The role of Richard Williams, the father of tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams, earned Will Smith his first Oscar after a two-decade wait. He was named best actor in a starring role for his depiction of Richard Williams.
Overshadowed by an earlier incident, where Smith seemed to confront Chris Rock after he made a joke about his wife, Jada, and her shaven head, the win was nevertheless an impressive achievement. Alopecia, a disorder that causes hair loss, has been made public knowledge by actress Jada Pinkett Smith. When returning to his seat, Smith aggressively screamed at Rock twice to “keep my wife’s name out of your [sic] mouth.”
“I know to do what we do, you must be able to take abuse, you gotta be able to have people talk crazy about you,” Smith said in an emotional acceptance speech following his Oscar win. This business requires the ability to put up with people treating you badly. “And you have to grin and act that it’s all right.”
On camera, Denzel Washington advised him, “When you’re at your top, that’s when the devil attacks.”
Smith expressed his gratitude to the Williams family for “trusting me with your tale,” stating he wants to be an advocate for love. He once remarked, “Art imitates life. “They say I look like Richard Williams’ crazy father. Love, on the other hand, will drive you insane.”
But Chris Rock did not apologize to the Academy or his fellow nominees. As he closed up his remarks, the Academy invited him to return.
As a result of his performance in King Richard, he received his third Oscar nomination. The Williams sisters are based on the narrative of King Richard. It’s been suggested to Venus and Serena’s older sister Isha Price, who spoke to NPR, that a movie adaptation of their lives might be a popular choice for studios. She described this one as “different.” A picture of early days, when Richard Williams was not only the sisters’ trainer but also their fervent advocate, was chosen as the basis for King Richard.
On the verge of insanity were Smith’s dreams, he said. One must live here in order to perform things that have never been done before.
As a tribute to the Williams family, Smith, who has stated that he wanted to make this film, saw his own father in the role he had to portray. By mimicking his character’s mannerisms and attire, Smith was able to prepare for his role, he added. He thinks he’s flying!” “It sounds like a joke, but as soon as I put those short shorts on, I got it.'”
This role has won Smith a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award, a Critics Choice Award, and the Screen Actors Guild Award.
One of the most prolific actors of his generation, Smith began his acting career on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1990 and has been in numerous films since. According to Aisha Harris, Smith’s King Richard was “a culmination of all the performances, on- and off-screen,” that culminated to this point.
