Will Smith Interview

Elle Magazine

HIS JIGGINESS, WILL SMITH, LAYS OUT THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR LONG-TERM LOVE: HONESTY, HONESTY, HONESTY. OH, AND A NICE TONED BUTT DOESN'T HURT EITHER

Sixteen years ago the world met the Fresh Prince, the 19-year-old rapper of the G-rated mall anthem "Parents Just Don't Understand." Back then it would have been a stretch to imagine the gangly Philadelphia native, with his Chia Pet flattop and sparse mustache, victorious in a snowball fight-let alone saving the world from ill-tempered aliens or knocking out Sonny Liston, as he did in his Oscar-nominated portrayal of Muhammad Ali. Now, buff and as hairy-lipped as he wants to be, the 35-year-old Will Smith (as the Fresh Prince has taken to calling himself) has morphed into Hollywood's King Testosterone, bringing home $20 million paychecks to his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, and three kids practically every time he picks up a prop gun. This month the actor trains his weapons on homicidal androids in I, Robot . With any luck the movie will be stormed by multiplex hordes the same way Independence Day and the Men in Black blockbusters were in summers past. But before the robot parts fly, Smith provides a lesson in love, Big Willie style. Rule number one: Go ahead and tell her you hate that dress.-ANDREW GOLDMAN


ELLE: Any tips for arguing with women?

WILL SMITH: Be clear about what your point is. If you're arguing for 20 minutes because she came in late, you need to realize that's not really the issue. The issue is you're insecure because four girlfriends ago someone used to come home late and she was cheating on you, and you haven't dealt with that yet.

ELLE: Do you have any feminine traits?

WS: I'm very romantic. I'm all about flowers and candy and setting the mood with the candles.

ELLE: Are you generally the first to say I love you?

WS: No, rarely. I wait until there's no question in my mind.

ELLE: How do you respond if she says it first?

WS: If I'm not certain I'll just say thank you.

ELLE: Ouch, the old thank you . So we heard all about Big Willie style, which was also the name of your 1997 album. But have you ever sported Small Willie style?

WS: Yes, Little Willie from Philly took up most of my life. When I married Jada, that's when I became solidified. Men are judged by the perceived quality of their women. When I got with Jada, that's when I became official.

ELLE: You've said that when you were training for Ali , you were sexually insatiable. You called yourself "Willagra." Why?

WS: There's something about being able to fight that goes along with sexual confidence.

ELLE: So does a man's sexual attractiveness boil down to whether he can pummel any other guy in the room?

WS: Confidence is the key to command in your bedroom. Women can smell fear, so there can't be any there.