Hitchin on a Star
Foxtel Magazine November 05

FACT FILE
BORN September 25, 1968, in Philadelphia.
PARENTS Willard Smith Sr, refrigerator repairman; Caroline Smith, school card employee.
SIBLINGS Pam; Ellen and Harry
twins).
EDUCATION Attended high school in Philadelphia.
WIVES Sheree Zampino (m. 19921995).:, Jada Pinkett Smith (b. 1971), actress: married 1997.
CHILDREN Willard (Trey) Smith III, 13, with Sheree Zampino; Jaden ~Christopher Syre Smith, 7; Willow Camille Reign Smith, 5; both with Jada Pirtkett Smith.
TV DEBUT Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (NBC y95+0).
MUSIC DEBUT Girls Ain't Nothin' But Trouble. with DJ Jazzy Jeff (1986).
FILM DEBUT Where The Day Takes You (1992.
KEY FILMS, Made In America (1993), Six Degrees Of Separation (1993), Bad Boys (1995), Independence Day (19961. Men In Black (1997), Enemy Of The State (1998), Ali (2001), Men
In Black 11 (2002), Bad Boys I! (2003), Shark Tale (voice, 2004), l, Robot
(2004), Hitch (2005).

Will Smith has notched up another first in his effervescent career with the release of the romantic comedy Hitch, but that doesn't mean he's changing pace. The jive-rapping, joke-cracking, action-movie man just likes taking on different challenges.

Hollywood charmer Will Smith has rediscovered his golden touch. The $20 million-a-film star of Independence Day and
Men In Black struggled through a period of movie duds (Wild Wild West, Legend Of Bagger Vance, Men In Black II)
before reviving his career last year with I, Robot.

His first romantic comedy, Hitch, has beena hit, opening with a $45 million box-office weekend in the US, and he recently released his first album in three years, Lost And Found. The 36-year-old producer/superstar lives in LA with his wife of seven years, The Matrix star Jada Pinkett Smith, 34, their two children - son Jaden and daughter Willow - and his son Trey from his first marriage.
Here, Smith talks about his new hit film, his romantic life and his rags-to-riches career.

What was it like to shift gear from action films to the romantic comedy Hitch?

It was strange to me, stripping it down to just talking. To perform honestly and emotionally with a robot, that's a skill I've developed. But I love the interaction between Eva [Mendes, his Hitch co-star and love interest and me.

Do you feet Comfortable being a romantic leading man?

I feel at home in that romantic space but I only recently got comfortable with it. I never wanted any woman to feel like I'm disrespecting her, and that created a distance in my romantic roles. There's a certain energy you need in order to create romance in movies.

Describe your Hitch character, Alex Hitchens.

He's so smooth with the ladies he becomes a "date doctor", giving romantic advice to guys.

Is he closer to you than the action heroes you play?

Hitch is who I am. [Detective] Mike Lowrey from Bad Boys is my alter ego. That is who I dream of being.

What is your best romantic advice for real?

Just to be brutally and blatantly honest with another. [There's] no such thing, in my relationship with Jada, as a little lie or a big lie. It's only ever the truth, whether it's about a performance in a film or a new dress.
It really hurts sometimes but it's the truth, and we deal with it at the moment and go on with no regrets. We run our relationship by ghetto rules - meaning there's nothing important enough to pull us away from each other. No matter what, for the rest of my life Jada is my best friend.

You're always honest with each other

Yes, I would never cheat on her without asking her permission. We've made a vow that You'll never hear that I did something after the fact. Honesty is important, and so is making your wife feel special. I don't let a day go past that Jada doesn't feel like the queen of the world.

Did you ever think you'd be this successful?

From the moment I heard my first record on radio, I knew anything was possible. I was 17 years old. I was standing outside my father's store and this car pulled into a parking stall and my record was playing. Everything that's come to me since has been gravy. For these past 19 years I've been living my wildest dream.

It almost turned into a nightmare...

As a rapper, I spent $2 million before I had been paid my first million. And I hadn't set aside money for taxes. The money ran out, and I couldn't even buy gas for my cars. But the experience taught me a valuable lesson. I've never
ived beyond my means since... and I learned who my real friends are. It also made me walk instead of run - as far asthe business goes.

In what respect?

I didn't dare try movies before I'd had my apprenticeship in TV

What makes you continue with music?

I love it. I will always continue to rap. I have a studio at my home and I spend a lot of time there. I hope to tour later this year to support the album, maybe starting in Europe.

You reinvented yourself from rapper to TV star. What did you learn about acting from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?

On the first six episodes I was the worst actor you've ever seen. I was missing what everybody was saying in the scene. I had no concept of the marks. You can see the cameraman following me.

Is it true you originally turned down the role in Men In Black?

Yes. I didn't think I should follow Independence Day with another alien invasion movie.

What made you change your mind?

[Executive producer Steven] Spielberg called me and asked me to do it. You don't say no to Steven Spielberg.

Then you refused Keanu Reeves' role in The Matrix to do the flop Wild Wild West.

All this stuff about this alternative world where computers have taken over seemed too strange. Who'd have guessed?

Why did it take eight years to make a sequel to Bad Boys?

[Producer] Jerry Bruckheimer was waiting until he had a script he liked, and he wanted the same team that was involved in the first movie and all that. So it was his decision.

For the acclaimed drama Ali you received an Oscar nomination. [Then you made ', action sequels MIB 2 and Bad Boys

I knew I'd have time for serious movies later so I didn't want to lose my connection to the youngster in me.

Why did you do I, Robot?

I loved the concept of `what if'? And now If I can tell a futuristic story like that and be able to show everything with special effects. Would you like another dramatic role? Yes. It's time to switch gears and avoid that old-man run where you see the action hero in his 50s, and he wants to make one more but shouldn't.

How does it feel to get $20 million?
- I don't discuss the cash transactions, only the depth of the film! [Laughs] Actually I, learned you can't make a decision based on money [or] how much fun you think will involved. It's strictly about the value of the relationships you build. Then all of the o stuff is going to come naturally.

How do you keep your 188cm figure in buff shape?

I began going to the gym in '95, when I got buffed up for Bad Boys. I work out (lifting weights and running three miles four or five times a week). I play tennis and golf regular

Is it hard to keep up the training?

Yeah, man. But I'm going to stay in shape for about four more years. Then I'm letting it all go. I'm going for the guy-with-the-gut roles. Soon as I'm 40, I'm going to stop watching what I eat.

You have tried many things. Are you hard on yourself?

Yes. When you're on top you can either stay there or fall. I'm a perfectionist. Nobody demands more of me me or pushes me harder than myself.

Is that the reason for your success?

The bottom line is the person who pays the most attention and studies the hardest wins. And i refuse to let anyone work harder than me. When people in Hollywood said I couldn't star in Independance Day because black actors dont translate inetrnationally, that spurred me on. "I thought I'll take that fight."

You are extremely funny and outgoing were you always like this?

As a youngster, I always wanted to have fun. I don't know if I was as silly as I am now, but when life is good you just feel happy and so so good you tend to act silly.