Meagan Good and Cory Hardrict Reveal How Their Divorce Experiences Influenced ‘Divorce Written in Black’

Meagan Good has spent most of her life in the highlight. The 42-year-old actress first rose to fame in the ’90s as a toddler star in “Eve’s Bayou.” Good has navigated her adolescence, 20s and 30s on the Hollywood stage, including her emergence as a sex symbol in the industry, her 2012 marriage to preacher-producer DeVon Franklin and her superhero role as Darla Dudley in the “Shazam!” film series.

Good also navigated her divorce from Franklin in 2022 under the highlight. The experience helped shape her latest role as Ava, a lady who finds love and life after her husband files for divorce, in Tyler Perry’s upcoming film Divorce Written in Black.

“I think when people go through divorce, they should be optimistic and hopeful and understand that if God allowed it, he has something better for both of you,” Good said through the summer episode launch of Culture Rated on Prime Video. Essence Festival 2024 in New Orleans. “I think everything in life, to some extent, I think, is about perception and attitude. We can’t control what someone else does, but we can control how we react to it.”

She continued, “Part of why this movie was so close to my heart, and part of why Ava is so close to my heart, is that she goes through this journey. Even though it seemed like life was going to be one-way, now it’s going to be different. The fact that she’s optimistic and hopeful and excited about what life has in store for her — I think that’s an important lesson.”

In the film, Ava finds refuge from her impending divorce from husband Dallas at her parents’ farm in rural Georgia, where she discovers peace and quiet. Good has her own escape when life gets tough — her home. The actress said she feels a way of peace at home that took her years to search out.

“I looked for years and years and years and years. When I finally found the house that I live in now, I really thought, ‘I don’t want to live in the mountains. That’s just so pretentious.’ But really, when I was going through my divorce, I was living in the mountains in an Airbnb and just going through my process,” Good explained.

“I realized it reminded me of the house I grew up in when I was a kid; being in the mountains, nature, animals and everything. And so the house I’m in now reminds me so much of the house I grew up in. I feel so much peace when I’m home. As someone who’s very, very busy and likes to run around and do things, I love being home and sitting in the living room and being peaceful. Just looking at the view and thanking God.”

“I’m a very emotional, passionate actor. I really go there, as you can see when you watch the movie,” Hardrict shared. “I read the script and I was like, ‘Wow, this is a character I haven’t played before.’ Regardless of my personal life, I would have done this movie. I feel like a new artist now. I just put 30 years of experience — all my emotions and passion that I told you about (in the movie). I put everything into this movie — life, triumphs, tragedies, everything, love — (and) I left it on camera.”

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Ultimately, each Good and Hardrict want viewers to remove a very important lesson from the film about acceptance, positivity and moving forward.

“I hope that anyone who has gone through (divorce) or gone through this — even if it’s not divorce, just whatever it is in life — changes the way they think about it,” Good concludes. “It’s not necessarily, ‘This is unfair.’ (Instead) it’s, ‘Okay, I’m glad I got to do this for so long.’ It’s been a blessing — I learned, I gave, I took — now, Lord, what’s next.”

“Divorce Wraps Up” shall be available to stream on Prime Video starting Thursday, July 11.