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Shad Ellis’ journey from working as a London Underground driver to becoming a professional lookalike and double for Will Smith is a remarkable story of chance and dedication. For over three decades, Ellis has built a career by capitalizing on his striking resemblance to the Hollywood star. Recently, in Papua New Guinea, he found himself sharing a heartfelt moment with Smith during the filming of the National Geographic series *Pole to Pole*. This encounter was particularly poignant given Ellis’s long-standing admiration for the actor and the unique path that led him to this moment.
Originally from London, Ellis grew up in the city and began noticing people commenting on his similarity to Will Smith back in 1997. At the time, Men In Black posters adorned the London Underground, and commuters at Shadwell station frequently pointed out the uncanny resemblance between the station assistant and the famous actor. “I had regular customers coming through the station saying ‘oh my god, you look like Will Smith,’” Ellis recalls. Initial comments were casual and lighthearted, but they planted the seed for what would become a lifelong career.
Encouraged by a stranger, Ellis decided to explore being a lookalike professionally. With no social media to aid his search, he used a film camera to mimic Smith’s magazine poses and sent the pictures to an agency. Despite being warned that only royal family lookalikes generally earn substantial money, Ellis secured his first job within a week, appearing on the cover of an electrical magazine with a Men In Black-inspired shoot. Over time, his network expanded and more opportunities followed, leading him to perform at a variety of events such as corporate parties, weddings, and private functions across the UK.
His work grew beyond the UK, including magazine covers and international marketing campaigns that took him to places like Dubai and Singapore. Nonetheless, Ellis remains selective about the gigs he accepts, avoiding any that he feels disrespect the actor’s image or cross personal boundaries. After the 2022 Oscars incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock, Ellis received a flood of offers grounded in that moment but declined them all, saying, “I refuse to be the guy that’s been cashing in, because I feel like one day I’m going to have to look that guy in the face.” Instead, his professionalism and genuine respect for Smith’s brand helped him land a rare and prestigious role as Smith’s body double for the *Pole to Pole* series, traveling across seven continents to assist with filming.
Throughout the production, Ellis and Smith met multiple times, forging a friendly relationship built on mutual respect. Ellis describes Smith as “very humble and very appreciative” of his contribution. On the final day of shooting in Papua New Guinea, they walked together along a secluded beach where Ellis expressed his gratitude to the star for what the resemblance had brought into his life. Will Smith responded warmly, praising Ellis’s efforts as “genius” and sharing an embrace. The actor even joked about the idea of performing a show together, saying, “Shad, imagine you were doing a show and I came out! We would shut down the internet.”
Although Ellis has briefly touched the world of fame alongside Smith, he continues his day job as a tube driver in London, appreciating the steady normality it offers. Reflecting on his adventures, he admits, “The sun was beating down, it was hot and I’m sitting there thinking ‘this is boring as hell’ but then ‘yeah, but you could be driving a train.’” Still inspired by his recent experiences, Ellis remains committed to his unique profession, stating, “Every year I wake up and I’m like, am I going to keep going with this? Then it’s like, you know what? I’m going to keep doing this until
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