Born in savannah, Georgia on January 9, 1974, Omari Hardwick
was the second of four children blessing the union of Clifford and Joyce
Hardwick. The family moved to Decatur where Omari excelled in athletics and
established himself as a standout, eventually earning himself a college
football scholarship.
Although he had demonstrated a certain flair for the dramatic early in life,
it wasn't until his junior year at the University of Georgia that Omari that
he began his formal training in acting. While there, he joined the Athens
Theater Company and eventually starred in a number of plays including August
Wilson s "Fences."
Soon after graduation, a knee injury cut short his plans for a pro football
career. Omari then decided to focus on acting full-time and headed to New
York City to hone his skills on the stage before making the move to Los
Angeles. After years of perseverance, Omari finally landed a breakout role
when spike Lee cast him as Dante' in sucker Free City.
Omari's showbiz career has benefitted from a steady rise ever since, with
the versatile thespian exhibiting an enviable acting range in such films as
Miracle at st. Anna, Next Day Air, The Gridiron Gang, The Guardian and
Beauty shop. And among his upcoming offerings are The A-Team, For Colored
Girls, Bolden and I Will Follow. Meanwhile, he s also appeared on TV shows
like CSI: Miami, Crossing Jordan and saved, and he currently co-stars
opposite Dylan McDermott on TNT s gritty, cop series Dark Blue.
Here, Omari talks about his controversial new movie, Kick-Ass, the
adaptation of the Marvel Comics series which opened up in the #1 spot at the
box office.
Omari Hardwick - The
"Kick-Ass" Interview
with Kam Williams
Kam Williams: Hey, Omari, nice to meet you, and thanks for the time.
Omari Hardwick: same here.
KW: What interested you in doing Kick-Ass, such a controversial film?
OH: It was the controversy itself which interested me. I already was a fan
of [director] Matthew Vaughn from his collaborations with Guy Ritchie on snatch and Lock, stock, and Two smoking Barrels. I met with him early on in
the process and appreciated his creative vision. My interest definitely
revolved around how an 11 year-old girl would be a superhero and potentially
train my character in the sequel. so, of course, I salivated at the
opportunity. It was definitely a bold pick, but I had a lot of fun working
with a young genius in [co-star] Chloe Moretz. Plus, she s from Georgia, I'm
from Georgia, so everything lined up.
KW: What was your main challenge in doing this film, the action sequences?
OH: I wouldn't say it was the physicality, having come to acting from the
world of sports. The main challenge was just the scheduling, really, because
my TV show, Dark Blue was taking off at the same time, and this was being shot in London for the most part, and then also in Toronto. There was a lot
of travel involved and scheduling conflicts, but I had to do it, so I
figured a way to get it done.
KW: Were you surprised when the picture was #1 at the box office? I loved
it, and said in my review that it s the best comic book adaptation since The
Dark Knight. It s also the best blockbuster I've seen this year so far.
OH: Man, that s very humbling for me to hear you say that, Kam. I knew that
it would do well, but I didn't expect this kind of initial reaction. It s
definitely the Pulp Fiction of its day, only with kids.
KW: Laz Lyles was wondering whether you had any pre-conceived notions about
what Kick-Ass would be like, and if going into a project with ideas about it
tends to prepare you or hinder you?
OH: That s a great question. I'' have to say it s a little bit of both. For
this kind of film, there was enough vagueness in the script that it left me
a little baffled about where I'' fit in and what I'' mean to the film. There
were some challenges for me in trying to figure out how to play this guy
because, honestly, my character was the only one that was quote-unquote
’real.’ The rest were sort of fantastical. The major challenge was in
figuring out, how do I maintain Marcus' subtlety and realness while supporting the superhero theme of the movie? But of course I jumped in full steam ahead.
KW: Larry Greenberg says that you have an amazing acting range, and he wants
to know how you go back and forth from shooting a non-stop action film like
this to the TV show and then to making For Colored Girls Who Have Considered suicide without getting whiplash.
OH: I appreciate the compliment. It s very humbling to hear someone
recognize the range that I have, but the whiplash definitely happens. Travel
in between work helps, and maybe getting away after a project s done.
KW: Laz says, since you’'e going to be in A-Team, she'd like to know what
you think of this resurgence of Eighties action films and if there any you''
like to see the dust blown off of and remade today?
OH: Like anybody who grew up in the Eighties, I cringe at the thought of
these movies being remade, because of the corniness and cheesiness of the
originals. I hope that in the 21st Century, they’ll be able to eliminate the
cheese factor when they redo them. If I could remake any Eighties project,
it would be less an action flick than a character-driven drama with a rich story to tell.
KW: Children s book author Irene smalls asks, what are your goals as an
actor, and where do you want your career to go?
OH: Just to tell the truth in whatever role I do, and not got lost or swallowed up by the scope when I'm in a blockbuster. And I want to avoid
being typecast and any obvious comparisons to other actors.
KW: You don't want to get pigeonholed.
OH: Right. If I can just be thought of as Omari Hardwick who had a really,
really solid career, and whose work is appreciated in its own right, I think
that would be a great legacy to leave behind.
KW: Irene has a follow-up. What were the factors and who were the people who
made you who are?
OH: My mom and pop, and my four grandparents who I'm
blessed to still have. As an African-American male born with a couple of strikes against you because of your skin color, I think it s very, very
important to have some positive role models around, especially male
influences. Fortunately, for me, one was never that far away. I could always
just turn to the lefty or to the right, and I had positive grandparents,
uncles and coaches. so, I was lucky that I didn't have to search far for my
heroes.
KW: Yeah, when I interviewed LeBron James, who was raised by a single mom,
he credited his coach for serving as an important male influence in his
life. Did you see his movie?
OH: LeBron actually invited me to the premiere to play in a celebrity game.
We talked and found out that we have a lot in common. That dude was going on
45 at 14 years of age. He s a great guy and ridiculously mature.
KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
OH: I thought of one the other day, but I can't remember it now. It had to
do with exposing yourself as an actor, and then having to go back into the
world as myself.
KW: I recently asked Don Cheadle whether there were any parts of his psyche
he had not yet explored on camera. And he responded, ’If there s anything I
haven't revealed yet, it s probably best kept under wraps.’
OH: Wow! I'm not anywhere near Don s stature, and haven't put in that much
time yet, so I'' say I have a lot more to share and to reveal. But I think
Don Cheadle s definitely onto something. I would guess that there s a risk
of ending up feeling pained and lonely while walking in a world full of
people.
KW: The Tasha smith question: Are you ever afraid?
OH: Yeah, I would say my biggest fear, since experiencing a major tragedy in
the family, is that I count my days left on this Earth. I now look at life
as fleeting, not a marathon.
KW: The Columbus short question: Are you happy?
OH: Yeah, although I feel weighty and some inner turmoil at times. But
overall, I'' say I'm optimistic, if not happy on a daily basis.
KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?
OH: Watching Kick-Ass!
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?
Surviving James Dean Click to Buy via Amazon by William Bast Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: Barricade Books; First Printing edition (April 20, 2006) Bast, a TV writer and journalist, was infatuated with James Dean (1931’1955) from the moment they met (at UCLA in 1950). A closeted gay man, Bast had a crush on the brooding, unknown actor and had a brief fling with him. This work records their close friendship, Dean's rise to stardom and the years following his premature death at age 24. Dean's troubled life is well documented, and Bast isn't interested in repeating his previous James Dean, a Biography, written in 1956. The Alchemist Click to Buy via Amazon by Paulo Coelho Paperback: 208 pages Publisher: HarperCollins (April 25, 2006) The Alchemist presents a simple fable, based on simple truths and places it in a highly unique situation. And though we may sniff a bestselling formula, it is certainly not a new one: even the ancient tribal storytellers knew that this is the most successful method of entertaining an audience while slipping in a lesson or two. Brazilian storyteller Paulo Coehlo introduces santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who one night dreams of a distant treasure in the Egyptian pyramids. And so he's off: leaving spain to literally follow his dream. |
A Trailer for Kick-Ass:
Related Links
I Will Follow (starring Omari Hardwick) - Film Review