THE REINVENTION OF WILL SMITH

He’s set for Oscar glory for his portrayal of the Williams sisters’ dad, but the actor says his priorities have changed since turning 50

- DENNIS CAVERNELIS

HE’S the toast of this year’s awards season and everyone who’s anyone is singing his praises.

So it’s safe to say Will Smith is on the comeback trail – even if he never really went anywhere.

The 53-year-old star has spent the past few years confounding fans with some very public soul-searching. There were his harem fantasies of Halle Berry. He and wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s oversharing about their open marriage. The time he considered pushing his wheelchair-bound father down a flight of stairs. It’s been a lot.

Will never lost his appeal – his charisma and that perpetual twinkle in his eye are pretty irresistible – but his fans were getting a bit “enough already”.

Yet look at him now. As the star of King Richard, Will has resurrected his career as a serious actor, scooping best actor trophies at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, Baftas, and Critics Choice Awards. Now he’s the favorite to win a best actor Oscar at the Academy Awards on 27 March.

If he goes home with the golden gong, it will be third time lucky for Will, who was nominated for his mesmerising portrayal of boxing icon Muhammad Ali in 2002’s Ali and again for playing a homeless dad trying to keep his family together in The Pursuit of Happyness (2007).

His performance as Richard Williams, the doggedly determined dad of Venus and Serena, has earned praise from the sisters as well as critics and fans.

“The film is a sterling reminder of Smith’s singular charge, seizing upon a mighty challenge with thrilling recommitment,” a Vanity Fair review says.