By TYLER McLEOD --

NEW YORK -- It must be the year of the Fox.

Vivica Fox, who first gained attention this summer in Independence Day, is getting ready to work on next summer's blockbuster, Batman and Robin.

"I couldn't ask for a better year, I'm telling you," agrees Fox.

Fox has three movies coming out before Batman hits screens - Set it Off with Jada Pinkett, Soul Food with Vanessa Wiliams, and Booty Calls with Jamie Foxx.

"In Batman I play Ms. B. Haven. I'm going to be a seductress to Arnold Schwarzenegger," she explains. "His wife is frozen and I'm like 'Dude, she's frozen. Let's go.' "

After seeing Fox in ID4, director Joel Shumacher wrote two scenes just for her.

"The women in the film are incredible - Alicia Silverstone, Uma Thurman, Elle Macpherson, Vendella ... and Vivica. How cool is that to say?" Fox marvels.

As if her calendar isn't full enough, she's just agreed to star in a Dreamworks SKG sitcom with Arsenio Hall.

But in Set it Off, opening today, Fox's character isn't so busy. The film opens as Fox is unjustly getting fired from her job in a bank.

Fox returns the favor by teaming up Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah and Kimberly Elise for a series of heists. One has to ask if four strong egos such as those ever clash.

"There were no cat fights, no claws," insists Fox, adding all four were grateful for decent roles.

"We're attractive, but we're strong. (Attractive actresses) usually play the love interest, or the stripper, or the wife crying and waving as the guy goes off to save the day."

Like in ID4?

Ironically, Fox's manly hero type in ID4, Will Smith, is the real-life boyfriend of Pinkett.

"Will's like my little brother. I played the 'date from hell' on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air five years ago," says Fox.

It was Smith who encouraged her to audition for Set it Off.

It is doubtful Smith had any part in Fox's acting success, however.

"I've loved to dress up since I was a kid, now I get paid for it," says Fox.


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