Will Smith poses for a photograph.

Will Smith has opened up about his personal “pain” in a new in-depth interview with David Letterman.

The interview, released on Netflix as part of a new season of “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction,” was recorded before the 2022 Oscars, when Smith famously slapped Chris Rock on stage.

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In the new episode, released on Friday 20 May, Smith discussed taking a break from acting and working on his 2021 memoir.

“My experiences and my life, and the writing of this book have unlocked a part of me, as an actor, that is like nothing I’ve ever experienced,” he said.

“Life is so exciting to me right now because I can reach people differently than I’ve ever been able to reach people, largely because of my pain,” Smith continued. “I’m really ready to dive into my heart in a way that I think will be, hopefully, fulfilling for me and helpful for the human family.”

Smith has not conducted a full interview since the sensational Oscars incident.

He has, however, apologised to Rock in the aftermath of the slap, and stated that he would not be contesting the 10-year Academy event ban issued to him as a punishment.

Also among the six new episodes of “My Next Guest” were interviews with Billie Eilish, Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Durant and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.