After the controversial incident at the Oscars, Will Smith’s public image suffered a significant blow. The incident overshadowed his previous acts of goodwill, such as assisting Bruce Willis, and shifted the focus towards anticipation for an apology video featuring Chris Rock. However, the reception to the apology video was mixed, with varied reactions from the public.
As Will Smith climbed the ladder of success, he received an abundance of advice, including words of encouragement from none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, what started as a well-intentioned motivation from Arnold eventually became an all-consuming obsession for the Men in Black actor, hidden away from the public eye.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Life-changing Advice To Will Smith
With an unwavering determination to attain stardom in Hollywood, Will Smith consistently demonstrated a remarkable work ethic, establishing himself as a tireless powerhouse throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s. In 1996, Smith experienced a significant awakening while attending Planet Hollywood alongside esteemed luminaries of the industry, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Bruce Willis.
Upon seeking advice, Arnold Schwarzenegger steered Will Smith onto an entirely new trajectory, causing the Fresh Prince star to undergo a profound shift in perspective regarding the requirements for achieving paramount success in Hollywood.
“You are not a movie star if your movies are only successful in America. You are not a movie star until every person in every country on earth knows who you are. You have to travel the globe, shake every hand, kiss every baby. Think of yourself as a politician running for Biggest Movie Star in the World,” Arnold said, according to Smith’s memoir.
Initially intended as a source of encouragement, the advice given to Smith inadvertently triggered a spiral into obsessive behavior, particularly in his pursuit of surpassing one of Hollywood’s top stars.
Will Smith Wanted To Beat Tom Cruise’s Hollywood Stardom
Taking a global perspective on career success, Will Smith turned his attention to none other than Tom Cruise, carefully studying the actor’s approach to promoting his films on an international scale. Smith swiftly recognized Cruise’s exceptional ability to effectively market and promote his movies to audiences worldwide, acknowledging the tremendous skill and effort the actor invested in reaching a global audience.
In a bid to achieve parity, Smith was determined to gauge the extent of Cruise’s commitment to promoting his films, aspiring to mirror and even surpass the level of effort invested by the accomplished actor.
“I started quietly monitoring all of Tom’s global promotional activities,” Smith recalled in his memoir. “When I arrived in a country to promote my movie, I would ask the local movie executives to give me Tom’s promotional schedule. And I vowed to do two hours more than whatever he did in every country.”
During a conversation with Insider, the Men in Black actor candidly revealed the inner turmoil he experienced behind the scenes, acknowledging that attempting to replicate the demanding schedule of his industry counterpart had taken a toll on his mental state.
Source: The Things
