Will Smith is a Hollywood icon who has charmed audiences with his magnetic presence and diverse range of roles. From his breakout performance in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to blockbuster hits franchises like Men in Black, Smith has established himself as a versatile actor capable of captivating viewers with his talent and charisma.
Smith is indeed a superstar, who enjoys a global fanbase. But this stardom was not always enjoyed by the Hancock star. In his memoir, the Bad Boys star recalled asking Arnold Schwarzenegger for advice to become a superstar. The following advice from The Terminator star made Smith competitive and he tried to overtake Tom Cruise by outdoing his promotional activities.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Advice That Made Will Smith Competitive
Arnold Schwarzenegger is indeed a action superstar, who has left an unforgiven mark on audiences with his work in The Terminator franchise. The Running Man star suggested The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star focus on global recognition, and emphasized the point to travel extensively and engage with fans worldwide.
“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, and kiss every baby. Think of yourself as a politician running for Biggest Movie Star in the World.”
Will Smith’s Failed Efforts To Outwork Tom Cruise
Inspired by the advice of Schwarzenegger, the King Richard star embarked on a mission to become the biggest movie star in the world. Will Smith started expanding his horizons, he realized the significance of promotion and press tours. He diligently monitored the activities of his fellow actors, and it became apparent that Tom Cruise was the one to beat. The Pursuit of Happyness star not only kept his eye on the promotional schedule of the Mission Impossible star but also decided to invest two hours extra in his promotions.
“I started to notice how much other actors hate traveling, press, and promoting. It seemed like utter insanity to me…I started quietly monitoring all of Tom’s global promotional activities. 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.”
However, Smith soon discovered that matching Cruise’s dedication was no easy feat. Describing Cruise as either a cyborg or an entity with multiple versions of himself, Smith shared the packed schedule of the Top Gun star and how diligently he managed to do all of it. The Ali star even said that the Rain Man star has the best promotional tour in Hollywood.
“Unfortunately, Tom Cruise is either a cyborg or there are six of him. I was receiving reports of four-and-a-half-hour stretches on red carpets in Paris, London, Tokyo … In Berlin, Tom literally signed every single autograph until there was no one else who wanted one. Tom Cruise’s global promotions were the individual best in Hollywood.”
Though as per Smith, he decided to rely on his musical abilities to outshine Cruise and other superstars of Hollywood. Will Smith’s candid revelations about his pursuit to outshine Tom Cruise is surely praiseworthy for his honesty.
Source: Insider
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