We recently got the chance to watch the short, independent film “Beauty Queen,” starring Timothy Cox. Cox, a stage and independent film actor from New York City, is no stranger to us. We’ve watched some of his films before, and he is a well-known advocate for indie film.
“Beauty Queen” is a good film for Cox, as it highlights his ability to play minimized roles and his contentment to fade into the background of his films and let the camera tell the story. It’s also a film with a wider-sweeping social edge: the story of a high school girl who wants to be pretty, but is trying to balance societal expectations that demand she be either smart or pretty, where being both is a seeming impossibility.
We recently had the chance to talk to Cox about his roles, acting in both theater and screen performances, and artistic life in New York City.
Hi, can you please introduce yourself for our readers?
TC: Hello and Thank you, Mark. My name is Timothy J. Cox. I am a stage and film actor from Philadelphia, who has called New York City his home since 2001 where I live with my wife Jamie and our one-year-old son, Spencer, who is named after one of my acting idols, Spencer Tracy.
Can you tell us how you got into acting? What drew you to the profession?
TC: When I was in the 8th Grade, there were auditions for the school musical and they were being held during the school day, during Math class which I hated, so I decided to audition just to get out of class. I went into the audition, with no desires or aspirations to be an actor, but the director must have seen something in me because he cast me in the leading role. I got hooked and after all of these years, I’m still doing it.
Do you have a favorite role that you have done? What was special about this role to you?
TC: Wow. It’s impossible to narrow it down to just one as I have been so incredibly lucky to have been able to play a wide range of characters over the years. Each one has a special place in my heart, even the ones I didn’t get quite right.
How many films have you been in to date? Have you done any directing or just performing?
TC: I think I’ve done a little over 50 films. Again, I have been very lucky. No directing for me. I don’t think I have the temperament, specifically the patience, to be a director.
Can you talk a bit about independent films? Do you think the medium is gaining traction with the proliferation of online media options and online film critics?
TC: I hope so. I can only speak to my experience working mostly in independent short films. The films that I have appeared in wouldn’t have an audience without the support of online critics. In the past 5-10 years, I have seen more support for short films from sites like The Movie Buff, Sonic-Cinema, OneFilmFan.com, The Independent Critic, Cinema-Crazed.com, The Burrow Reviews (and many, many others), which I have deeply appreciated.
I recently watched a film you were in called “Beauty Queen.” What drew you to this film? What message do you hope viewers will walk away with? What do you think the father’s role in the narrative is?
TC: I was drawn to the film by the quality of Nick Goodwin’s script. When I read it, I was immediately taken with how honest and true the relationship between David and Christina was. And when I arrived on set and met Christina Goursky, who was marvelous in the film, we just clicked. We were father and daughter. It was very easy and relaxed.
I’m very proud of the film. It’s a film that I hope everyone sees, especially the parents. It’s about how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us. It’s a film that forces us to consider how we think about ourselves. In your review of the film Mark, you hit it right on the head…the perfect word…empathy. Christina’s trying to figure out who she is and who she wants to be in the film and David serves as her moral compass. He’s there to help her, guide her and ultimately, no matter what, with no judgement, to love her.
Do you have any upcoming projects that you are able to talk about with us? If so, what are they?
TC: I am about to go into production on the film “Just Scream,” about a woman whose tragic past is about to be brought back into the light in an interview with a TV personality, which is who I will be playing. The film was written and directed by Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah.
The comedy ”Italian Turtles,” from writer/director Vin Nucatola, takes a fun look at how the idea for ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ was pitched to various companies in the 1980s. It’s being submitted to festivals now and will be available for viewing soon. That was a fun one to work on. Lastly, I have Yalan Hu’s ”Doll It Up.” It’s a dark comedy that I worked on a few months ago that has already screened in a few festivals and by a few online critics. I play a man, married to a sex doll, who thinks that the marriage has grown stale, so he decides to purchase a new doll that he adores, but finds out that his new wife isn’t as innocent as she looks.
What advice do you have for individuals looking to get into independent films? What are the ups and downs?
TC: In general, in the life of an artist, there are periods of great activity and there are periods of great inactivity. It’s an ebb and flow kind of life and you need to be able to work through that. Some people call it dark periods. I don’t quite look at it that way. I have a “supporting actor” mentality where I always think and know that the next job is always around the corner. It’s kept me positive and it’s kept me sane.
What is the biggest struggle in being an independent actor? Also, have you ever done anything mainstream?
TC: No, I haven’t done anything mainstream, yet. Obviously, one of the biggest struggles for any actor is always financial, but luckily, I have a very supportive wife and I have a great “survival” job as a tour guide here in New York City. It keeps me busy between acting jobs.
I have a “supporting actor” mentality where I always think and know that the next job is always around the corner. It’s kept me positive and it’s kept me sane.” Timothy cox
The key thing about being an actor is relentlessness. If want to be an actor, you have to be relentless. You can’t just sit by your phone or your laptop and wait for that great role to come to you, you have to get out there and work your ass off. This life and work requires discipline and patience. For me, it’s all about playing the long game. It’s never been about being a movie star or having a big trailer or anything like that. All I have ever wanted was to be is a working actor.
What hopes do you have for the future?
TC: Right now, I’m having a ball watching my son grow. He just turned one in November, so my wife and I are eagerly awaiting his first words.
Professionally speaking, I’m hopeful that audiences like ”Italian Turtles” and ”Doll It Up.”
As far as other projects, I know that next job is right around the corner.
You can follow Tim with the following links:
Website: www.timothyjcox.com
IMDB: www.imdb.me/timothyjcox
Facebook: www.facebook.com/officialtimothyjcox/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TimothyJCoxAct
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timothyjcox/
