Will Smith Picks the Actress He Says Has a Rare Powerful Presence

Will Smith has built one of the most versatile careers in Hollywood by drawing inspiration from various acting styles and screen legends. While he has always admired pioneers like Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington, Smith’s early career in the 1990s introduced him to the intense world of method acting.

During the filming of Six Degrees of Separation, he fully submerged himself into his character, a process he later described as confining yourself only to the thoughts of the character and living exactly as they would.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, the actor explained that this technique made him realize that his own ego and personality are just as much of a construct as the roles he plays on screen.

The experience was so deep that he famously admitted to falling in love with his co-star, Stockard Channing, because a part of the character became him. Smith believes that every actor must test different exercises until they find the specific method that works for them.

While he remains loyal to his Hollywood influences, Smith has also expressed a deep appreciation for global cinema. In a past interview with the BBC, he named Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as one of his favorite performers.

He recalled how much he really wanted to work with her in Hitch, but the timing didn’t work out because she was busy filming Bride and Prejudice. Smith noted that she possesses a powerful energy where she can just stand there without saying a word and still command the scene.

As of February, Will Smith is enjoying a major career resurgence following the massive success of Bad Boys: Ride or Die. He has recently been in the headlines for his return to the world of sci-fi with the long-awaited sequel, I Am Legend 2.

This project is especially exciting for fans because it officially ignores the original theatrical ending and follows the alternate cut where his character, Robert Neville, survives. Smith is not only starring in the film but also producing it alongside Michael B. Jordan, who joins the franchise in a lead role.

In addition to his return to the post-apocalyptic ruins of New York, Smith is reportedly working on a high-stakes thriller titled Fast & Loose. In this upcoming film, he plays a crime boss who suffers from memory loss and must piece together his identity while being hunted by enemies.

Do you think a collaboration between Will Smith and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan would still be a massive global hit today, or has the window for that iconic pairing finally closed? Share your thoughts in the comments!