Actress Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor recently talked about working with Will Smith on the movie King Richard. The film, which came out in 2021, tells the story of Venus and Serena Williams and their father, Richard Williams, who helped them become tennis champions. Ellis-Taylor played their mother, Oracene “Brandy” Price, while Smith starred as Richard.
Ellis-Taylor said she was amazed by Smith’s hard work and preparation for the role. She explained that Smith doesn’t think of himself as the best actor, but he believes no one can outwork him. “He’s like, ‘Nobody is going to beat me working hard.’ And that has stayed with me,” she said.
From the very first day of rehearsals, Ellis-Taylor saw how serious Smith was about the project. She remembers him arriving with “index cards all over the place,” where he had written notes about his character and the story. “Just granular stuff, just extraordinary,” she said, meaning he paid attention to even the smallest details.
Smith was more than just a hardworking actor on the set. He also made sure to be kind to everyone. As the leading star and producer of the film, Smith wanted to set a good example. Ellis-Taylor said, “He was so incredibly kind to everybody and not allowing anybody to be mistreated in his sight.”
This kindness and dedication helped make King Richard a success. The movie received six Oscar nominations in 2022, including Best Picture. Smith won the Oscar for Best Actor, and Ellis-Taylor was nominated for her role as Best Supporting Actress.
Ellis-Taylor said she has learned a lot from working with Smith and tries to bring those lessons to her other projects. Since King Richard, she has acted in several important films, including Origin, The Deliverance, and Nickel Boys.
In Nickel Boys, which is based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Ellis-Taylor plays a role in a powerful story about a reform school. The movie, which came out on December 14, is already earning praise, and Ellis-Taylor’s performance has been nominated for a Critics Choice Award.
She also spoke about another actor she admires: Jamie Foxx, her co-star in the 2004 movie Ray. “With Jamie and Will, talk about dedication and commitment to the job at hand,” she said. “Both of them have that.”
Ellis-Taylor’s next project is a movie based on the book Liz Here Now by Todd Connor. As she continues her career, she is grateful for the lessons she has learned from co-stars like Smith and Foxx. Their examples of hard work and kindness inspire her to keep giving her best in every role she takes on.
Through her talent and dedication, Ellis-Taylor is proving to be a powerful voice in Hollywood, and her journey is far from over.
