| This article is about 1990s series. You may be looking for the 2022 reboot character. |
Viola "Vy" Smith is a recurring character on The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. She is portrayed by Vernee Watson
Character[]
Vy is Will's mother and the oldest of the Smith sisters. Because of her marriage to Fred Wilkes[1], she is also the stepmother of his daughter, Lisa Wilkes. She is also the ex-wife of Lou Smith.
Story[]
Vy was married to Lou Smith, but he left her and Will when Will was five years old, forcing Vy to raise her only child on her own. When Will is 17, she sends him to live in Bel-Air with his aunt and uncle after he gets in a fight with a local gang member. While Will lives in L.A., Vy comes to visit as often as she can and they reunite at family events and holidays. On one of her visits at Will's first Thanksgiving in Bel-Air, Vy is concerned that Will is becoming too pampered and lazy in the Banks household, causing her to clash with Vivian. Another time she came for her sister's wedding, only to be enraged at an interracial marriage. However, after taking Will's words about how you can't control everything into consideration, she accepts her sister's marriage and gave her new brother-in-law a chance.
Vy marries Fred Wilkes, the father of Will's girlfriend, Lisa, soon turned ex-fiancée turned stepsister[2].
Trivia[]
- Like Vivian Banks, Viola Smith was played by different actors, and was shown in the opening credits. However, the mother in the opening scene who utters the famous line "You're moving with your auntie and uncle in Bel-Air" was played by a different actress, wearing curlers and horned-rimmed glasses. The mother who often appeared was more stylish, as opposed to the mother shown in the intro, who was more akin to Will's askew view of his mom being naggy and frumpy.
- According to Vivian, she is most stubborn and hardheaded among her sisters. Vy didn't know this until she was told.
- Her maiden name is the same as her married name.
- It is also possible Lou took her name.