Will Smith celebrates Venus, Serena Williams’ father after award win

American actor Will Smith won the ‘Best Actor’ award for his depiction of Venus and Serena Williams’ father Richard Williams in the hit film ‘King Richard’ at the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards, held on Sunday.

Smith, in his award acceptance speech, said Richard Williams, who coached his tennis-pro daughters from a young age, is one of the greatest dreamers he had ever come across.

He said that Williams single-handedly managed to elevate both Venus and Serena Williams to the worldly recognized champions that they are today.

“Richard Williams is a dreamer like no one you’ve ever known, he has a power of belief that borders on insanity…which is absolutely necessary to take something from impossible to possible,” said Smith.

“That may have been one of the greatest moments of my career just now, because my name was called for ‘King Richard’ sitting next to Venus Williams,” said Will.

The ‘Prince of Bel Air’ star further thanked the Williams family for giving him the opportunity to tell their story to the world.

“Venus, Serena, the Williams family, you entrusted me and our group with your story…Thank you very much, it was my deepest pleasure to honour your family and to tell your story to the world,” he said.

He also appreciated his daughter Willow Smith’s role in making ‘King Richard,’ saying she Willow helped him to understand the father-daughter relationship.

“My relationship with Willow also helped me to understand that father and daughter relationship…I grew as an actor and grew as a human being able to embody the times of Richard Williams and to be able to work with his family,” said Smith while speaking to press at the SAG awards red carpet.

To clinch the coveted prize, Will Smith beat fellow actors Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos), Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog), Andrew Garfield (Tick, Tick … Boom!) and Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth).

This is Will Smith's first SAG award after three nominations.