Tube driver travelled the world as Will Smith's double.

Shad Ellis, a London Underground driver, has worked for decades as a Will Smith lookalike and served as a body double on National Geographic's Pole to Pole, meeting Will Smith during filming in Papua New Guinea.

Shad Ellis, a 47-year-old London-born tube driver now living in Bedford, has spent decades as a Will Smith lookalike and tribute artist. His resemblance was first widely noticed around 1997 at Shadwell station, and he began taking paid work after sending photos to an agency. Over the years he performed at clubs, private events and on marketing campaigns, travelling internationally for bookings. In 2022 he worked as a body double on National Geographic's Pole to Pole and met Will Smith while filming in Papua New Guinea. Key details: - Ellis began performing as a Will Smith tribute artist at age 18 and gained attention in 1997 at Shadwell station. - His first paid assignment was a magazine cover reenacting Men in Black posters, which helped him build contacts and bookings. - He has performed at clubs, corporate events, weddings and private functions and taken part in global marketing campaigns in places such as Dubai and Singapore. - In 2022 he served as a body double on Pole to Pole, travelling to locations including Botswana, Norway and Papua New Guinea and appearing in some shots before Smith arrived. - Ellis met Will Smith on set, and the actor offered words of appreciation and a private conversation on a remote beach during filming. - Despite international work, Ellis continues his job as a London Underground driver and remains in contact with production teams. Summary: Ellis’s long-running tribute work led to international travel and a role as a body double on Pole to Pole, where he met Will Smith and received personal thanks. He continues to drive on the London Underground and says he plans to keep performing and staying in touch with the production teams.