If you’ve ever wanted a celebrity to help you find your forever home in New Jersey, perhaps Julia Fox could be the perfect real estate agent for you. At least that’s what some unsuspecting passersby in New York City thought when they saw the smiling Hollywood star’s face on a billboard on Mott Street. The advertisement claimed she was “Voted #1 Real Estate Agent in New Jersey.” Almost immediately, the ad popped up all over social media.
Of course, it proved too good to be true. The billboard was a viral stunt blurring the line between reality and movie marketing. It was actually an ad for Steven Soderbergh’s new film, “The Presence.”
However, real or not, you can call 908-905-CECE or proceed directly to CecesRealty.com. Callers get Fox’s voice asking you to leave a message. According to The Hollywood Reporter, thousands are leaving voicemails. Most are in on the gag, but a few think Ms. Fox has found a new career.
The house seen on the billboard and website is right here in New Jersey. The movie was shot entirely on location in Cranford. Visitors to the site might think it’s an actual realtor’s webpage, but it’s a very subtle tease for the film.
“Some homes find you as much as you find them,” says the site. “With keen market insight and an intuitive touch, we help match you to properties that feel like they’ve been waiting just for you.
This isn’t Julia Fox‘s first time to go viral. The Italian-born model and movie actress first hit the big screen in the Safdie brothers 2109 film, “Uncut Gems,” opposite Adam Sandler. She received rave reviews for her performance and a nomination for Breakthrough Actor in the 2019 Gotham Awards.
In early 2022, she achieved viral megavelocity when she appeared on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, and social media picked up on her bizarre pronunciation of the title “Uncut Gems.” Around the same time she wrote an article for Interview describing her relationship with notorious rapper Kanye West. For much of early 2022, she was inescapable on social media.
While the star may not be able to help you find your forever home, you can see her in theaters now. Starring Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan, Callina Liang and Eddy Maday, “The Presence” tells the story of a family finding a ghost in their new home, sold to them by real estate agent Cece (Julia Fox). The twist is the tale is shown from the ghost’s point of view. The film first premiered at Sundance in 2024 and was released in theaters on January 24th.
