From London Tube to Hollywood: The Ultimate Will Smith Doppelgänger Journey

Shad Ellis is a London-born man who has spent most of his life working as a Tube driver, but he also has a unique side job: he is a professional Will Smith lookalike. Shad’s journey began in the late 1990s, when the movie Men In Black was everywhere and posters of Will Smith were all over the London Underground. Commuters started to notice how much Shad resembled the Hollywood star, and they would call him 'Will' as they passed through his station. At first, Shad didn’t think much of it, but one day a stranger suggested he could make money as a lookalike. This idea changed his life. Shad took photos of himself copying Will Smith’s poses and sent them to an agency. Soon, he was hired for his first job: a magazine cover that recreated the Men In Black poster, but with electronic torches instead of the famous gadgets. From there, Shad’s career as a lookalike took off. He started performing at events, parties, and even singing Will Smith’s songs at clubs. He traveled to places like Dubai and Singapore for work, and his reputation grew. Shad was careful about the jobs he accepted. He turned down offers that would make fun of Will Smith or use his image in a negative way. When Will Smith was involved in a controversial moment at the Oscars, Shad refused to take advantage of the situation, wanting to protect the actor’s reputation. In 2022, Shad’s career reached a new level when he was hired as Will Smith’s body double for a National Geographic series called Pole To Pole. The show followed Will Smith as he traveled across seven continents in 100 days. Shad was flown to locations like Botswana, Norway, and Papua New Guinea to help the crew set up shots before Will Smith arrived. Sometimes, he even appeared in scenes where the actor’s face wasn’t visible. During filming, Shad finally met Will Smith in person. The two shared a handshake and a friendly conversation. Will Smith was grateful for Shad’s work and even wished him a happy birthday on set. On the last day of filming, Shad asked for a few minutes alone with Will Smith. They walked along a remote beach in Papua New Guinea, and Shad told the actor how much being his lookalike had changed his life. Will Smith responded with kindness, calling Shad’s work 'genius' and giving him a hug. He even joked about surprising fans by appearing together at a show. Despite his exciting experiences, Shad still works as a Tube driver in London. He enjoys his regular job but is grateful for the opportunities his resemblance to Will Smith has given him. Shad plans to continue working as a lookalike for as long as he can, hoping to create more memories and maybe work with Will Smith again in the future.