HOLLYWOOD legend Will Smith has revealed dancing on stage with his ‘boy’ Calvin Harris at T in the Park was one of the greatest moments of his life.
The Men In Black star, who introduced the Scots DJ at the festival back in 2014, said it was a night he will never forget and he would love to do it again.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Mail the Oscar-winning actor also revealed he would love to star in a movie with Gerard Butler, design his own kilt and play a Scots man on the big screen. Reminiscing about his T in the Park experience the 56-year-old dad-of-three, who shot to fame playing the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the 1990s, said: “Calvin is my boy – it might be ten years ago but I still remember how incredible he was the crowd were going crazy.
“It was an awesome trip – I got to hang out with Calvin and party with him and some of his buddies. Scotland was amazing to me that day – we really have got to do it again some time.”
Will’s surprise appearance at the music festival got everybody talking especially as it was later revealed he had mingled with revellers wearing a disguise. The Independence Day star, who spent the summer of 2014 partying with Dumfries-born Calvin in Ibiza, told the crowds at the main stage: “I asked Calvin. I said, ‘Man, I got a couple of weeks off and I am looking for an experience’.
“He said, ‘You got to come home with me – you got to come to Scotland with me’ So, ladies and gentleman, I present to you Scotland’s own… Calvin Harris.” Smith, whose glittering Hollywood career has spanned four decades came back on for Calvin’s final song and danced on the stage shouting: “Scotland, I love you.”
The pair became friends earlier that year when they joined forces with Jay-Z and pitched Higher – a half-hour comedy series for HBO set in the world of electronic music. The pilot was to be penned by Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh but sadly the project didn’t get off the ground.
Will, who separated from his wife Jada Pinkett Smith in 2016, has starred opposite a myriad of stars over the last 40 years but there is one Scots actor he would love to work with – Gerald Butler. The Phildelphia-born rapper and prouducer said: “I know Gerry a little bit – he is a cool guy and has made some great movies. He makes the sort of movies that just entertain people – we need more movies like that.”
And the I Am Legend actor admitted he is dying to play a Scot on the silver screen. He said: “I have never had to do a Scottish accent for a movie – but I wouldn’t rule it out. I would only ever do a role with an an accent if I had it nailed. I would never want the locals listening to me – saying that’s a horrible impression of our accent.”
Will, who is dad to Trey, 31, Jaden, 26 and Willow, 23, is also a big fan of the kilt and in 2018 he donned a bright green tartan in a Tik Tok video celebrating St Patrick’s Day. But what he would really like is for a kilt maker in Scotland to fashion him a traditional outfit in the Smith family tartan.
The Suicide Squad star, whose latest movie Bad Boys: Ride or Die – the fourth in the franchise – was released earlier this year, said: “I would wear a kilt for sure – but I want a real authentic one from Scotland – not some replica. So if any famous Scottish kilt makers are reading this – hook me up!”
Multi-award winning Will, who has starred in more than 30 movies, had a fall from grace in 2022 after his violent outburst at the Oscars where he was picking up an Academy Award for Best Actor in sports drama King Richard. Shortly before winning, Smith slapped presenter Chris Rock after the comedian made an unscripted derogatory joke referencing Will’s wife’s baldness, which was due to an autoimmune disease.
The actor was slated around the world for his boorish behaviour and he resigned from the Academy and was banned from attending their events for ten years. But despite the negative press Will’s Hollywood shunning has proved temporary and his successful movie and music career are very much back on track.
He is producer on the new Karate Kid film which is out next year and sees Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio reprising their roles and earlier this year he did his first musical performance since the Oscars furore. Smith took the stage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on June 30 to debut his new single, “You Can Make It,” a powerful anthem about redemption and perseverance.
In a nod to the last two years, he rapped: “The darker the hell you gotta endure, the brighter the heaven you get to enjoy. Every storm runs out of rain, hold on. Nobody gets an easy ride. We all have a cross to bear.”
Will has countless albums, singles and music videos to his name, going back to the 1980s when he performed with Jeff Townes as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. Smith began his solo career in 1997 with the release of “Men in Black”, the theme song for the film of the same name, which topped singles charts in several countries across the world, including the UK.
Some of his other memorable hits include “Gettin’ Jiggy wit It”, “Wild Wild West, “Boom! Shake the Room” and “Just the Two of Us.”
Last week there were rumours director Michael Bay is in talks about directing a new Netflix movie ‘Fast and Loose’, which could see him reunite with Will, who he first directed in 1995’s ‘Bad Boys’. If this is true it looks like the Pursuit of Happyness, Enemy of the State and Aladdin star is well and truly back in the Hollywood good books and has not been cancelled like so many other Tinseltown alumni.
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