Will Smith has starred in tons of critically acclaimed movies, many of which have one theme in common: the portal of hardships in life. Starting from Collateral Beauty and its themes of love and death to the novel based I Am Legend, which shows us life in a dystopic Manhattan. Meanwhile, Smith’s Ali took us on the journey of the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali and showed how he could challenge himself to play technically difficult roles. Without a doubt, every artist has a story of how they came to realize their abilities. And the one that the Suicide Squad actor has is a very touching one. 

This one movie did not just turn out to be a blockbuster hit but also gave him a secret that changed his acting style. 

The time when ghosts jumped into his body

The Pursuit of Happyness is one movie that brought us happy tears, from the joy of seeing Chris Gardner rise from rock bottom. This emotionally infused movie took us through all its ups and down with an eight-year-old Jaden Smith playing the son of the single dad. Sharing more about this masterpiece, the 54-year-old actor candidly revealed the one “secret” that changed his entire approach to acting.

The After Earth actor recently appeared in Kevin Hart’s Hart to Heart and divulged the experience of meeting Gardner, indirectly. He described going to the MacArthur Station’s bathroom, one of the key locations. The Aladdin actor recalled, “It was like the ghosts jumped in my body.”

The impact that the visit had on the King Richard actor left him with a sort of epiphany. He realized that he wanted his mental space amongst “great humans that have something to teach” and that success would automatically follow.

His passion to push himself forward directly translated into his persistent efforts to fight for justice. This was seen in the moving message the star shared amidst the recent writers’ and actors’ guild strikes.

Will Smith shows his solidarity with the strikes

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air recently showed his continued solidarity for an integral part in every actor’s life in Hollywood right now: the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. The actor took to Instagram a week ago and wrote “It’s a pivotal moment for our profession.” His heartfelt note talked about how he still has days when he feels like he is walking on thin ice and is working on borrowed time.

In the same post, he also credited his coach Aaron Speiser for being a mentor and helpful friend throughout his 33 years in the cinema. It is during these times that the industry saw artists from all backgrounds unite for equal pay and job security. And Smith was right there, front and center, showing his support.

What do you think about the incident that changed his approach to acting? Comment below and let us know.