Jamie Foxx’s “Back in Action” co-star was shocked when they learned about his terrifying health scare.
Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo recalled their interaction with Foxx, 57, during the one day they spent on the set of the Netflix film in April 2023, before he suffered a medical emergency that left him hospitalized for weeks.
“My experience being a day player on that set, I sort of came in, he seemed totally fine,” Lewis-Nyawo told The Post in an exclusive interview. “And then I remember going to go get my hair done, and then everyone going, ‘Oh my God. Jamie Foxx was ill.’ I was like, ‘Was he?’”
“But it’s life,” the actor continued. “Life happens when you’re making these productions. I think it’s a testament to the production and to how it was handled that he was able to complete it and work on it.”
The “Wednesday” star noted they’re “so glad” that Foxx recovered and was able to finish the film, which co-starred Cameron Diaz in her movie comeback.
“It would have been such a shame if people didn’t see that, because he’s such an incredible guy,” Lewis-Nyawo said about Foxx. “But yeah, it’s a testament to how some sets can be so supportive of their artists.”
Lewis-Nyawo reiterated that Foxx “seemed great” the last time they saw him on the Atlanta set before the incident.
“He was working, he was doing well. And then after the fact I heard and I was like, ‘Oh, wow,’” Lewis-Nyawo recalled. “So you never know. Like, you never know what someone’s going through essentially.”
“Back in Action” paused production on April 11, 2023 after Foxx suffered what he later described as a “brain bleed that led to a stroke.”
“I don’t remember 20 days,” he said in his 2024 Netflix special, “What Had Happened Was…,” adding that after immediately undergoing surgery, he woke up on May 4, 2023 and discovered he was in a wheelchair.
The “Ray” star was unable to walk without assistance for a period of time before he made a full recovery.
“I saw the tunnel. I didn’t see the light,” he said in his special.
Lewis-Nyawo told The Post that Foxx was a joy to work with.
“That man just has an entourage around him at all times, and he’s constantly playing tunes,” they shared. “I remember when we were on set, we were waiting for the director and the cinematographer to figure out a slightly tricky set up, and he would get the cast to start singing old funk tunes.”
“He just got the most incredibly charismatic personality,” Lewis-Nyawo added. “He can get people to have a good time wherever they are.”
Lewis-Nyawo also had high praise for Diaz, 53.
“What I really took away from that experience is Cameron Diaz is the sweetest human being on the face of the planet,” Lewis-Nyawo gushed. “She is just so sweet. She is intelligent, warm, kind, open.”
