Will Smith is a big name in the film industry today, but even he has had his fair share of struggles in his career. Before he started his career by starring in the hit NBC sitcom. Prince of Bel-Air He previously worked as a rapper with DJ Jazzy Jeff.
But to break into the industry, he had to find a way, even if it meant lying about his acting abilities. The sitcom was a great success and received widespread acclaim. However, despite the enormous popularity and increase in fortune from the show, Smith was unlikely to enjoy it. However, its main purpose was fulfilled by the series.
Will Smith was hoping to land a role in his breakthrough series
Will Smith has certainly evolved as an actor over time. Today, he is a well-known celebrity with an impressive resume that includes his iconic performances. However, it would be surprising for his fans to know that he once lied about his acting abilities to get a role in a film. The Prince of Bel-Air.
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The hit sitcom certainly launched Smith’s career, but the path he took to get there wasn’t an honest one. During an interview with CBS Mornings (via ScreenRant), Smith revealed that during casting, when the show’s executive producer Quincy Jones asked him if he knew anything about acting, Smith, being new to the field, lied and said yes. . However, the actor does not regret anything, as he has always been clear in his views. Smith explained:
“I think it’s important, as a general rule, if someone asks you if you can do something, always say yes.” Even if you can’t. Quincy Jones wants to audition, right? And Michael Jackson was behind me, 48 million sold on Thriller, and Oprah was behind me on the other side – The Color Purple – and I’m sitting there and, you know, I look back at Michael and he’s like, “What ? are you going to do it, Will? And it was like at that moment, you know, Quincy said, “You’re making a decision that’s going to affect the rest of your life.” And I thought, “Let’s do this.”
His little trick actually worked in his favor as not only did he get a role in the series, but his performance was well received by the audience. Moreover, by the end of the series, Smith managed to star in a big-budget film as the main character. He starred in the 1996 sci-fi film Independence Day, which became a huge blockbuster.
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Will Smith couldn’t enjoy the fortune made by his hit TV series
sitcom NBC, The Prince of Bel-Air aired for six seasons, from 1990 to 1996, becoming one of the best series of its time. Since the series was a big success, it received widespread acclaim, earning its main character Will Smith $2.8 million in just the first three seasons.
However, he could not enjoy it because he had to fulfill some obligations. Before pursuing an acting career, Smith was previously a rapper. In an interview with Inside The Actors Studios, the actor revealed that most of his income was spent paying off taxes he owed from his rap career.
Smith also said that he started acting only to have income to pay taxes. However, fate had other plans for him: the obligation to pay off his debts became a reason for him to enter the film industry.
Read more: “This is terrible”: Will Smith hates watching the first season of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”
Source: Inside the Actors Studio
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