Will Smith’s dream of “building a family” around his acting career has come true.
His aspirations have been realised since he became the father of three children. Will has son Willard from a previous marriage and son Jaden and daughter Willow with his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. His kids and wife are his first priority.
"The joy [of life now] is watching an idea that I had at seven… coming into fruition,” he told Parade.
“I am actually building the family that I've always dreamed about... Building a family around the entertainment business. I love watching my kids and my family blossom from something that was a seed from a seven-year-old's mind."
Will has tried to keep his children grounded as they have grown up in the spotlight. His youngest kids Willow and Jaden are following in their parents’ footsteps by showing interests in acting and music.
"The most difficult part of the whole thing is emotional management,” he said of teaching the youngsters about handling fame.
“To have them connect to the artistry of what they create rather than connecting to the success or the adoration. Jada and I have been talking a lot about pulling back during teenage years because they are very formative.”
Willow, 11, joined Justin Bieber for the European leg of his My World tour last year. She thoroughly enjoyed performing on stage, although Will has laughed he is unsure whether she realised how big the commitment was.
“In the middle of the Justin Bieber tour she saw a Russian ballerina or something and she was riveted,” Will said.
“She wanted to go home and take ballet and it was like, 'No, honey, you have seven more tour dates.' [laughs] But now she is way gone on ballet. So it's the difficulty of letting the business go and let them develop in the way that is more natural for them."
Jaden, 13, has risen to fame as an actor after starring alongside his dad in The Pursuit of Happyness and then in The Karate Kid. He is now engaged in some friendly competition with his father.
"Jaden has a little bit of a predatory look in his eye. He is so coming for me,” Will said.
“I tell him all the time, 'Son, I am going to teach you everything that I know and if you work hard, you can be the second biggest movie star in the world.'"
