Cory Hardrict currently stars as Corporal Jason Lockett in the box office hit Battle: Los Angeles. Other than the worldwide success of his multi-million dollar film, Hardrict has more to look forward to this year—not just with his career, but in his personal life as well. The 31-year-old actor and his wife, Tia Mowry-Hardrict (Sister, Sister, The Game), are expecting their first child, a boy, in July. TheCelebrityCafe.com’s Michelle Vaccaro spoke to the hardworking actor about his career and impending fatherhood.
TheCelebrityCafe.com: What made you decide that you wanted to be an actor?
Cory Hardrict: I had did a school play…in high school like my freshman year, I did a play and I had a small part in it. At first I was afraid to go out there on stage because my teacher had gave me a small part in it…but when I went out there, just to feel the excitement from the crowd, I got like revved from it and then I knew I wanted to do it. Then I just got involved ever since then.
TheCelebrityCafe.com: You have starred alongside many famous actors since you got your start---like Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino. Have any of them giving you any advice that has stuck with you?
Cory Hardrict: Yeah, Clint Eastwood did. He gave me some advice. He told me, “Never worry about what you’re going to get, always show ‘em what you got.” I used that for the rest of my career…just show ‘em what I got. Don’t worry about the outcome, you know?
TheCelebrityCafe.com: Is there anyone that you haven’t worked with that you would like to work with?
Cory Hardrict: I would love to work with Leonardo DiCaprio. He is one of my favorite actors. I would say Leonardo DiCaprio. I mean, Clint Eastwood was like one of my favorite as well and I got to work with him…I would say Will Smith…you know...the big dog so yeah, I want to keep going in that direction, but I definitely respect those guys and what they’ve done…and inspire me.
TheCelebrityCafe.com: You have over fifty credits to your name, but had remained relatively unknown. Are you getting more recognized now since Battle: LA came out?
Cory Hardrict: Yes and no. I mean, it’s like…I’m kind of like the most known unknown actor probably in Hollywood like you said. I’m just kind of building it slow because I don’t get out there a lot with the media and the press…and do so much because that’s just not what I am. I want to sell you with work first and the rest of the stuff kind of goes from there, then that’s what it is, but now you know you kind of have to play that game and get out there and put yourself out there. I’m slowly doing it, just in an organic way. I’m starting to get tons of press that’s coming naturally just because my wife is pregnant. We’re having a son and that puts us like in People, Us Weekly, Jet, so you know, we’re getting national coverage so, it’s cool, you know, I’ll take it.
TheCelebrityCafe.com: By the way, congratulations on the success of Battle: LA.
Cory Hardrict: Thank you so much. I mean, it’s the number one movie in the world. You know, it will eventually, hopefully get one hundred million in the States, but worldwide…it’s been number one like three weeks in a row so it’s doing great overseas so hopefully we’ll do it again.
TheCelebrityCafe.com: What was the training like for the movie?
Cory Hardrict: Oh man, it was rigorous training regiment. We trained three weeks out in the middle of nowhere, Louisiana. We had real military advisors…started to train non-stop basically from five in the morning to nine at night, everyday for like three weeks. We were on a tight schedule. They trained us as if we were going off to war. The boot camp training was how they trained people going off to fight overseas and stuff so it was intense, but I loved it. It was great. They taught me a lot of discipline and everything.
TheCelebrityCafe.com: Do you have any idea if there is a sequel is in the works?
Cory Hardrict: We’ll see. That’s up to the general public. I mean, I know they’re writing on so I got to keep it kind of low key, but if they do have one, you know, I’ll be ready. I will be ready. Corporal Lockett will be ready for duty.
TheCelebrityCafe.com: You started your career in television in the 90’s and made an appearance onSmart Guy with your wife Tia’s brother Taj. Did you guys meet then?
Cory Hardrict: No, I didn’t know Tia then. No, I did not know her at all. I just did an episode on his show. Naturally, I came out here and was living here for a bit. I didn’t officially make that move yet, but I was visiting and I stumbled upon a casting and I went in and got a part. I had to stay an extra week to do the show. Then after that, I went back to Chicago for a few years to figure out what I wanted to do…Then I knew what I wanted to do and I made my way back here in 2000.
TheCelebrityCafe.com: What made that decision that that was exactly what you wanted to do? Was it the plays?
Cory Hardrict: It was in my heart. Yeah, I just got to go with my instincts and my heart. This what I want to do and I got to go for it. You gotta be in LA to do it so I knew I got to get back to LA. LA or New York, but I was like “I’ll take my chances with LA.”
TheCelebrityCafe.com: Congratulations on the pregnancy and the new baby coming. I hear you guys, well, at least your wife is going to star in a reality show about it. Are you going to be in it at all too?
Cory Hardrict: Yeah, I may pop up here and there, but it’s not about the pregnancy, it’s just about a positive, uplifting reality show. There’s no fighting and that type of stuff. It’s the camaraderie with her and her sister…and how they…it’s their life. You know, it’s two different lifestyles and how they live, but also how they get along together…and just…uplift and positive and just fun…very fun and uplifting. There’s nothing negative. They have no fighting. It’s not like these other shows you see…or drinking…it’s nothing negative so kids will get positive spins off of it and hopefully get encouraged to do great. That’s what they want to do. Just touch people in a great way. It’s on the Style Network.
TheCelebrityCafe.com: Do you guys have any baby names picked out yet?
Cory Hardrict: We’re looking at some now. I can’t tell you because then everybody might know about it. We’re looking at some strong, strong, strong names right now. We’re going to get like five together. Once we get those five, we’re going to decide on the top two and then when we see the baby, we’re going to know. “It’s that one. No, it’s that name…That’s the name. That’s who he is. That’s who he is.”
TheCelebrityCafe.com: Are you guys going with that first initial thing like her family did?
Cory Hardrict: I don’t know about all of that…we’ll see. We’ll definitely see…
TheCelebrityCafe.com: Can you tell me a little bit about your upcoming projects?
Cory Hardrict: I have a movie coming out called The Day. It’s in post production. I’m producing a film called The Phoenix that I’m kind of getting up started now. It’s based off a true story. It’s definitely an award-winning piece. I’m just looking and taking great scripts and having meetings and just trying to do great work…you know because could’ve done a lot of other movies and other jobs after Battle, but I decided to say, “You know what? I’m not going to do anything just to do it for a paycheck. I got to do something that’s going to take aim to where my vision is going and that’s to the Will Smith caliber, to the big scale, worldwide. When they see me, I don’t want them to see that “Oh, he’s a black actor in black films.” I want them to see the actor first, black man second---instead of the reverse. That’s what I’m trying to do with my career, very strategic. You know, long haul, fifteen to twenty years from now. Trying to make that type of move so I’m doing cool so far, but we’ll see what happens.
TheCelebrityCafe.com: Well, good luck with everything. I’m pretty much done. Is there anything you would like to add?
Cory Hardrict: No…follow me on Twitter @CoryHardrict... you can tell people to follow me and definitely…I write encouraging quotations every other day.