THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW star Jake Gyllenhaal is in awe of WILL SMITH so much, he modelled himself on him for his role in the environmental disaster movie.

Gyllenhaal, 23, is a huge fan of the Independence Day actor and thinks the wise-cracking action star is a "genius", after being pushed to the limit making The Day After Tomorrow.

He says, "Will Smith is my hero. He's a genius, he really is, and you also realise that Mel Gibson or Harrison Ford are incredible at this type of thing.

"It takes a lot of concentration."

26/05/2004 17:24