Cory Hardrict's latest film, Divorce in Black, has a theme that is a little too familiar.
In April 2023, the 44-year-old actor and his ex-wife, Tia Mowry, finalized their divorce. A year later, Hardrict is playing Dallas, a man who is having a hard time letting go of his failed relationship with his ex-wife, Ava (Meagan Good), and will go through any lengths (sometimes dangerous) to get her back.
Even though he was working through the end of his 14-year marriage, he did not hesitate to take on the role.
"Yes and no," Hardrict tells ET's Nischelle Turner when asked if the role served as a little bit of therapy following his public split.
"Listen, when I read the script, I knew I had to be apart of it cause it was Mr. [Tyler] Perry and he's changed the culture a lot, it's impactful. The world resonates with his material and it was always a dream come true to work with Mr. Perry," he says about taking on the role. "Whether it rather be in Divorce [in Black] or not, this one was getting done by me. I loved the character and I loved everything about the suspense, the arcs of the family's and I left it all there. And that was the therapy of relieving everything that I've been through in my whole life, you know? Losing my mom, everything."
Cory Hardrict and Meagan Good star in 'Divorce in Black.'
He adds, "I put it all there to honor her I bring out my emotions in real feelings, honor my loved ones. That's how I give them the homage."
In October 2022, Mowry, 46, announced that she and Hardrict would be ending their marriage. ET obtained the divorce filing in which Mowry cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for her divorce filing -- signed on Sept. 30. Together, the exes are parents of Cree, 13, and Cairo, 6. The divorce was finalized six months later.
Channeling his raw emotions helped Hardrict take a darker approach when he came to playing Dallas.
"He's a wild boy, he's a wild boy, he's a wild boy," he adds about his character. "I like to serve as my characters. I like to do all of my characters. I like to be authentic and I like to give it a thousand."
Still, there's a lesson and a deeper conversation that the All American star hope viewers have after watching the film.
Cory Hardrict's role in 'Divorce in Black' comes after his split with Tia Mowry.
"Mental health, it doesn't get checked or if it's not in order, it definitely can ruin relationships moving on in your future, your past," he tells ET. "Definitely seek help, ask for some guidance, for some counsel. Maybe a hug will help you because he had a lot of childhood trauma. Dallas didn't have the tools or the people there for him to kind of help him out along that journey. I would say seek help, especially as a Black man, we all need someone to tell us that you love them. And that can save lives and save other peoples lives in the process."
Hardrict, like his co-star Good (who went through her own divorce from DeVon Franklin in 2022) is in his second act. And Divorce in Black is just kicking things off.
"I feel like a new artist right now," he says. "I feel like I'm just now beginning and it's an amazing feeling. It's like a kid in a candy store. I feel like I can do everything and I'm ready for it, and I'm prepared."
Divorce in Black is on Prime Video July 11.
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