Also, look out for a good glimpse of Boris’ true “Africanness”: the man loves it most when his wife cooks him an amazing meal. We know most African men love a good home-cooked meal.

Here’s the interview below.

You’ve both been keeping incredibly demanding schedules. Can you fill us in on what you’ve been up to?

Nicole: Well, I just finished a sixteen-week run making my debut on Broadway. I just closed A Street Car Named Desire on July 22, and then I took a much-needed family vacation with Boris and the kids. Being away from home was tough, but the challenge and the thrill of being on Broadway was so fulfilling, and I’m thankful to my husband for making it possible and holding it down at home.

Was it all pleasure? Did you get a chance to see any extended family while you were gone?

Nicole:  We just got back from Germany seeing Boris’ grandmother. Now in a couple of weeks, I’m off to London to do the run of the play on the West End, so that is also very exciting.  I play the character Blanche, and I am fortunate to be the first African-American to play that part. So I’ve really enjoyed my time with this experience.

And what about you Boris?

Boris: I’ve been at home with the kids.  I’ve been driving them to surf camp, making sure that they are at ballet and karate, and just doing everything that I’m supposed to do as a father. I’ve also been prepping for my directorial debut. It’s a film called Looking For Jimmy Lee, and I’m really looking forward to that.

You’re also in the latest Resident Evil installment. Tell us about that.

Boris:  Well it’s the fifth installment of the franchise, and it’s a homecoming for me. Working with Mila [Jovovich] and her husband is always a great experience.  We trained for six weeks before we started filming … it was very demanding with a lot of action sequences and fight sequences. Ultimately, I think it’s really going to be something that audiences enjoy.

How do you handle the rigors of the industry when you both have demanding schedules that take you to opposite ends of the globe?

Boris: We work really hard at making sure that our kids always have a sense of stability and routine, which means that when one of us is working, we try our best to make sure that the other is in place so that they can still go to school and do all of the things that they are accustomed to doing in their routine. And then, we also make sure that we visit each other. When Nicole is in London, I am going to make sure that I go and see her. And at the end of the year, we will take the kids over to see her and spend the final five or six weeks of her show together.  When she was on Broadway, she would always fly home to see the kids if she had a day off, and to also spend time with me. So that’s how we try to keep things going … family comes first with us, so we’re going to do what we have to do to make this work.

Do your kids understand it when you have to be away? Have you explained to them the industry that you are in so they can come to terms with you being away?

Boris: Our kids don’t know anything about Hollywood. They just know that sometimes Mommy and Daddy have to go away for work. And they know that if Mommy is gone, then Daddy is going to be there, and if I’m gone, then Mommy is going to be there … at least one of us is always there. We also take them with us at times. I took them to New York at least three times to see Nicole, and we stayed a few weeks. We take them backstage and on set so they can see what we do, but they don’t look at it as Hollywood. They just know that this is where Mommy and Daddy work.

What is the process when an opportunity comes for either one of you? Do you sit down and see if it will work for the family and your schedule with the kids, or do you take the big role first and figure it out later.

Boris: We prioritize things, and family always comes first. We sit down together, and then we just weigh the pros and cons and figure out what ‘s best for the family. When we found out that Nicole would be in London, I turned down some things because I knew that I needed to be there for the kids — and she’s done the same thing for me. When you keep in mind what your priorities are, and for us it’s family, all of the other things just kind of fall into place.

What’s been the easiest and hardest part of parenting and marriage?

Nicole: Being a parent is the hardest job ever in life. Raising children uses every bit of your being — your heart, your time, your patience, your foresight, your intuition to protect them, and you have to use all of this while trying to figure out how to discipline them.

It takes its toll on a marriage as well. The time that should be spent with each other after the kids have gone to bed is usually spent face down, in your clothes, on the sofa with the remote control in your hand. It’s exhausting  …  but we’ve been married for seven years, and I think that the greatest challenge but also the greatest gift, is understanding that I’m way more capable than what I think I am.  You have to work hard not to take your partner for granted, even when you are tired.  We have a special needs child, so we also have to get up in the middle of the night and check on her.  So, I’ve been pushed to the limits that I thought I had, and I’ve gone beyond those … that’s been the greatest gift throughout this journey with my husband.

Boris: As far as our marriage goes, again it’s all about priorities. We make sure that we put in some sexy time, and we go out on date nights and spend quality time together, because we were here first.  Everything else is a reflection of that. If she and I are good, then everything else is good. So it’s very important that we put in the time to cherish each other.

Can you describe for us what it was like when you first realized that you loved each other?

Nicole: Boris might have a different version, but from my side there was immediate chemistry, and that’s not necessarily sexual. It was just immediate understanding, flow of conversation, intellect, and an instant trust.  “Soul Food” made us make out all the time, so us wanting to kiss each other was handled on set … but that really wasn’t the crux of our relationship. There was an immediate deep trust and love there for me, and I knew that he was going to always be in my life somehow, I just didn’t know how.

The great thing is that we really were friends first.  When you’re shooting 14 hours a day on a set, you see a lot.  He saw me when my eyebrows weren’t tweezed and when my gray hair came in, and when I was in my pajamas at five in the morning going into the dressing room. So we had no choice but to be really real from the very beginning.

Your thoughts Boris?

Boris:  What she said was so true and poetic. We had instant chemistry, and right away there was an attraction, but it was more on a spiritual level.  I knew right away that she was going to be in my life forever.  I didn’t know in what capacity, but I just felt that.  That just happens when you meet a person that is on the same wavelength.  We saw eye-to-eye on so many things.  She was open minded, well traveled, and had a great sense of humor — which are all very important to me.  The fact that she became my wife was definitely a bonus.  It worked because we were friends and liked each other as people first, which is very important in a relationship.  You can fall in and out of love, but if you like each other as people, then I think that’s a great foundation to grow a relationship, and we had that, so I’m very lucky.

Nicole, I want you to finish this sentence for me. ‘My husband makes me feel beautiful when…’

Nicole: When he looks me right in the eye.

Boris, ‘My wife makes me feel like the king of the world when…’

Boris: My wife makes me feel like the king of the world when after a long day of working she tells me to put my feet up and cooks an amazing meal for me.

Here’s the last question for each of you to answer:  “I’m a better person today than I was before marriage because…”

Boris: I’m a better person today than I was before marriage because my wife makes me a better man.

Nicole: I’m a better person today than I was before marriage because I get to care about one of the greatest human beings on the planet.

Boris Kodjoe & Nicole Ari Parker Kodjoe Photoshoot from Steed Media Group on Vimeo.

Be sure to visit RollingOut.com here to see the rest of the images.

Melissa Harris-Perry speaks to Nicole Ari Parker, Anthea Butler, Joan Morgan, and Nikki Walton about the politics of black hair.  Nicole, we can’t thank you enough for your continued support of Hair Rules and Dickey.  We are blessed to know you.

Part 2 here:

Part 3 – Great Moments in Black Hair

Hear what Jeffrey Bowman, Harriette Cole, Michaela Angela Davis, and Nicole Ari Parker have to say about Dickey’s mission to empower women to love their hair and themselves. More than a product line, Hair Rules is delivering a philosophy to embrace and empower women of all textures.

A discussion with Tim Buel (@TimBuel) of the Golden Briefcase on FirstShowing.net on Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 film “Boogie Nights.”

Click To Listen and Download. (01:19:07)

In 1997, Paul Thomas Anderson released his breakthrough film. “Boogie Nights” explored the rise and fall of a fictional porn star that mirrored the real-life events of actual porn star John Holmes. In “Boogie Nights,” Anderson dazzled audiences with a hyper-kinetic movie full of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll. With the success of the movie, Paul Thomas Anderson had free reign to choose his next project with almost unlimited funds.

Why did audiences gravitate to “Boogie Nights” but not Anderson’s first film “Hard Eight?” What does “Boogie Nights” say about the current state of filmmaking? And How did Paul Thomas Anderson make a name for himself with the movie “Boogie Nights?”

Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Boogie Nights” is the subject of episode 133 of the AuteurCast…

Actress Nicole Ari Parker released the “Save Your Do” gymwrap which has been featured by Channel 7 WLS-Chicago, Ebony magazine, The Root and other media outlets. The gymwrap promises to wick away moisture, allow heat to escape, keep your hair flat and save your hairstyle.

Mission accomplished, somewhat.

After a few extremely sweaty workouts, which included 40 minutes on the elliptical trainer and 30 minutes on the treadmill, the wrap was satisfactory. It did wick away some of the moisture, but I wouldn’t suggest going to an “America’s Next Top Model” photo shoot after your workout. Similar to an elliptical trainer, the gymwrap has its ups and downs.

I found that the key is to wear it comfortably — not too tight — during the workout and for an additional 15 minutes after your workout, allowing the gymwrap to absorb more of your hard-earned sweat. After using the gymwrap, my hair wasn’t completely dry, but I believe that the wrap prevented me from having to drag out my blow dryer as I have done in the past.

I bought the narrow gymwrap because I wear my hair in a ponytail most days. When I untied the wrap, the ribbons in the back were dripping with sweat — but my hair was not. The gymwrap definitely isn’t a guarantee that you will have beautiful, flowing hair after your workout, but it did succeed in preventing sweat from dripping in my eyes and keeping my hair manageable.

Parker’s hair-saving material ranges from $24.95 for the narrow gymband and wide gymband to $29.95 for the full triangle. You can purchase it at saveyourdo.com and receive a $5 discount if you “like” the product’s Facebook page. Also, the payment includes 10 percent of the proceeds benefiting Sophie’s Voice Foundation, an organization that brings attention to children and adults diagnosed with spina bifida.

My rating: 3-1/2 stars out of 5.

Diane Hawkins is a copy editor with the Louisville Courier-Journal and an adjunct journalism instructor at Jefferson Community and Technical College. She also has contributed to Rebellious Magazine and Soul In Stereo, among other blogs. You can find her at HeyDMH.com.

I know you must be thinking, “How does it work?”  Well, the wrap consists of three layers of material that wick away moisture from your hair and allow heat to escape. When applied properly,  it keeps the hair pressed down during your workout – saving your hairstyle.

Save Your Do GymWrap by Nicole Ari Parker

The wrap is a fashionable way to protect your hair while working out. It comes in three styles: Narrow Band ($24.95), Wide Band ($24.95), and my fav – the Full Triangle GymWrap (29.95).

Narrow Band GymWrap

Wide Band GymWrap

Full Triangle GymWrap

With the Save Your Do GymWrap, there’s no excuse not to work out! So please join me in spreading the word  and encouraging all women to lead a healthy lifestyle.

When you order the Save Your Do GymWrap, ten percent of the proceeds will go to support Sophie’s Voice Foundation  (SVF).  The foundation’s mission is to elevate the quality of life for children and adults diagnosed with Spina Bifida. Sophie’s Voice was inspired by Nicole and husband, actor Boris Kodjoe’s daughter, Sophie, and her own challenge with Spina Bifida.

The Save Your Do GymWrap is definitely Pat Approveoad!

We carefully select our chocolate sensations not just based on their looks and their African heritage, but also on their successes and achievement. It is important that the sensational man in question contributes positively to  society. This time around we could not stop to put our finger on Boris Kudjoe. He is popularly known from the television series Soul Food[http://www.tv.com/shows/soul-food/] and Taylor Perry’s film Madeas family reunion, he is partially Ghanaian and carries a sexiness  that makes us kind of shiver. There is more to where that came from…

Boris Frederic Cecil Tay-Natey Ofuatey-Kodjoe(39), which is his full name,  was born to a Austrian mother and a Ghanaian father in 1973. According to our sources:

• He graduated with a bachelor degree in Marketing in 1996
• If it wasn’t for his back injury, he would have been a professional tennis player.
• He is model, but switched to acting. Because we think that it’s what all models aspire on the long run.
• He is a dad
• He is a married man(for 7 years now)
• He is the co-founder  of the Sophie’s Voice foundation

Should we mention any more? He married Soul Food co-star Nicole Ari Parker in 2005. He and Nicole have 2 children. They are a beautiful couple. And we respect a man that has achieved much as he has.

More about Boris Kodjoe on his website

The entire cast was excellent with Nicole Ari Parker earning special kudos for bringing out the essential Blanche. Her humor with some terrific lines was well timed and brought laughs. It was the pathos that stood out, however. She rendered true emotions with the timeless caution by Williams that “deliberate cruelty is unforgivable.” The play’s conclusion yielded a hope that “the kindness of stranger’s could happen.”

Sentiment aside, the magnetism needed was there. The sexual and violent components were provided by Underwood, a true presence on stage. Daphne Rubin-Vega as Stella and Wood Harris capturing “Mitch” with his lean look also were excellent. Add Amelia Campbell, the daughter in law of the great Alan Arkin and I came away entirely pleased.

Boris Kodjoe, known for his striking good looks and roles such as in Showtime’s Soul Food series and the movie Brown Sugar, took some time to chat with Lincoln Ware about the 16th annual American Black Film Festival in Miami.

Related Links: Where Are All the Black Actors?

He also mentioned some additional projects he’s working on, including promotion for the Gold Peak Tea contest (where you could win $100, 000 and a year off work):

Share & Like Us on Facebook at 1230AM WDBZ The Buzz!

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These two are just so good to look at and at least all the ladies can console themselves (for not nabbing Boris) that at least Nicole is flippin’ hot. They met on the set of “Soul Food” and got married in 2005 in Germany. Boris grew up in Germany, his mom is a psychologist from Germany and his father is a physician from Ghana. Boris has a brother, Patrick and a sister Nadja, we need to Google that brother ladies, he may still be single! Boris aspired to be a professional tennis player until a back injury ended it and then he ventured into acting. Nicole has been married before, she eloped in March 2001 and married Joseph Falasca but their marriage only lasted eight months.  Boris and Nicole have a daughter, Sophia Tei Naaki Lee (7) and a son, Nicolas Neruda Kodjoe (6). Sophia was born with a birth defect called spina bifida (A congenital defect of the spine in which part of the spinal cord and its meninges are exposed through a gap in the backbone. It often causes paralysis of the lower limbs, and sometimes mental handicap) and her parents are committed to raising awareness of the disease. Boris says they keep their love strong by making an effort to keep it sexy, they go out on dates, work out together and make sure they look good for each other.

 Below is a clip they did for Essence Magazine for Valentine’s Day and they talk about love, marriage and all things in-between, they’re so cute.

The biggest problem is probably that it focuses on Dirk, a character who’s entire arc consists of buffoon to asshole to buffoon. PTA is clearly far more interested in the filmmaking aspect, so it’s unfortunate that Jack Horner isn’t the main character, even if some of the worst dialogue in the movie (which has more than a couple wince-inducing lines) goes to him. Once the 80′s happen (seriously, it takes over an hour for this 155 minute film to get to it’s second act) it starts to pick up, but the thin sketches that PTA calls character keep us from ever getting too invested. Is it dazzling to look at? Sure. Does it have a couple truly amazing scenes? Undoubtedly. But is that enough to overlook these gaping holes? I say no. B

This latest production of  A Streetcar Named Desire is severely underrated. Many critics have had visions of Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando (the stars of the 1951 film) and Cate Blanchett (who played Blanche in the 2009 revival at BAM) dancing in their heads and could not appreciate the production with a fresh eye.

Yes, this Streetcar takes a departure with its multiracial cast. Produced by the same company that brought an all-black Cat on a Hot Tin Roof to Broadway in 2008, Streetcar’s ethnic ensemble includes Nicole Ari Parker as Blanche, Blair Underwood as Stanley, and Daphne Rubin-Vega as Stella. Parker’s Blanche was revelatory. Her strength in the role made sense, as she had lived alone for many years harboring her secrets before coming to Stanley and Stella’s home. Only now does her resolve begin to crumble, and it is a sight to behold.

The other cast members also deliver solid performances. Underwood’s Stanley (née Kowalski, as the production excises references to his Polish background) is equal parts menacing and captivating (he also looks great shirtless). And Rubin-Vega takes a capable turn as Stella, providing the balance to Blanche and Stanley’s extremes.

The very existence of this production is fabulous. A recent survey of Broadway and leading nonprofit theater companies found that in the past five theater seasons, only 13.2% and 3.5% of African Americans and Latinos were employed. This production helps to alleviate that problem. It also gives deserving actors an opportunity they would not have had otherwise. Far more than a novelty production, this revival of Streetcar is an exciting production in its own right, bringing a new and refreshing take on a classic

Favorite scene/song: The birthday scene. The tension was high, and I got a real sense of the dynamic in Stanley’s household.
What is the show about? The tragic destruction of a Southern belle when she goes to stay at her sister and brother-in-law’s home.
Who is this show for? Theatergoers and Williams fans interested in a new take on Streetcar, as well as young audience members needing an introduction to a classic.
What’s good/bad? Besides the acting described above, the direction by Emily Mann, and the set design by Eugene Lee is great. I also enjoyed the production’s attention to bringing out the humor of the play. The only quibble I had was Blanche and Stanley’s pivotal scene (those who are familiar with the play know what I’m talking about). Despite all the build-up, it had high shock value and not as much emotional impact.
What happened at the Stage Door? We had to wait a bit longer than usual because the director was giving the cast notes. Almost everyone came out to sign playbills and take photos, and they were all very kind and gracious.