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Will Smith on King Richard and how his relationship with his father turned him into a people pleaser

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Will Smith's performance in King Richard might earn him his third Oscar nomination.
(PHOTO: Getty Images / Gallo Images)
Will Smith's performance in King Richard might earn him his third Oscar nomination. (PHOTO: Getty Images / Gallo Images)

Having raised two children who became superstars, Will Smith is no stranger to parenting and nurturing talent.

In King Richard, he plays Richard Williams, the father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams, played by Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton. 

Before his famous daughters were born, Richard and his wife, Brandi (Aunjanue Ellis), came up with a plan, which they documented in a 78-page manifesto, to make the girls stars. Nearly everything in the Williams’ plan came to fruition, thanks to their hard work, Richard’s coaching and his relentless efforts to open doors for a pair of girls from a poor neighbourhood in Compton, California. 

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