In Hollywood, image is everything. Celebrities preen and pose for paparazzi, often masking their true selves under the glare of a thousand flash bulbs. But not Jada Pinkett Smith. Sure, she's elegant and articulate. But she also gets angry. And wild. And loud. For starters, the pint-sized actress fronts a metal (yes, metal) band, Wicked Wisdom, which has toured with Ozzfest. And she has been known to do crazy things for love: she once jumped off a building in a show of affection for Will Smith, her husband of nine years.

When she's not rocking out on stage, Pinkett Smith, 35, is acting out on-screen. In March, she stars with Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle in the Mike Binder drama Reign Over Me, and is currently at work on the highly anticipated sequel to the DreamWorks animated blockbuster, Madagascar. At home, Pinkett Smith's busy taking care of Jaden, 8, Willow, 6, and stepson Trey, 14 (whom she refers to as her "bonus son"). And she still finds the time to give back. Through the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, Pinkett Smith recently donated $1 million to her high school alma mater, the Baltimore School for the Arts. The organization also provides ongoing support to urban education programs. Here, Pinkett Smith dishes about her career, her body, and how she found her Fresh Prince.

How did you and Will first meet?
I met him when I was 19 at an audition for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. After we had known each other for many years, we went out for dinner one night [with mutual friends] and I saw that he had grown from this lanky kid to this really responsible man. We started courting each other and our friendship turned into romance.

How was your first date?
He took me to Mexico!

What about your first kiss?
I think it was in Mexico. Will's the one who remembers that kind of stuff.

After nine years of marriage, how has your love for Will evolved?
The most important aspect of our relationship is that we continue to grow together—you have to be willing to take journeys with your partner. And even our relationship has gone through bad times. But if you can survive them, you'll have an even deeper connection. What's more important, chemistry or friendship? You have to have both, without allowing one to get stronger than the other. It's all about keeping that balance.

What do you put on when you want to feel extra sexy?
La Perla—almost every night. That's when I'm really feeling myself. [Laughs.] But that's usually something that only Will gets to see.

Is there one part of Will's body you just can't get enough of?
The little curve in his neck that goes into his shoulder—near his collarbone. And I just love his lower abdomen—when he's lying down with his arms outstretched and a little piece of his tummy is hanging out. I love that part.

And what part of your body does he adore?
That would be my breasts. [Laughs.] And he likes the curve from my torso to my hip.

In another life who would you have a major crush on?
Will and I both have our little Hollywood crushes. For me, it used to be The Rock, but I don't have any new ones. For Will, it was Salma Hayek and then Beyoncé for while.