Why yes, I did chat with Will Smith today. The erstwhile Fresh Prince of Bel Air, who has morphed into the most popular movie star on earth (and one of the more respected), came to the Post-Dispatch for an interview. Despite the bus, the entourage, the security team and the ruckus he caused in the newsroom, Smith was very personable, greeting everyone from the publisher of this newspaper to the homeless people on the sidewalk with the same graciousness.

He and I talked about his upcoming film, “Seven Pounds,” a drama about a man making amends for some past mistakes. But the conversation quickly segued into a discussion about the nature of celebrity and the opportunities that Smith has to make the world a better place. While he was in St. Louis, he visited Children’s Hospital, and this evening (Wednesday) at 5:30 p.m. he will be at the Creve Coeur cinema, collecting items for the St. Louis Foodbank alongside Rams, Cardinals and other famous do-gooders.

I’ll have more to say about his movie and the interview later; but for now I’ll simply attest that I found Smith to be one of the nicer celebrities I’ve met. Just by saying hi and making eye contact, he gives us little people a treat, and countless St. Louisans will have stories to tell about meeting him today. Sorta like when the Pope was in town–except Smith was smart enough to have his name plastered all over the Willmobile, so even the drivers on Highway 40 will know it was really him.