The real-life inspiration behind Will Smith’s lastest film project, Concussion, honored the actor with the Variety‘s Creative Impact Award at a Palm Springs brunch on Sunday.
Variety reports that Dr. Bennet Omalu thanked the star for telling his story and bringing his findings to life.
Will Smith and Samuel L. Jackson Featured On PBS Series Actors On Actors
“He stole my soul from me,” he said. “I came away from the film thinking Will Smith was me.”
Smith, who notes himself as a football dad, said when he first read the script he was weary of taking on the role.
“When I got that screenplay, I was concerned,” he stated. But he added because “Omalu just wanted to tell the truth” he felt the need to become a part of the project in order to “deliver the truth.”
Concussion tells the story of the Nigerian doctor who identified a medical connection between NFL players and the brain trauma disease, CTE.