Will Smith makes heartbreaking admission about family's reaction to finding fame

05 August 2023 , 07:43

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Will Smith makes heartbreaking admission about family's reaction to finding fame

Will Smith became emotional as he admitted "nobody in my family was happy" after they found fame and he "achieved everything I had ever dreamed".

The 54-year-old actor shot to fame in the 90s when he starred on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He went on to achieve global success, appearing in popular films such as Men In Black and King Richard.

Will married actress Jada Pinkett Smith in 1997 and the couple went on to have two children together - Jaden Smith and Willow Smith. Jaden and Willow have achieved their own success, with Will admitting he accomplished his dreams when his children triumphed in their industries.

Jaden, 25, is a successful actor and has had roles in films such as The Karate Kid and The Pursuit of Happyness. Willow, 22, has won various awards in her career as a singer.

Will Smith admitted his family were unhappy with fame (AFP via Getty Images)

Appearing on the Peacock TV show Hart to Heart, Will said: "2010 was like the greatest year as an artist, as a parent. Karate Kid came out in June, Whip My Hair came out in October.

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"I'm building this dream of a family I’ve had in my mind, 'I'm going to do it better than my father did it.' We've talked about it, my father was abusive. I told myself I would never have that kind of energy with my family and I had a dream, an idea of a family I was building. Pretty much 2010 to 2012 I had achieved everything I had ever dreamed."

However, it turned out achieving superstar status wasn't everything Will had dreamed of. Despite the success, he admitted "nobody in my family was happy".

The actor said he was busy 'building his dream' (AFP via Getty Images)

Will found fame in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to host Kevin Hart, Will explained: "No one wanted to be in a platoon. Willow was the first one to begin the mutiny and it was my first realisation that success and money don't mean happiness."

He added: "Up until that point, I really believed that you could succeed your way – to a house and a family – and you could win your way to happiness." Will said he quickly realised that "material circumstances" do not mean someone will be happy, before adding that they can often "be the reason you're not happy."

Scarlett O'Toole