Will Smith says he’s not a great actor; his daughter wants to be Paris Hilton


Will Smith is a much more humble man than I realized. Not only does he keep his own talent in perspective, he has a very modest view of his young daughter as well. Will says that he’s not a great actor and he knows it. What sets him apart and makes him successful is his crazy work ethic.

Will Smith says he’s not a great actor but he’s a hardworking one. “I’ve never viewed myself as particularly talented. I’ve viewed myself as … slightly above average in talent,” the 39-year-old actor tells CBS’ “60 Minutes” in an interview scheduled to air Sunday.

“Where I excel is with (a) ridiculous, sickening work ethic,” Smith says. “While the other guy’s sleeping, I’m working. While the other guy’s eating, I’m working. While the other guy’s making love, I mean, I’m making love, too, but I’m working really hard at it!”

[From OMG!]

I think he could be a great actor if he chose great parts. He got great reviews for his acting in “Six Degrees of Separation” in 1993. Since then he’s chosen a bunch of big budget action and comedy roles, the only exception being “The Pursuit of Happyness” last year. But let’s be honest, “Bad Boys II” and “Independence Day” were a lot of fun, but no one’s taking home an Oscar for their work.

Will’s son Jaden costarred in “The Pursuit of Happyness,” and it seems that the Smith family will be working with each other from now on. His daughter Willow, 7, costars in his upcoming film “I Am Legend.”

“She has a drive,” Smith tells PEOPLE. “She has an energy and she just connects to human emotion. I think a big part was probably [seeing] Jaden after The Pursuit of Happyness. She saw what Jaden did, and she was like, ‘I want that.'”

Still, there shouldn’t be too much tension between the young Smiths. Smith says they have different styles – and goals. “Jaden is [like] Johnny Depp,” Smith says. “He just wants to do good work . . . He loves acting, he just wants to make good movies. “And Willow is Paris Hilton,” Smith says, laughing. “Willow wants to be on TV.”

[From People]

Boy, in about five years when Willow is old enough to really understand how people view Paris Hilton, she is going to be raging pissed at her dad. That’s like saying, “My daughter is awesome, she’s Heidi Fleiss.” Okay not quite, and I realize that’s not the comparison he’s trying to make. But Will Smith seems to be a pretty smart guy. You’d think he could come up with a more reputable personality to compare his daughter to. Anyone would have been better. “My daughter is like Jessica Simpson” would have been a much kinder thing to say. It’s not great, but she’s at least famous for an actual profession or two. Last time I checked, Paris Hilton was famous for her legendary flat affect and wonky eye.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Will, Jada and Jaden are shown at the Pursuit of Happyness premiere in January of this year. Will and Willow are shown on the “I am Legend” set, also in January. Thanks to Splash News.

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