Will Smith Acknowledges That He Went 'Too Far' In His Attempt To Play An Enslaved Man In Empancipation

Will Smith has revealed that he overestimated his part in the historical action drama Emancipation.

During an appearance on Kevin Hart’s Peacock show Hart to Heart, the Oscar winner discussed the difficulties he encountered while filming the 2022 picture.

Smith plays Peter, a slave in Louisiana during the 1860s, when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which abolished slavery in rebel Confederate states.

“I went too far in Emancipation,” Smith said.

He added that just talking about it made him ‘teary,’ because it took a tremendous toll on his emotional and physical state.

“I went too far in because I wanted to feel the degradation of slavery.” “What we will do to each other, the level of human brutality,” he informed the comedian.

The Pursuit of Happiness star even said that he went so far as to be bound by real slave shackles because he wanted to feel the ‘weight’ of them.

However, things took a turn for the worst when the key failed to unlock them, pushing the actor to the edge.

“So they got old chains and put it around my neck and were fitting it for size while I was standing there and the prop master went to put the key in and the key didn’t work.” ‘Oh no,’ I thought. “Relax, Will,” he said.

“And I’m standing there, and they’re running around, and they can’t get me out.” “I’m standing there in those chains, right on the verge of hyperventilating.”

Despite the difficult shoot, he wouldn’t alter a thing.

“It was one of the most incredible acting experiences I’ve ever had.” God was introduced to me by Peter. “Working on that movie solidified my faith,” he said.

This isn’t the first time the actor has channeled his inner Daniel Day Lewis.

“With Six Degrees of Separation, I got a taste early of the dangers of going too far for a character,” Smith explained to Vanity Fair in 2015.

Smith plays a con artist who preys on a wealthy Manhattan couple in the film.

“My character was head over heels in love with Stockard Channing’s character.” “And I fell in love with Stockard Channing,” he added.

“I wanted to perform well so badly that I was spending six, seven, and eight days in character before shooting, and you have to be careful with that,” he added.

Will Smith Acknowledges That He Went ‘Too Far’ In His Attempt To Play An Enslaved Man In Empancipation

Will Smith has revealed that he overestimated his part in the historical action drama Emancipation.

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