LEGAL THRILLER

Vivica A. Fox

Divorced from rapper Sixx-Nine but dating rapper 50 Cent (she must love numbers), Vivica A. Fox, 39, dishes out punishment as an assassin in Kill Bill Vol. 1.

ON PREPARING FOR THE FILM: We were working out like we were going to be in the Olympics. We did tae kwon do, weightlifting, choreography. I was ripped. I went from a size 8 to a 4.

ON THE LOVING MARTIAL ARTS MOVIES AS A KID: I was a big Bruce Lee fan. He was the finest Asian man I'd ever seen. I was a tomboy, and I have two older brothers. We'd go to wrestling matches. I got put in a lot of head- locks. And I got used to fighting back.

ON THE BLACK PEOPLE DYING FIRST IN MOVIES: I told [director] Quentin Tarantino that he might get flak. But the wonderful thing about this movie is that every girl gets whipped. The fact I went first—don't take it personally.

ON DATING 50 CENT, 27: We have a blossoming, wonderful friendship. Does the age difference bother us? Not at all. I've asked him. [He says] "Nope. Look at you, you look 28, girl, damn." He's awesome. He keeps me young. BOB MEADOWS