Launceston-born police officer, Will Smith, has walked the red carpet with his celebrity namesake.
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In a bid to promote his new film in Australia, actor Will Smith called for those with the same name as him.
Claiming he was “unavailable” to promote the film in Australia, he got the Will Smith proteges to do it for him.
Tasmania Police Constable Will Smith was one of just nine Will Smiths to be shortlisted from across the country.
“Will Smith, as in the actor, put a video on social media requesting people with the name Will Smith to help promote his new movie that was coming out,” he said.
"Netflix asked anyone with that name to contact them. I got tagged in it by all my mates to contact them.”
Constable Smith was then asked to send a video about himself to the American-based streaming company.
“They said we were shortlisted and we’re going to fly you up to Sydney and we’re going to do some filming,” he said.
“Then they called me after that and said they had sent the video to LA to Will Smith and he had asked the Australian Will Smith to come to his premiere.”
On Tuesday, Constable Smith and a plus one – his brother – were flown to LA for a week to walk the carpet with the star.
“I met a heap of celebs and went to an after party and had a stellar time,” Constable Smith said.
“[Wednesday night] on the carpet was absolutely amazing.”
When asked what it was like meeting the ‘real’ Will Smith, he said it was unbelievable.
“Technically, we’re all real. But honestly, it was very surreal. Joel [Edgerton] and the other actors were all extremely polite and accommodating. I was completely awestruck,” Constable Smith said.
Constable Smith said the whole experience started off as a “bit of joke”.
“I didn’t even think it was real to start off with. Then they started spending all this money on us,” he said.
“The trip to Sydney was unbelievable, they put us up in the nicest hotel and treated us like kings. From that time onward, I realised it was a pretty big deal.”
Mr Smith said he was grateful to Tasmania Police for letting him take the trip.
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