The actress, speaking with ESSENCE.com while doing press for Madagascar 3, says Will continually inspires her by going above and beyond when it comes to being a dad. “There are some men who feel like, ‘Listen, I take care of the house and the home. That’s all I need to do,'” she says.
“What makes Will the best father in the world to me is that he’s there, not just there in a way that’s traditional. The emotional support he offers his children is immeasurable.”
Raised by her single mom, Adrienne Banfield, Smith says she feels especially blessed to watch Will’s relationship with their daughter Willow, 11. “It’s a very interesting relationship to watch and to see how her confidence is really steeped in the idea that she’s got this beautiful, strong man as her father.
“In [Willow’s] eyes, it’s like the world is at my fingertips because I’ve got daddy,” she adds. “For a little girl to be in partnership with her father in that way brings tears to my eyes every time because I feel like every little girl in the world deserves that.”
As they get closer to their 15th anniversary this October, Smith couldn’t be happier with the man she’s chosen as her life partner. “You can find a man that loves you, but if you can find a man that loves you and is a great father, you couldn’t hit a bigger jackpot than that,” she says.
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