Will Smith Mulls Embracing “Welsh Smith” as He Uncovers Surprising Roots in Hometown

15 July 2025

Will Smith/ Photo: Getty Images

Will Smith found himself in an unexpected identity exploration after revealing on BBC Radio Wales that his childhood neighborhood of Wynnefield and his mother’s hometown of Bryn Mawr in Pennsylvania both trace their origins to Welsh heritage. The conversation, which aired on July 12, prompted Smith to jokingly quip “I’m Welsh, basically,” and even consider the playful moniker “Welsh Smith” as a nod to his newly discovered connection.

During the interview, host Lucy Owen unearthed the fact that Wynnefield was named after a 17th-century Welsh physician and that Bryn Mawr where Smith owns a home translates from Welsh to "big hill." A delighted Smith riffed on the phrase “Big Will lives in Big Hill,” and even ad-libbed a quick rap: “Big hill, big Will, big still!” This moment of humor and delight revealed Smith’s readiness to embrace this unexpected discovery as part of his identity.

This playful self-reinvention arrives amid a renewed chapter for Smith as he tours behind his new album Based on a True Story, his first solo album since 2005. His tour will include a performance at Cardiff Castle in Wales on August 25, a fitting follow-up to this revelation and a heartfelt tribute to the cultural ties he’s only now beginning to understand.

Smith's Welsh connections don’t end with place names. He also fondly recalled working with Sir Tom Jones on a cameo appearance on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, recalling the legendary singer’s appearance as a “classic moment” and promising a special tribute during his Cardiff performance. Smith’s reference to this reunion underlines his affection for Welsh culture and marks this new name-game revelation as more than playful banter, it’s part of a deeper story.

This candid interview reveals Smith in a refreshingly human light, allowing him to reflect on identity, heritage, and community without slipping into supra-star bravado. He laughed at himself yet also welcomed the idea that one can evolve and have fun doing it even when it comes to something as personal as your own name. It’s a rare glimpse into how a global entertainer balances humor and humility when confronted with the curious ways history shapes us.

Given the playful tone and meaningful discovery, it seems entirely possible that “Welsh Smith” could become a stage nickname, if not a permanent moniker or at least an on-tour persona. But regardless of whether he legally changes his name, this revelation invites fans to think about origin stories, identity, and the unexpected threads that bind us across time and place.