'I'm still a scared 5-year-old inside!' Will Smith on about fame, fear and new film Focus

'WE'RE all conning everybody, every single day.' Will Smith talks about his new film Focus with Margot Robbie

By Stefan Kyriazis, Arts Editor

Focus Official UK Trailer #2 (2015) - Will Smith, Margot Robbie Movie HD

Even movie megastars have their insecurities.

Will Smith may look like the cockiest chap on the block but the former Fresh Prince confessed that he still gets insecure inside.

At a recent press conference to promote his new film Focus with Aussie beauty Margot Robbie, Will showed his vulnerable side as he talked about the film's, ahem, focus on con artists and they way they can read situations and personalities.

'The film taught me that the things that people accentuate are the exact opposite of what the truth is. 

"Like me, for example.

"I’m really loud so that’s a sign that there’s an insecure side.

"The more loud and bright a person is, the more the little five year old boy inside is scared and nervous."

In the heist thriller Will plays the rather unglamourously named Nicky Spurgeon, an alpha con artist who shows naive newbie Jess (Margot Robbie) the ropes.

Will Smith and Margot RobbieGETTY

Will Smith and Margot Robbie at the London premiere of Focus

After learning the tricks involved, Will admitted that there is an undeniable buzz to be had from running a scam or picking a pocket.

"t’s terrifying," he said.

"It takes such absolute ice-water in your veins to put your hand in somebody’s pocket or grab something and take it. 

"But I realised it’s also a thrill.

"It’s like jumping out of an aeroplane.

"It’s being that close to someone turning around and saying, ‘Hey, what you doing?’

"That is a serious addictive kind of thrill."

Mind you, Will was also at pains to stress that the film should teach you how to watch out for such dangers, rather than encourage you to start a life of crime...

He also made the insightful point that we are all, unconsciously, committing our own form of personal con on the world every single day.

"Everyone’s running a con.

"Everyone wakes up in the morning, you choose your clothes, you choose what you say, where you go, you’re choosing everything, but not based on who you are.

"You choose the things you choose to have the outcome that you want.

"You hide the parts of yourself that you don’t like.

"You accentuate the parts that you do like and then you make up some things to pretend that you’re someone you’re not in order to achieve the goals."

It's a valid point, although if I were Will Smith I can't think of too much I would want to hide...

Focus is out in cinemas on February 27

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