Smith using acting to make difference

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ST. LOUIS, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. movie actor Will Smith says he has learned to use his skills and popularity to help other people.

The "Hancock" star, who first made his mark in music and on TV, said at the age of 40 he has embraced an outlook on life that includes using his "gift" to make a difference in the world, the St. Louis (Mo.) Post-Dispatch reported Sunday.

"I'm just now learning how to express my beliefs through stories," Smith said during a Nov. 19 visit to St. Louis. "At age 40, I'm finally getting hold of the gift that I've been given and using it to do something good."

The singer-actor, who visited St. Louis Children's Hospital and two area schools during his visit, credited his grandmother with teaching him how to try to make a difference in others' lives.

"That's the bedrock of my life, to make everything I touch a little better," he said of his familial teachings. "If I smile and communicate something positive in an interview, maybe you can pass it on to the next person. Or if I don't, maybe I'll be the reason you give somebody the finger on the freeway."