From his big screen and television roles to his theater and entrepreneurial skills, Boris Kodjoe has proven to be one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents. He is probably best known for his role as Damon Carter on the TV series “Soul Food.”
He can currently be seen opposite Kevin Hart, Nick Cannon and JB Smoove on another hit sitcom, “The Real Husbands of Hollywood,” and will soon be starring in the upcoming series “Members Only” which will premiere this fall on ABC. And on the big screen, Boris was recently seen reprising his role as Luther West in the box office hit Resident Evil: Retribution, as well as in Baggage Claim opposite Paula Patton, Derek Luke and Trey Songz.
Onstage, Boris made his Broadway debut in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” opposite James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad and Anika Noni Rose. Previously, he toured the country in the play “Whatever She Wants” with Vivica A. Fox and Richard Roundtree.
Boris and his brother Patrick have launched the clothing company ALFA (Affordable Luxury For All), bringing the luxury of custom-made clothing to everyone in America at affordable prices. The line can be accessed at www.worldofalfa.com. But his primary personal interest is to raise funds for Sophie’s Voice Foundation (www.sophiesvoicefoundation.org), a charity he started with his wife in honor of his daughter Sophie, who was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth.
Here, Boris discusses his new movie, “Addicted,” the screen adaptation of the steamy best-seller by Zane.
KW: You know, I recently met Nicole at a charity function here in Princeton after one of her performances of Antony & Cleopatra.
BK: Wow!
KW: That was a lot of fun after having interviewed her several times over the years. She’s even more beautiful and gracious in person. Now, let me ask you about the movie. What interested you in “Addicted?” Were you already a Zane fan?
BK: I wasn’t as aware of her before I read the script. That’s when I began to find out more and more about Zane, her tremendous fan base, and all of her books.
KW: How did you like the idea of playing the aggrieved party instead of the hunk the female lead is after?
BK: It was interesting to me, because he went from being a victim to being a protagonist, in a way, once he found out his wife had been leading this parallel life. So, the character had to deal wiith all kinds of obstacles, and ups-and-downs that I found intriguing.
KW: Tell me a little about what it was like making this movie.
BK: It was great. It was almost like a family affair. I’ve known Bille Woodruff for years, as well as Tyson , Sharon and everybody. So, it was quite easy to trust my director. My job was basically to make Sharon feel comfortable and protected. She was so courageous and vulnerable, and did such an amazing job. And I was sort of the safety net for her to do all that.
KW: Was there any tension on the set between Zane, the author of the novel, and Bille in terms of their vision for the screen adaptation?
BK: No, they got all of that out of the way before we started shooting. They had numerous meetings, and made sure they were on the same page. To make a movie like that, you really have to trust your director, and they were on the same page.
KW: What message do you think people will take away from?
BK: It’s about communication, weathering the storms, and making sure you really understand each other. In a situation like that, especially where addiction is involved, that lines of communication are open for the spouse not only to understand but to be ready to jump in and help. In the film, you see how difficult it can be because there’s guilt, there’s blame, there’s doubt, and therapy comes into play, as well. And it encourages the audience to engage in conversation after seeing the movie, which is great, too.
KW: You’re really busy on TV nowadays, between Real Husbands of Hollywood and Members Only.
BK: Yeah, Husbands starts up on Oct. 14, that’s when Season Three premieres. And I just finished the first episode of Members Only, which takes a unique look into contemporary life at a country club, at a lot of scandal and other ridiculousness that transpires there. So, it’s been exciting for me to do both shows, and a diverse selection of work overall.
KW: Do the series’ shooting schedules overlap?
BK: No, it worked out perfectly, which things usually do when you relinquish control and give it to God.
To see a trailer for Addicted, visit: http://www.lionsgatepublicity.com/theatrical/addicted/