American actor Will Smith reviews his artistic journey and experiences at the Sharjah Book Fair

Sharjah, 15 November / WAM / The audience of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2025, in the presence of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Book Authority, met with American actor Will Smith in a dialogue session titled “The Power of Storytelling,” during which he reviewed his artistic journey, revealing his philosophy of acting and life, and shared some of the lessons he learned from realistic and fictional narratives while writing his autobiography, “Will,” stressing the importance of being honest with oneself and helping others as a true path to happiness and success.

Will Smith shared with the audience a poignant personal moment, speaking about his meeting with Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi before the start of the session and her gift to him of her book, “Tell them she is here… looking for Queen Maliha.” He explained that the way Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi dealt with dreams and visions in her book deeply affected him, to the point that he felt the intersection of these visions with a book project he had been working on in secret for a long time.

Smith touched on the development of the cultural landscape of the Middle East and its enormous creative potential, noting that it is one of the few regions in the world that possesses a narrative legacy that extends thousands of years and which has not yet been exploited at the global level. He presented an approach to the emergence of global storytelling by African Americans, stressing that global ideas transcend race, color, and culture.

Smith addressed the importance of continuing to communicate with audiences of all ages, keeping up with their aspirations, and gaining their trust, pointing out that this does not happen by chance, but rather by examining the experiences that everyone goes through and by searching for the part of the story that everyone understands and that is written in a universal language that does not require translation, which is the language of storytelling.

Smith emphasized that storytelling is the essence that organizes the mind and shapes our experience in life, as it is not just a tool for entertainment, but rather a natural way in which the mind works to understand the world and interact with it. He said that stories, whether realistic or fictional, give us the ability to empathize, help us understand the experiences of others and their history, and teach us how to face challenges.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and