Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have endured their fair share of hurdles during almost 20 years of marriage REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

Jada Pinkett Smith refuses to sugarcoat the truth about married life. The Gotham actress has spoken candidly about her relationship with husband Will Smith and admits their 19-year marriage has been far from "smooth-sailing".

The couple met in 1994 when Pinkett Smith, 45, auditioned for a role in Smith's hit sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. Three years later, the pair tied the knot on 31 December 1997 and will soon celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. However, recent years have seen the parents to Jaden, 19, and Willow, 16, plagued by cheating rumours and speculation of divorce.

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In an interview with NBC's Megyn Kelly, Pinkett Smith agreed that her union with the Men In Black actor has been occasionally turbulent but accepts it comes part and parcel with being married.

The actress explained: "That's what marriage is about; it's work. You think you know the person you're with after 15 years, but that's just not true. I'm just learning more about myself and so is he. That is what this is all about, learning and growing together.

"I think as you get older, you really get to the point where you just don't care anymore what people think. There's a certain freedom that comes with that, which you really don't have when you're young. With age comes a lot of wisdom and I'm happier now than I have ever been, so it's good."

Smith, 48, has been open about his marital issues with the Girls Trip actress and previously revealed the couple have taken part in marriage counselling. The Suicide Squad star said in 2016: "What happens in a marriage once you do counselling, the truth comes out."

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith
Pinkett Smith has come to accept that she and Smith are constantly working on their relationship Kevin Winter/Getty Images

"And you sit across from your wife and you've said all of your truth and she has said all of her truth. You look at each other and you can't imagine you could ever possibly love each other again now the truth is out."

Smith added: "It creates a dark moment. But for me it's the dark before the dawn. When the truth comes out and people have to say who they are and what they think, you get to know who they are. I think that's the cleansing before you get to the other side that is understanding and moving forward in our relationship."