Will Smith felt 'pressure' to make his marriage to Jada Pinkett Smith work

Will Smith reportedly felt "more of the pressure" to make his marriage work with Jada Pinkett Smith amid their separation.

According to People, a source close to the couple said their marital problems were exacerbated by their fame, having such a high-profile marriage.

"They're two different people trying to make it, and on top of it there's this huge spotlight on them," the source said. "People are always going to grow and change, but most don't have the world watching their every move while they do that."

While the couple has gone through some rough patches, a friend of Pinkett Smith told People the star has always been in love with Smith.

"She would be the first person to admit marriage is hard work, but she will always love Will," the friend said. "Even when they haven't been together, Jada always spoke of her marriage as something special."

The pair revealed in last week's 12-minute episode of Red Table Talk that they had completely separated for a brief period about four years ago. During their separation, Pinkett Smith found herself in an "entanglement" with friend and singer August Alsina.

READ MORE: Jada Pinkett Smith says she doesn't know Will Smith at all despite 23-year marriage

They agreed that the experience brought them closer together; Pinkett Smith underlines that she's grateful for their journey, and that there "are a lot of couples who go through those periods... and have to separate, and think it's over."

"Through that particular journey, I learned so much about myself and was able to really confront a lot of emotional immaturities, emotional insecurity and I was really able to do some really deep healing," Pinkett Smith said on her Facebook Watch show. "And as I came through and started to realise certain things about you and I, he decided to break all communication with me which was totally understandable. And I let that be and hadn't talked to him since so it is a little weird that all this stuff is coming out now since this was several [years ago]."

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The two were able to repair their relationship, with Pinkett Smith saying they have "really gotten to that new place of unconditional love."

"We refer to ourselves as life partners... you realise you are literally with somebody for the rest of your life," Smith said, adding that marriage "ain't for the weak of heart."