ExclusiveCory Hardrict Reveals How He Shows His Fatherly Skills in ‘Die Like a Man’ Movie: ‘I Was a Mentor’
Cory Hardrict uses his experience as a father in Die Like a Man and he reveals how he shows off his fatherly skills in the new movie during an exclusive interview with Life & Style.
While discussing his role in Die Like a Man, Cory, 45, tells Life & Style that he doesn’t have much in common with his character, Solo, who is the member of a violent gang.
“I play a lot of menacing, violent, edgy, gangster characters,” he says. “I can say that I am honest and truthful in real life. And this character, I say, even though he’s menacing, I still try to tell the truth in the performance, and that’s what I did. So I would say from that standpoint, but we’re totally different.”
The movie follows Freddy (played by Miguel Angel Garcia), a teen who is desperate to become a man by proving his worth to the local gang. During the movie, Cory says that Solo takes the character of Freddy under his wing.
“I was a mentor to Miguel … He’s the lead character,” he says. “I have kids, so I mentor my son the same way. It’s just in the movie, it’s like misguided mentorship in life. It’s just like, ’OK, it’s intentional. OK, son, this is what we need to do. Stay focused on your goals, your purpose.’”
Cory shares two kids – Cree, 13, and Cairo, 6 – with his ex-wife, Tia Mowry.
While many actors may have a difficult time getting out of character, Cory says he was quickly able to get out of Solo’s mindset when he wasn’t filming. “I don’t take it home with me,” he says. ”I have a good sense of how to turn it off.”
When it comes to preparing for roles, he said he does “a lot of research.”
“I read the script, I see what I can add qualities to myself, to the character, and I just go all in and I just leave it all on the camera and I experiment. I love going to work on a film because I feel like there’s nothing wrong,” he says. “Everything is the right thing for that character until the director or someone says, ‘Don’t do this.’ But for the most part they’d be like, ‘Have fun. Just have fun, do anything. And if we love it, we’ll keep it.”’
In addition to teasing his latest movie, Cory also shares his advice for coparenting. After noting that coparents should “not to make it about yourself,” he encourages people to “remove yourself” out of the situation.
“Coparent with love. Move with peace. And like I say, if you remove yourself out of it, think about your children and just think about how can we get along. Because that’s better for the whole family,” the American Outlaws actor says. “You’re still a family, even though if you’re not together anymore, you’re still a family and your kids need the parents healthy, good relationship to keep them thriving and to keep the kids happy.”
Die Like a Man will be available on Digital + On Demand April 25.
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