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Will Smith Avoided Heavy Roles For Family's Sake
24 Sep
Summary
- Will Smith declined roles with heavy energy to protect his family.
- Willow Smith shared her father's approach on a podcast.
- Smith recalled method acting's emotional toll in his memoir.
Will Smith has intentionally avoided emotionally demanding acting roles, prioritizing the energy within his household, according to his daughter Willow. She explained on Kid Cudi's Big Bro podcast that her father specifically refused certain parts because he did not want to bring their associated intensity home to his family.
Smith's 2021 memoir, 'Will,' documented the significant emotional toll of his early method acting experiences. He recounted the challenges of playing Paul in the 1993 film 'Six Degrees of Separation' during his first marriage.
This conscious decision to select less emotionally taxing roles contrasts with Smith's history of turning down major blockbuster opportunities. Notable among these were potential roles in 'Django Unchained,' 'The Matrix,' and 'Inception.' While he declined the lead in 'Django' due to its themes, he later appeared in the 2022 historical drama 'Emancipation' as an enslaved man.
