene to watch," Fox said of Alice's justification. "Technically, she's the one that was reckless. She's the one that took that single moment in Zoe's life and let it grow into this mess. How could a mother not watch it, tolerate it, and then live with that kind of 'good mom, go!'"
Netflix Success and Industry Longevity
The success of "His & Hers" marks Fox's second major project with Netflix, following her critically acclaimed performance in Tyler Perry's "A Fall From Grace." The series debuted at number one on the platform and has maintained strong viewership, with critics praising its twisty narrative and powerful performances.
Fox now considers Netflix family. "This marks her second successful project with Netflix, a relationship she now considers family," she noted, expressing gratitude for the platform's commitment to diverse storytelling and complex roles for Black actresses.
The series has resonated with audiences not just for its thriller elements, but for its exploration of secrets, lies, and intergenerational trauma. "'His & Hers' on the surface looks like a regular whodunit, but underneath it's about secrets and lies and how those secrets and lies can kill friendships and cause everlasting trauma," Fox observed.
Honoring Nina Simone's Legacy
Beyond her work on "His & Hers," Fox carries a profound responsibility as the niece of legendary musician and civil rights activist Nina Simone. This connection to one of the most important artists of the 20th century informs Fox's approach to her own craft and her commitment to meaningful storytelling.
"She spoke about the responsibility to protect and honor her aunt's legacy, particularly through her own work," Fox shared. "As a performer who started as a dancer, Fox understands the power of art to teach and inspire. She hopes to continue this tradition, passing down the lessons of music, civil rights, and artistic integrity to the next generation."
Simone's commitment to using art as activism and speaking uncomfortable truths clearly resonates in Fox's choice of roles. Whether playing Hannah Young's morally complicated journey in "The Haves and the Have Nots" or Alice's vengeful maternal protection in "His & Hers," Fox gravitates toward characters who challenge audiences and refuse to be easily categorized.
"For Fox, being part of such a high-profile project is about more than just a job; it's about representing her community and proving her staying power in an ever-changing industry," reflecting the same dedication to excellence and representation that defined her aunt's career.
The Broader Implications of 'His & Hers'
While "His & Hers" functions as an effective thriller with genuinely shocking twists—the series has earned a 7.3 rating on IMDb with viewers praising its unpredictable ending—it also serves as social commentary on class, race, and gender in small-town America.
The series, directed by William Oldroyd ("Eileen," "Lady Macbeth"), examines how women from different backgrounds navigate systems of power and oppression. Anna uses her position as a news reporter to investigate and ultimately manipulate the narrative. Alice uses her invisibility as a housekeeper to exact revenge. Meanwhile, characters like Rachel and Helen represent wealthy white women who escaped consequences for their complicity in Anna's assault.
The Atlanta-based production also showcases Georgia's rich landscape, with Dahlonega serving as both setting and character. The small-town dynamics allow the series to explore how secrets fester in close-knit communities and how social hierarchies determine whose stories get told and whose pain gets acknowledged.
Critical and Audience Response
The critical response to "His & Hers" has been overwhelmingly positive, with particular praise for the ensemble cast's performances. Tessa Thompson's portrayal of Anna has been called a standout, bringing depth to a character navigating professional ambition, personal trauma, and a crumbling marriage.
Jon Bernthal's Detective Jack Harper adds another layer of complexity as a man investigating a case while dealing with his own secrets and suspicions about his estranged wife. The tension between the two former spouses drives much of the series' suspense.
But it's Fox's Alice who delivers the series' most shocking revelation. The trailer accumulated over 500,000 views in its first 24 hours, and viewers have taken to social media to express their surprise at the series' twist ending, with many noting they never saw Alice's true nature coming until the final episodes.
"Okay, the acting was strong, overall everything was on point but maybe slow. I believed I knew who was the killer, and I was like - okay too predictable, who made this? The ending was brilliant," one viewer wrote, echoing the sentiments of many who found themselves completely blindsided by the final revelations.
A Career Defining Performance
For Crystal Fox, "His & Hers" represents another milestone in a career defined by fearless choices and powerful performances. From "In the Heat of the Night" to "The Haves and the Have Nots" to "A Fall From Grace" and now "His & Hers," Fox has consistently chosen roles that challenge both herself and her audiences.
Her portrayal of Alice adds crucial dimensions to ongoing conversations about representation in media, particularly regarding older Black women in service positions who remain unseen despite being essential to the functioning of their communities. By centering Alice's perspective and revealing the depth of her pain, rage, and determination, "His & Hers" forces viewers to reckon with who we see and who we overlook.
"This is a joy," Fox said of her current moment in the spotlight, reflecting on the success of the series and her continued relevance in an industry that too often discards women of a certain age.
As "His & Hers" continues to dominate Netflix's top ten, Fox's performance stands as a reminder of the power of experienced actresses to deliver nuanced, unforgettable work when given the opportunity. And in honoring her aunt Nina Simone's legacy of artistic excellence and social consciousness, Fox ensures that the next generation of performers understands the responsibility that comes with the platform.
Series Details
Title: His & Hers
Premiere Date: January 8, 2026 (Netflix)
Episodes: 6-episode limited series
Based on: Novel by Alice Feeney (2020)
Director: William Oldroyd
Starring: Tessa Thompson, Jon Bernthal, Crystal Fox, Pablo Schreiber, Sunita Mani, Marin Ireland, Rebecca Rittenhouse, Chris Bauer
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Crime Drama
Setting: Dahlonega, Georgia
Runtime: 45 minutes per episode
Rating: TV-MA
Current Status: #1 on Netflix
About Crystal Fox
Crystal Fox (born Crystal R. Fox) is a veteran American actress and the niece of legendary singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone. Her extensive career spans television, film, and theater, with notable roles including:
Hannah Young in Tyler Perry's "The Haves and the Have Nots" (2013-2021)
Officer LuAnn Corbin in "In the Heat of the Night"
Grace Waters' mother in Tyler Perry's "A Fall From Grace" (Netflix, 2020)
Alice in "His & Hers" (Netflix, 2026)
Fox began her career as a dancer before transitioning to acting, bringing a physical awareness and artistic discipline to her performances. Throughout her career, she has been committed to portraying complex Black women with authenticity and depth, continuing the legacy of artistic excellence and social consciousness established by her aunt Nina Simone.
This interview was conducted by Kathia Woods for Cup of Soul Show and the Philadelphia Tribune. "His & Hers" is currently streaming on Netflix. For more exclusive entertainment interviews and coverage, follow Cup of Soul Show.