Stockard Channing Feels 'Chemistry' With Will Smith On Six Degrees Of Separation Was 'Very Motherly'

Will Smith might have “fallen in love” with his Six Degrees of Separation co-star Stockard Channing on the sets, but the actress felt “motherly” towards the rising star, now 55. The actress recently opened up about her experience working with Smith on the 1993 film and shared that she had “immediate chemistry” with him. While shooting the film, Smith was just 23, newly married to Sheree Zampino, and had just welcomed their son Trey. Earlier in 2021, the actor, in his memoir, opened up about “falling in love with Stockard Channing” on the sets of the film and that he was “desperately yearning to see and speak to Stockard.”

Years after the honest confession, Stockard shared her viewpoints. Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter’s It Happened in Hollywood podcast, Channing said, “He (Will Smith) made a lot of money from his music, or even Fresh Prince. I remember we talked about it. However, there was no big-shot stuff at all.”

Stockard Channing, while noting that she saw a “real survival instinct” in him, added, “It was completely perfect for the part. He had a genuine charm and lovely sweetness.” During this time, she also spoke about having an “instant chemistry” with him and recalled, “It was just natural and easygoing.”

In response to host Seth Abramovitch’s question about their equation, while shooting the film in the backdrop of Smith’s 2021 confession, Canning clarified that there was nothing between them and that she felt “motherly” towards him. “There was nothing that was between me and him. I felt very motherly toward him. I liked him a lot. He was absolutely adorable. Just a sweetheart,” the actress said.

It is pertinent to note that Channing also won an Oscar nomination for her performance in the film. The story revolves around a New York socialite who connects with a young con artist played by Smith.

Talking about Will Smith, the actor in his 2021 memoir spoke about being newly married to then-wife Sheree Zampino and a new father to his first son, Trey. “During shooting, I fell in love with Stockard Channing. After the film wrapped, Sheree, Trey, and I moved back to L.A. Our marriage was off to a rocky start. I found myself desperately yearning to see and speak to Stockard,” he wrote.