The Transformation Of Megan Fox From Childhood To Expendables 4
Few careers have seen the soaring highs and lackluster lows that have marked the rollercoaster ride of Megan Fox. After getting her start in teen soap operas, she successfully transitioned to major blockbusters, became somewhat typecast, bounced back, and angered Hollywood power players with some outspoken comments, but endured far longer than some expected. Through it all, the Tennessee-born actress has built up a strong resume, remaining a recognizable face on screens both big and small.
"I had this incredible breakthrough," Fox explained to InStyle in 2021. "I realized that I had been living in a self-imposed prison for so long because I let other people tell me who I was or what I wasn't. I hid because I was hurt."
At 13, Fox began modeling; by 15, she appeared in a Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movie ("Holiday in the Sun") and sitcoms like "Two and a Half Men." This rise to success at a young age resulted in some personal struggles for Fox — only amplified with her 2007 breakthrough in "Transformers" — and while some were publicized for the whole world to see, others were dealt with behind closed doors.
As she returns to blockbusters with a starring role alongside Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham in "Expendables 4," here's a breakdown of the ups and downs in Fox's one-of-a-kind Hollywood career.
She was raised in a religious household
Megan Fox's early years were a far cry from where her career eventually led. The actress was born and raised in Tennessee in a strict Pentecostal household. "I was grounded for all of my childhood," she told Elle Magazine in 2009. "Not most — all."
Fox's parents divorced when she was 3 years old, and her mother remarried. She and her sister later attended Catholic school, but this religious upbringing clashed with an inherent rebelliousness towards authority figures. The end result was a difficult upbringing by all accounts, and Fox found refuge in the arts (she began dancing and studying drama at age 5).
By 13 she had a budding modeling career and a desire to leave it all behind and move to Los Angeles. Fox tested out of high school when she was 17 so she could move, pursuing a full-time career as an actress. Although Fox left her Pentecostal upbringing behind, the actress has remained spiritual in her adult life, continuing to attend church with her family, though the experience has always been intense.
Fox later told Esquire that at age 8, she began speaking in tongues while attending church in Tennessee with her family. However, the catharsis Fox has described from such moments served as a replacement for more intense vices like drugs or alcohol. "I was raised to believe that you're safe in God's hands," she said. "But I don't feel safe with myself."
Her earliest acting role was alongside the Olsen twins
Prior to moving to Los Angeles full-time, Megan Fox made her acting debut alongside two huge stars from the late '90s and early 2000s: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. The twin sisters got their start on the sitcom "Full House" before transitioning to starring together in direct-to-video films. Released in 2001, "Holiday in the Sun" cast Fox as Brianna, a spoiled teen girl competing with the twins for the attention of an attractive male worker at the resort they're staying at.
As for working with the then-iconic child stars, Fox was quite intimidated by their star power. Later on, in an interview with Access, Fox talked up the Olsen twins, saying, "I was in awe of all the clothes and how fashionable they were back then," alluding to the sisters' later success as fashionistas. In the years after "Holiday in the Sun," Fox continued acting frequently, even booking prominent roles in the soap opera "Ocean Ave.," as well as the sitcom "Hope & Faith."
Most importantly, during this time of her career, Fox took work as an extra in "Bad Boys II," which is where she would first cross paths with director Michael Bay. Though a few years passed before Fox's big break, she'd owe it all to Bay, who saw a burgeoning star in the young actress and cast her in one of his biggest blockbuster hits.
Michael Bay transformed Megan Fox into a mainstream celebrity
Megan Fox shot to pop culture superstardom at 21 years old, anchoring Michael Bay's 2007 "Transformers," a live-action adaptation of the cartoon and toy franchise. Starring as Mikaela Banes, the love interest for Shia LaBeouf's mousy Sam Witwicky, she teams up with the teen when they're forced into an intergalactic war against the villainous Decepticons.
Bay's lingering camera and music-video-influenced aesthetic proved an irresistible showcase for Fox, who received nominations at the MTV Movie Awards and Teen Choice Awards. The character appealed to male audiences for obvious reasons, but also to women, perhaps due to her rejection of gender norms — such as knowledge of cars and subversion of damsel-in-distress action movie cliches. Nevertheless, the role drew criticism from some feminist scholars.
As described in Marc DiPaolo's book "War, Politics, and Superheroes: Ethics and Propaganda in Comics and Film," one iconic scene featuring Mikaela helping Sam fix his car was a bridge too far. Nevertheless, DiPaolo attributes the scene to her sudden rise to fame — with help from the infamous yellow Camaro.
Fox becomes a late 2000s sex symbol
With the Camaro scene in "Transformers" a catalyst for Megan Fox's career uptick, the actress took advantage of the sex appeal that got her there. Shortly after the release of "Transformers," Fox was featured in magazines like Maxim and FHM, often ranking highly in the publications' listings of the hottest women in Hollywood. She was favorably compared to stars like Angelina Jolie and Marilyn Monroe, though Fox would often balk at the media equating her to other women simply for her looks and perceived edginess.
Unlike other stars at the time, who would often attempt to reject such labels placed on them by the media, Fox embraced her public image as a sexpot. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Fox expressed a more optimistic view of her sexualization, saying, "I think all women in Hollywood are known as sex symbols. That's what our purpose is in this business. You're merchandised, you're a product. You're sold and it's based on sex. But that's okay. I think women should be empowered by that, not degraded."
Some objected to Fox's comments, insisting that not all women in Hollywood are as sexualized as her. It's perhaps here where a long history of conflict between Fox and the entertainment media world began, with her objectified public image maybe or maybe not being an inherent element to her success.
Her disputes with Bay force her to leave Transformers behind
Megan Fox reprised her role as Mikaela in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," the 2009 franchise sequel once again directed by Michael Bay. Production was reportedly difficult on Fox, who quarreled with Bay over matters like her character's weight. Fox later came under scrutiny for publicly comparing Bay's directorial style to Adolf Hitler. "He wants to be like Hitler on his sets, and he is ... he's vulnerable and fragile in real life," she told Wonderland Magazine. "And then on set, he's a tyrant."
As co-workers on "Revenge of the Fallen" publicly denounced her comments, Fox was fired from the third film in the franchise, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." Several anonymous crew members on the second film even took to the media to vent their frustrations about Fox's on-set behavior in defense of Bay; Fox denied the accusations and apologized for starting the public circus in the first place.
Although other crew members would later publicly back up Fox's on-set behavior, her departure from the blockbuster franchise could've spelled the end of Fox's career as a movie star. Thankfully, she found she was still in demand from other directors, and soon took center-stage in her own high-profile genre film.
Jennifer's Body turns Fox into a feminist icon
The same year "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" famously resulted in her dismissal, Megan Fox toplined "Jennifer's Body," a horror comedy penned by Diablo Cody (at the time a red-hot screenwriter coming off her Oscar-winning script for "Juno"). The film follows Fox as the titular Jennifer, a high schooler possessed by a demon that causes her to kill and eat her male classmates.
From the get-go, Fox was drawn to the film for giving her more of an opportunity to showcase her acting talents. "I felt like I was able to make fun of my own image as to how some people might perceive Megan Fox to be," she told MovieOnline.
The film was sexy, snarky, and subversive — and upon release, a dud at the box office. Critics derided its campy tone, and although it has garnered a cult audience of devotees over the years, even today it is rated below 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. In retrospect, some feel that the ultimate sin caused by "Jennifer's Body" was in being poorly marketed as a Fox sexy film rather than highlighting the irreverent, smart script that eventually found an appreciative audience.
In the post-#MeToo era of Hollywood, as the straight male gaze is increasingly avoided, "Jennifer's Body" has been reappraised by many as a powerful entry in feminist film history.
Fox and Bay reunite for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Despite the critical failure of "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and the box-office disappointment of "Jennifer's Body," Megan Fox's star power remained resilient. As the 2010s rolled in, she made prominent appearances in films like the DC Comics adaptation of "Jonah Hex" (another notorious box office bomb), the romantic comedy "Friends with Kids," and the Judd Apatow dramedy "This is 40." In 2014, however, something unexpected happened as Fox reunited with Michael Bay for another live-action adaptation of a classic kid's franchise.
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," produced by Bay and directed by Jonathan Liebesman, featured Fox as April O'Neil, the plucky New York City reporter who discovers and befriends the group of sewer-dwelling ninjas. There was some early pushback to the announcement of Fox's casting, particularly due to her history with Bay and the interest of other actresses in playing the role. However, Entertainment Weekly argued in her favor, writing, "Fox respects the roles that fans play in these cult followings."
Fox reprised the role in the film's 2016 sequel, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows," which bombed at the box office and ultimately resulted in the cancellation of a third film in the franchise. Nevertheless, Fox wouldn't be out of work for too long — instead, she pivoted to television.
New Girl showcases Fox's comedic strengths
Even Megan Fox was suspicious when in 2015, she was asked to join the hit Fox sitcom "New Girl," starring Zooey Deschanel and Jake Johnson. The actress joined the series cast during its fifth season when Deschanel briefly left the show on maternity leave. When Jessica Day (Deschanel) is sequestered for jury duty in her absence, Fox enters the apartment as Reagan Lucas, an old friend of Cece's (Hannah Simone); she eventually begins dating Nick (Johnson) throughout Seasons 5 and 6.
Despite mixed reviews for Fox's performances in past films, she was a revelation to television critics as part of the cast of "New Girl." As The Hollywood Reporter put it, "When she's given good dialogue, Fox is funny, and her character has an accurate and reductive perspective on how predictable the flatmates have become that the writers would be wise to heed."
Although Fox remained on "New Girl" once Deschanel returned, and appeared regularly throughout Season 6, the character ultimately winded up leaving by the end of that season so that Nick could reunite romantically with Jess. While Fox's tenure on "New Girl" was brief, it showed that the actress could do more than run from robots and seductively fix Camaros.
Fox's personal relationships become tabloid fodder
While Megan Fox's professional career has inspired plenty of spilled ink in entertainment magazines and websites, her personal life has garnered headlines in the more tabloid-minded corners of the media. In 2010, she married "90210" actor-slash-rapper Brian Austin Green, whom she met on the set of "Hope & Faith" in 2004. The two had three children together between 2012 and 2016, though an on-again, off-again relationship over the years made headlines that finally culminated in their separation and divorce in 2020.
Shortly after separating from Green, Fox entered into a relationship with musician Colson Baker, better known by his stage name: Machine Gun Kelly. The two met on the set of the 2021 thriller "Midnight in the Switchgrass," with Fox later telling GQ that "It was obvious from second one what it was going to be."
Fox later appeared in Machine Gun Kelly's music video for his song "Bloody Valentine," making their relationship public. The two became engaged in early 2022, and continue to make appearances together, although some comments to the media about their relationship status have raised eyebrows.
The 2020s have seen a cultural renaissance for Megan Fox
By the end of the 2010s, Megan Fox's career seemed to be waning. Following her 2017 departure from "New Girl," films like "Zeroville," "Rogue," and "Think Like a Dog" had come and gone with little to no fanfare. Fox could be seen hosting "Legends of the Lost with Megan Fox," a Travel Channel documentary series that focused on the mysteries behind ancient civilizations. Some argued that the series dangerously blurred the lines between serious archaeology and fictional entertainment.
With the arrival of the 2020s, however, Fox once again began to turn things around. The 2021 thriller "Till Death" cast Fox as a married woman, handcuffed to her husband's dead body. It resulted in perhaps the most acclaim Fox has ever received for a performance; Dread Central called the film "funny in a grimly humorous way [as] Fox sells the twisted tone ably." Other reviews also singled out Fox's performance as committed, realistic, and magnetic, drawing comparisons to her work in "Jennifer's Body."
Following "Till Death," Fox and Machine Gun Kelly have collaborated on the indie films "Taurus" and "Good Mourning." In 2023, Fox was also featured on one of four covers of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
Fox has recently reflected on her public image
Although Megan Fox has always been open about taking advantage of her sex appeal, over the years the actress has become more cautious in regards to her public image. In 2012, she openly argued against being a sex symbol, telling Harper's Bazaar, "My biggest regret is that I've assisted the media in making me into a cartoon character. I don't regret what has happened to me, but I regret the way I have dealt with it."
Though she may have regrets, other aspects of her public image give Fox pride, such as her decision to come out as bisexual early on in her career. She's been particularly appreciative of fans who have cited films like "Jennifer's Body" as an inspiration for their own journeys towards coming out.
In 2023, Fox spoke to Vanity Fair about her lifelong struggles with body image, saying, "There's never a point in my life where I loved my body, never, ever." Some of these struggles, such as an eating disorder, began all the way back during Fox's childhood, and still remain in her current life.
If you need help with an eating disorder, or know someone who does, help is available. Visit the National Eating Disorders Association website or contact NEDA's Live Helpline at 1-800-931-2237. You can also receive 24/7 Crisis Support via text (send NEDA to 741-741).
The Expendables 4 is Fox's return to action films
Now a veteran of the entertainment industry, Megan Fox has experienced many different sides of Hollywood. From soap operas to sitcoms, and blockbusters to independent films, she has had both highs and lows in her career. Now, the actress is in familiar territory with "Expendables 4," starring Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, and other notables including everyone from 50 Cent to Dolph Lundgren and Randy Couture.
Coming almost a decade after the last "Expendables" sequel, Fox joins the cast as Gina, a CIA operator and the former flame of Statham's character. Fox was eager to work opposite the veteran action stars as well as the prospect of doing her own stunts, which required a significant amount of rehearsal and training during pre-production.
Overall, Fox's career seems to once again be on the rise. As she has proven time and again, she's not someone to be counted out.