Unicode strings

Hi,

Is it possible to convert a python unicode object to a C++ string object?
If yes: How do I do that?
If no: Would it be possible to include unicode support into the string 
wrapper class in Boost.Python?

Thanks,
        Andreas


PS: Apperently the following does not work:

class my_class
{
  ...
  void take_a_string(string);
  ...
}

Then in the wrapper:
  .def("take_a_string",   &my_class::take_a_string)

And finally in Python:
>>> x = my_class()
>>> x.take_a_string(unicode("something"))

-> TypeError