Will Smith once reflected on the reason he stopped using method acting to bring fictional characters to life. The infamous technique has garnered quite a contentious reputation over the years, with polarizing opinions making headlines frequently. Some discuss its moral and ethical essence, while others defend its usage.
Read also: Drake Just Paid An Unbelievable $1M To Own Jada Smith’s Ex Tupac Shakur’s Ring
The effects of the notorious approach that The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star encountered were fairly romantic, in contrast to the many instances where other Hollywood talents had to face catastrophic repercussions that came as a result of using the method. Smith stated in an interview that using the technique made him fall in love with his co-star during the filming of a 1993 Fred Schepisi-helmed drama film.
Method Acting Made Will Smith Fall In Love With His Co-star
Oscar-winning actor Will Smith starred in the 1993 film titled Six Degrees of Separation for which he was praised by critics for his against-type performance. The movie is a cinematic adaptation of a play of the same name, penned by notable playwright John Guare. Even if it could not achieve the reputation of a box office hit, the endeavor received an astoundingly favorable critical reception. On Rotten Tomatoes, the Will Smith starrer enjoys an approval rating of 88%.
Thanks to the 1993 pursuit, Smith was able to display his capabilities of effectively tackling serious premises. However, it was during this film’s production that the actor was able to recognize the negative consequences of method acting. In an interview with Esquire, the Bad Boys alum opened up about the psychological ramifications of the approach, which led him to fall in love with co-star Stockard Channing.
Following was his statement:
“With Six Degrees of Separation, I got a taste early of the dangers of going too far for a character. My character was in love with Stockard Channing’s character. And I actually fell in love with Stockard Channing.”
The actor then went on to emphasize that his strive for perfection led him to get deeply involved with his Six Degrees of Separation character, Paul. The Emancipation talent, who was eager to see Stockard Channing even though the production for the 1993 film was over, felt the effects of using the technique intensely. He became enamored with Channing in real life.
Will Smith Recalled Method Acting Being Dangerous
Elaborating upon his revelation of falling in love with Stockard Channing, the 54-year-old star stated that using method acting requires playing with one’s psychology. The reprogramming of his mind, to mirror the traits of his on-screen character, soon became a risky job. His on-screen feelings translated into real-life emotions and that was when Will Smith realized it was best not to play with fire. Commenting on the psychological implications of the method, the talent stated the following:
“So the movie was over and I went home, and I was dying to see Stockard. I was like, “Oh no! What have I done?” That was my last experience with Method acting, where you’re reprogramming your mind. You’re actually playing around with your psychology. You teach yourself to like things and to dislike things,”
He then added,
“It is a really dangerous place when you get good at it. But once I had that experience, I was like, No more Method acting. I was spending—for Six Degrees, I wanted to perform well so badly that I was spending six and seven, and eight days in character before shooting, and you have to be careful with that.”
Undertaking the task of perfectly capturing the spirit of his on-screen persona led Will Smith to learn the dangers of the controversial technique. When the lines between fiction and reality start to blur, it becomes difficult to differentiate between what’s genuine and what’s not. Luckily, the Aladdin star was wise enough to know when to stop.
Read also: Will Smith Made Fun of Someone’s Bald Head Before Slapping Chris Rock for Doing the Same to His Wife
Following Will Smith’s candid confession, an interview featuring his Six Degrees of Separation co-star Stockard Channing made headlines. Here, upon learning of Smith’s past feelings, she claimed to feel “very flattered.” Talking to Page Six, the now 79-year-old star stated:
“That’s a wonderful thing . . . I adored him from the first time I laid eyes on him because I thought he was genuinely sweet. I felt very protective of him because it was his first big job. It’s amazing for me to hear that he felt that way, I’m delighted.”
We may infer from this that, despite Will Smith’s past feelings, there was never a feeling of awkwardness or rigidity between the two movie stars. Instead, Channing’s response reveals a shared sense of respect and admiration that both talents have for one another.
Six Degrees of Separation is available on Prime Video via buying/renting.
Source: Esquire
