Will Smith's 'Emancipation' role taught him lesson post-slap

Will Smith poses for photographers upon arrival for the premiere of the film 'Emancipation'. (Courtesy/AP)

While filming "Emancipation," Will Smith routinely drew inspiration from the words "sacred motivation" that were written on the front page of a script. But the Oscar winner heavily leaned on the phrase even more in recent months, as he tried to overcome the backlash to his Oscars slap and banishment from the ceremony.

"It's like when you can locate and center yourself in your divine purpose, you can withstand anything and everything," Smith said of the phrase that greeted him when he took on the lead role in Antoine Fuqua's "Emancipation," which is currently in theaters and will be available to stream Friday on Apple TV+. "Sacred motivation" became like a theme for him and his castmates, Smith said.