Box-office superhero who thrives on the family business

Looking every inch the movie star, Will Smith is in his suite at New York's Mandarin Oriental Hotel, overlooking Central Park. He looks suave in a pair of black Dolce and Gabana trousers with a tight-fitting sweater, highlighting his overly toned physique.

In a good mood, Smith is happy to promote his new movie, Hancock, in UAE cinemas now. In it, he plays a seriously flawed superhero with a penchant for drinking. It is a new look and change of image for Smith, whose blockbuster track record in Hollywood proves he has the Midas touch. Stirring what appears to be green tea, he talks animatedly about his life, family and career.



This is a very different role for you – was that why you took it on?

Just to continue to push the envelope, do things that are different and surprising. I wanted to break the image people have of me. I'm trying to shake it up.

How was it wearing that very tight super-hero suit?

Yes, the suit was a little tight. It was definitely a little tight and it was very warm in LA while we were shooting.

You looked good in it.

Thank you [laughs]. There was a homeless woman on the side of the street while we were shooting the first scene. While I had the suit on, she's standing and going, 'Mmm, that looks good! You look almost as good as Denzel!' [Laughs]

Apparently David Beckham is teaching you soccer? How's that going?

He's not teaching me to play, he's teaching me about it so I can enjoy watching it. It's not something I grew up with and I didn't understand it.

What's your relationship like with the Beckhams?

They came to Los Angeles, so we just started hanging out with them and we became friends. We're friends with Tom and Katie, and they're close with the Beckhams so that's how that happened. I love his energy. I love his attitude. I like what he represents to the sport, and really getting to know them has been a lot of fun. They're actually very, very funny. They're fun, open and funny, so I want to spend some more time with them.

What makes Tom Cruise different from your average guy?

Tom Cruise is the most committed man, period. I've never met anyone like him in my life. When Tom says he's going to do something, you can bet your life on it.

How do you strike a balance between family and career?

First and foremost, just like in my house when I was growing up, I knew that my mother was the centre. That mommy has to be taken care of first and if mommy is straight, everybody else will be straight. And I'm very clear at home that Jada's physical, mental, spiritual health and comfort comes first and then everything else comes from the garden. So for me it is important to keep my garden watered and keep it very healthy. [Laughs].

What's the hardest thing about being a father?

Everything [Laughs]. Okay, seriously, I became a father at a young age, at 24. I always saw myself as a husband and father. I wanted to be married by the time I was 13. At 15, my girlfriend at the time, got kicked out of her house and moved in with us. So, my mother wasn't too happy about it. I was in that frame of mind from a very young age.

How do you feel about two of your kids – Jaden and Willow – acting?

Well, it's family business. We'd make short films around the house all the time. It's just what our family does, and it's good. It's something that the kids love doing. It's our livelihood and from the time the kids were born they were on movies and TV sets and on tour buses for rock shows. So it's a part of their lives, in a way that's really natural for them to give it a shot.

You worked with Jaden in The Pursuit of Happyness – did that help you grow as a father?

Yes. It's the greatest opportunity to get to understand your children and for them to understand you in a work environment. There's nothing school can teach your kids that you couldn't teach them better sitting here watching you work.

And what of your music career?

I'm not really doing much with music right now. I feel the next four or five years as an actor are going to be just fantastic, creative and innovative for me. I don't want to break my focus. I think I'm a much better actor than musician, so to achieve that level I have to stay focused.

When you started out, how did you adjust to the fame and wealth?

I was just too young to handle it. But by the time I got into TV and the movies I had settled down and had my head on straight. I understood what was happening out there.

Were you tempted by the wild partying, like so many young celebs?

I did kind of go crazy with the money and there were other women. That I cannot deny.

You famously blew a lot of your fortune and got into all that trouble. How did you overcome it?

I went broke when I was 19. That was pretty bad. They didn't tell me anything about taxes, about the Inland Revenue Services. When the IRS comes and takes all your stuff, there is no fun in that. I couldn't afford to pay the gas bill. These people wanted their money and they didn't care what they had to do to get it. They wanted up to 50 per cent of everything I had. But what did I know? I was travelling around with all this money, just having a great time. But you have got to be sensible. So you could say I went on a learning process.




Will Smith
Actor, Rapper

Born in 1968, Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr is one of a select few people to enjoy commercial success in the three major entertainment media.

As a rapper, he became famous as The Fresh Prince in the late 1980s, moving to television with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Among his 25 film-acting credits are Ali, the Men In Black series, I Am Legend, and the blockbuster Independence Day.

With Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks, he is one of only three actors in history to have seven consecutive $100m hit films.

Smith has been nominated for a Golden Globe, two Academy Awards and has won multiple Grammys.

He has turned producer with Overbrook Entertainment, which has produced I, Robot, and The Pursuit of Happyness.

Forbes magazine estimated his earnings in 2007 at $80million (Dh293m).