Jada Pinkett-Smith Talks Raising Kids In Hollywood: They are my biggest contributions.

Jada & daughter Willow

Jada Pinkett-Smith Talks Raising Kids In Hollywood

During a recent interview, Jada Pinkett-Smith dishes on her latest roles in film and TV and the challenges in raising children in Hollywood. Peep the excerpts below.

On playing Fish Mooney on FOX’s Gotham:

I have to say that Fish Mooney is one of my favorite characters. I just love her so much, she’s so fun to watch. And it’s very rare that I get to play a character that I actually enjoy watching. She’s just amazing, I just love her… there’s aspects of my shadow that are Fish Mooney but I do believe it’s the first character that is a pretty far departure from Jada. It’s kind of like an alter ego.

On taking pride in playing the ‘bad’ character in television:

Because you don’t get to do it in real life. In real life, you’re trying to ‘zen out’ and you’re trying to find your higher self, where [Fish Mooney] absolutely has no desire for that. I would say that I do have my shadow. And I think it’s great when an artist has a piece of artistry you can communicate that shadow aspect of yourself. But I’m no saint!

On new movie “Girls Trip”:

I’m so excited about Girls Trip. It’s the first time that Latifah and I have been on the screen together since “Set It Off” which was 20 years ago… It’s a comedy of four women who are college friends, who are now adults. And their friendship is kinda [rocky]. I am the nerdy girl. I am the girl that’s lost her groove. I’m all about my kids. I don’t have a romantic life or anything. It’s just work and kids.

Willow, Jaden (circa 2014)

On her children:

They’re beautiful. I would have to say that I would have never thought that me coming into this world, that my contribution would be children. That was never my thing – that was ‘anti’ for me. But I have a family, I got kids. And they are my biggest contributions.

On the troubles of parenthood, raising kids in Hollywood:

The way that I look at it is like, life is tough. I grew up in Baltimore City and my life in B-More was tough. So when I look at Hollywood, If I can’t raise kids that can deal with the toughness in Hollywood, where I grew up in particular neighborhoods where mothers are losing their sons and daughters, Hollywood is nothing compared to that. So as far as I’m concerned, they’re good… they have really learned to trust us.

By: @Ike_Morgan