Will Smith has had one of the most successful careers in Hollywood, yet when it comes to his personal life, the actor has faced considerable scrutiny. Even after almost three decades of his run in Hollywood, the actor remains in the spotlight more for his personal life struggles, particularly those involving his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. While many believe Will Smith’s current marriage is his most controversial, there might be a slight misconception. 

A closer examination reveals that the actor has been grappling with marital controversies since his first marriage. Even the actor once admitted to having been harboring romantic feelings for one of his co-stars, Stockard Channing, while he was already married.

Will Smith and his one-sided love for Stockard Channing 

Will Smith and Stockard Channing starred in the Six Degrees of Separation together in the year 1993. It was also the time when Smith was in a marital bond with his first wife and had just welcomed son Trey Smith with her. Smith had a rocky relationship with his wife, Sheree Zampino. This led him to develop feelings for Channing during the filming of their co-starred movie, as per the 2021 memoir, Will. However, both the stars kept their relationship extremely professional and Smith never acted on his feelings. 

This was not the only instance where the Men In Black actor talked about his feelings for Channing. During a 2015 interview with Esquire, he shared that much like his character on-screen, he fell in love with Channing. He attributed the cause of his infatuation to the “dangers” of method acting. Even Stockard Channing herself delved into this matter during an interview. 

Stockard Channing shared what she thought upon learning about Will Smith’s feelings towards her. 

Stockard Channing responding to Will Smith’s revelation

The 2015 interview of Will Smith, where he openly declared his affection towards Channing, followed an interview of the actress for Page Six. This interview surfaced just a few weeks after the After Earth actor said, “I actually fell in love with Stockard Channing”. When asked to share her thoughts on the matter, Channing reacted with gratitude and kindness. The actress said she was “very flattered”, and “delighted”. 

The Grease actress also shared her “protective” feelings towards the Academy-award-winning actor, especially since “it was his first big job”. She instantly took a liking to Smith from the moment she first saw him and believed that “he was genuinely sweet”. Though their bond never evolved into anything beyond friendship, there is a lasting respect between both stars that still endures.

What do you think about Will Smith’s revelation about Stockard Channing? Let us know in the comments below!