Will Smith took home the SAG Award win for Outstanding Performance By a Male Actor on Sunday, February 27 awards show for his portrayal in King Richard. Smith played Richard Williams, the father of Serena Williams and Venus Williams. The film debuted in November 2021.
In an emotional acceptance speech, he thanked all the women involved.
“I’m here tonight with Saniyya [Sidney] and Demi [Singleton], the girls who play Venus and Serena, and Aunjanue Ellis, and Venus is here with her sister Isha, who’s an executive producer,” the Pennsylvania native told Entertainment Tonight after accepting his award. “It’s all of these Black women that I get to protect and shine a light on, you know, across the generations.”
Smith added that he feels a “responsibility” to tell their story, noting that he also “get[s]” the 80-year-old tennis coach on a deep level.
“You know, [he’s] that post-World War II Black man in America with a dream and everyone tells you, ‘You’re crazy,’ you know?” the I Am Legend star explained to the outlet. “My father was that guy, and he just [has] these big dreams and no support at all, but you do it anyway.”
Also nominated in the category were Javier, Bardem, Benedicts Cumberbatch, and Andrew Garfield. Smith said Washington has been “a mentor” to him over the years.
“He’s seen a whole lot of iterations of Will Smith,” the Grammy winner explained. “Like, Denzel’s always one of my first calls when stuff’s not going right. He’s given me critical advice at really critical moments. [Tonight], he just hugged me and said, ‘This is your year,’ and he said, ‘I’m so proud of the man you’ve become.’ He grabbed a weight off of [my] shoulders and said, ‘You got it.’”
Smith, who began his career as the rapper Fresh Prince said his acceptance speech was “one of the greatest” of his career.
“Richard Williams is a dreamer like no one you’ve ever known,” the producer told the audience. “He has a power of belief that borders on insanity and sometimes tips over the border, which is absolutely necessary to take something from impossible to possible. … Venus, Serena, the Williams family, you entrusted me and our group with your story. But when I got the call and you watched the movie and you said you loved it, I just want to say thank you very much. It was my deepest pleasure to honor your family and to tell your story to the world.”
The former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star, aside from his latest award win, is enjoying the success of the Peacock reimagined series Bel-Air, a dramatic retelling of the 90s sitcom that started Smith’s acting career. Smith is an executive producer, and the drama series is a collaboration through his production company Westbrook Studios.
Joining Smith for the awards ceremony was his wife, Red Table Talk creator, and host, Jada Pinkett Smith. The couple, who have been married since 1997, share son Jaden, 23, and daughter Willow, 21. Smith is also the father of eldest son Trey, 29, with ex-wife Sheree Zampino.
Comment and join the conversation @bsm_mag.
Photo Credit: Will Smith Chris Pizzello/AP/Shutterstock
