Where there's a Will...

He's a rapper. He's an actor. He's mates with Nelson Mandela. He's fought aliens. He's fought vampires. He's George Foreman – well, sort of. He's helped useless single males... And now he's the world's worst superhero. He is, of course, Will Smith – or Big Willy as he likes to be known. Well, he's a bloke, of course he wants to be known as Big Willy...

Mr Smith. Will. Willy. Er, Big Willy. So, you're starring in Hancock. What can you tell us about it?
"If you can imagine, it's the Michael (Miami Vice) Mann version of an alcoholic super hero. It is so bizarre. Michael Mann developed a script about an alcoholic super hero." – Collider.com

And after that... The Barack Obama movie? We hear he wants you to play him because, er, you've got the same ears?
"America loves ears, you know? Mickey Mouse started it; Goofy and Dumbo followed behind. And America just loves the ears." - BBC News

And there we were thinking it was talent, script and production values. Anyway, we understand that you won't do Obama – The Movie until you know what the ending is. So what is next? You did Pursuit of Happyness with Jaden, and Willow pops up in I Am Legend. Will you make more films with your kids? How is it working with the entire family?
"You kind of don't work with Willow, you work FOR Willow. It's interesting, Jada (Pinkett-Smith), and I debate the age old debate of nature versus nurture. Is it because two actors went to Mexico and drank some tequila and made a baby? Does that make the baby an actor? Or, did she grow up in a house where that is what is in her house, that is just the life, and that's the experience that she knows?" -Collider.com

And Jaden?
"Jaden is Johnny Depp. He just wants to do good work, he doesn't care what money he gets. He doesn't care if people see it or don't see it. He loves acting, he just wants to make good movies. Willow is Paris Hilton. (laughs) Willow wants to be on TV. (laughs) We are managing both of those in our household." - Collider.com

Of course, Hancock opens in US cinemas the same week as Willow's movie Kit Kittredge: An American Girl.
"I just told her 'sweetheart, daddy loves you but I've got to stop you at the box office'." - BBC News

No competition in the house then... Don't you worry about them becoming actors rather than finishing school?
"The things that have been most valuable to me I did not learn in school. Traditional education is based on facts and figures and passing tests -not on a comprehension of the material and its application to your life. Jada and I homeschool our children, because the date of the Boston Tea Party does not matter... we have hired teachers who teach what we feel is important. For example, Plato's Republic - kids need to know that. Why is that not taught in first grade?" - Readers Digest

Er, because it's Greek? What about your own education? Didn't that come to a halt?
"My first record came out while I was a senior in high school, which is dangerous. Life is too good... I told my parents I wanted to rap. They said, 'Rap?' My mother graduated from Carnegie Mellon. She thought college was the only way. We agreed that I would take a year making music, and if it did not work out, I would go to college. That year we won the first Grammy given to a rap artist. (My mother) backed up a little bit. I sent her one of those 300E Mercedes, and she was cool." - Readers Digest.

A recent copy of Men's Vogue suggested that you might have converted – like so many of your peers – to Scientology. Any truth in that?
"I don't necessarily believe in organised religion. I was raised in a Baptist household, went to a Catholic church, lived in a Jewish neighbourhood, and had the biggest crush on the Muslim girls from one neighbourhood over. Tom (Cruise) introduced me to the ideas. I'm a student of world religion, so to me, it's hugely important to have knowledge and to understand what people are doing. What are all the big ideas? What are people talking about?" Collider.com

We don't think we're allowed to print what people are talking about in relation to Tom Cruise and Scientology... So let's talk relationships. You and Jada seem like a good strong couple...
"I stood up in front of God and my family and friends and said, 'Till death do us part.' So there are two possible outcomes: We are going to be together till death, or I am dead..." -Readers Digest

Does anyone call her Mrs Fresh Prince? When was the last time you were called Fresh Prince?
About four seconds ago... It's interesting. On July 6, 1996, Fresh Prince stopped. That Monday, after Independence Day, was the first time that anyone called me Mr. Smith. All through the music, it was 'Fresh Prince, Fresh Prince.' And that morning, when the box office numbers came out it was, 'Good morning Mr. Smith'. It was so bizarre. I specifically remember that morning is when people started calling me Mr. Smith." Collider.com

And maybe, before we ask when they first started calling you Big Willy, that's a good place to leave it...