Matt Smith

Matt Smith
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Name:
Matt Smith
Real name:
Matthew Robert Smith
Who is:
Birth date:
(42 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Northampton, UK
Height:
5'11 ft ()
Weight:
159 lb (72 kg)
Namesakes:
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
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The Biography of Matt Smith

The youngest Doctor Who in history, the definitive Prince Philip on British TV, a rising English star, and London's most stylish actor - Matt Smith has earned these titles throughout his remarkable career. It's remarkable that he stumbled into acting almost by accident: from childhood, he dreamed of becoming a footballer, but an injury ended his sports dreams.

Through a twist of fate, he found himself in the theater world, and from there made his way to television. In 2009, landing the lead role in the BBC series "Doctor Who" turned Matt into a superstar. Yet he hadn't even planned to take the role, since he knew nothing about this iconic character.
Actor Matt Smith
Actor Matt Smith
History repeated itself in 2022 when Smith was offered a role in "House of the Dragon," the prequel to the legendary "Game of Thrones" series, and he initially wanted to pass. The actor didn't believe in the project's potential, but he changed his mind just in time. Matt was given one of the most prominent characters - the ruthless and cynical Daemon Targaryen. After just a few episodes, the actor emerged as the undisputed breakout star of the cast.

Childhood

Matt Smith was born on October 28, 1982, in Northamptonshire, England. He was the second child in the family, with an older sister named Laura. His family was well-off and well-known locally - his parents ran a plastic recycling business.
Matt Smith with his parents
Matt Smith with his parents
As a child, Matt was a sports enthusiast. His father, David Smith, was a former professional footballer who played for the club "Notts County." His son didn't just want to follow in his father's footsteps - he wanted to surpass him. The energetic boy also pursued music and theater while serving as class prefect at his boys' school. Matt's sports career developed steadily - in 1993, he joined the youth team at Northampton Town, moving to Nottingham Forest a year later. In 1997, Matt joined Leicester City's junior football team.
Matt Smith in childhood
Matt Smith in childhood
In 1998, he injured his spine and gave in to his father's urging to take a break from sports. Together, they went for physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises every day for a year. While the exercises helped Matt, he never fully recovered his previous form.

The decision to end his football career wasn't easy for the 17-year-old. "It was very difficult for me to tell people that I was done with football," the actor later admitted. Matt's theatre arts teacher noticed his depressive state. Even though the young man attended the courses more for fun, the teacher - Terry Hardingem - immediately noticed his talent. Without even asking Matt, the teacher cast him in the play Twelve Angry Men.
Matt Smith in his school years
Matt Smith in his school years
As a teenager, he performed brilliantly on stage but flatly refused to dedicate his life to acting, considering it an unserious and "unmanly" profession. He planned to follow in the footsteps of his friends and attend either Cambridge or Sheffield after graduating from high school, with the latter known for its political science program. It took considerable effort on Hardingem's part to persuade Matt to enroll in the National Youth Theatre.

In the end, the teacher's gamble paid off - the stage eventually captivated Smith. In 2001, he enrolled in the University of East Anglia, choosing a course in acting and literature.

Theatre

Matt quickly became a sought-after actor and landed his first theatre roles even before finishing his studies. In 2002, he played Thomas Becket in "Murder in the Cathedral" and Fagot in "The Master and Margarita," working with the National Youth Theatre.

With work offers flooding in, the student hired an agent. In 2003, he landed roles in the Royal Court Theatre productions of "Fresh Kills" and "On the Shore of the Wide World." Then he was offered a stage role at the Royal London Theatre in the production of "The History Boys." With demanding rehearsal and premiere schedules, Matt arranged with the university to complete his final two courses as an external student.
Matt Smith in the play That Face
Matt Smith in the play That Face
In 2007, Smith made his West End debut in the stage adaptation of the film "Swimming with Sharks" at the Vaudeville Theatre. He co-starred with Christian Slater. Matt also landed a role in the youth production "Burn/Chatroom/Citizenship" and the play "That Face" at the Royal Court Theatre.

A year later, "That Face" moved to the Duke of York's Theatre in the West End. The show was successful, and critics highly praised Smith's performance. He played Henry, a young artist forced to drop out of school and care for his mother, who struggled with dangerous addictions. The actor revealed that while preparing for the role, he interviewed people struggling with alcohol and drug addictions to better understand their perspective. The cast of the production, including Smith, was nominated for the 2008 Laurence Olivier Award, and Smith received a special mention in the Evening Standard.
Matt Smith in the play American Psycho
Matt Smith in the play American Psycho
In 2013, Smith played Patrick Bateman in the musical adaptation of the film "American Psycho" at the Almeida Theatre in London. Then in 2019, he was invited to another renowned English theatre, the Old Vic, to participate in a production of Duncan Macmillan's play "Lungs." In this ambitious production, a young couple engaged in intense dialogue, questioning whether to have children in today's world of dangers and environmental crises. Smith's stage partner was actress Claire Foy.
Matt Smith in the play Lungs
Matt Smith in the play Lungs

First film roles

While Smith easily made his mark in theater, breaking into film proved more challenging. His screen debut came through small roles in the TV series "The Street" and the 2006 Philip Pullman adaptations "The Shadow in the North" and "The Ruby in the Smoke."
Matt Smith in the film The Shadow of the North
Matt Smith in the film The Shadow of the North
A year later, Smith landed the leading role in the BBC series "Party Animals". The show focused on political advisers in the British Parliament, specifically following the lives of a former senator's sons. Smith played a timid intellectual obsessed with his job.
Matt Smith in the series Party Animals
Matt Smith in the series Party Animals
Smith was willing to take on any supporting role. In 2007, he appeared in the series "The Secret Diary of a Call Girl," where he reunited with actress Billie Piper, with whom he had previously worked on film adaptations of Philip Pullman's works.
Matt Smith in the series Secret Diary of a Call Girl
Matt Smith in the series Secret Diary of a Call Girl
Matt also got a role in the crime drama "In Bruges", where he played a younger version of Harry, Ralph Fiennes' character. Unfortunately, all of Smith's scenes ended up on the cutting room floor.

Doctor Who

His work on the set of "Party Animals" made such an impression on BBC producer Piers Wenger that he immediately cast Matt as the Eleventh Doctor in "Doctor Who." It was a pretty bold move, since the actor knew nothing about the character's history, and audiences had barely heard of him. Plus, Smith had to follow David Tennant, and living up to his popularity wouldn't be easy.
Matt Smith in the series Doctor Who
Matt Smith in the series Doctor Who
The young actor admitted he was pretty skeptical about auditioning for the role, but eventually gave in to his agent's persuasion. The name of the new Doctor, the eleventh in the series, was announced in early 2009. Smith's home was immediately swarmed by paparazzi, with reporters digging for any details about the actor's personal life from his close friends and family. "It felt like a real intrusion into my private life," Smith recalled.
Matt Smith on the set of Doctor Who
Matt Smith on the set of Doctor Who
Despite fan criticism, Matt Smith's debut episodes in 2010 pulled in unprecedented ratings. Over the next three years, Matt played the Doctor across three seasons, several short films and specials, the feature film "The Day of the Doctor" in 2013, and a couple of episodes of the spin-off "The Sarah Jane Adventures." He also appeared as the Doctor on various TV shows and even performed on stage with the band "Orbital" at Glastonbury.
Eleventh Doctor Meets the Tenth Doctor | The Day of the Doctor | Doctor Who
For his role as the Doctor, Smith received nominations for the National Television Awards and a British Academy Television Award for Best Actor (BAFTA). "The Doctor is just a wonderful character," said Smith enthusiastically about his role.
the 11th doctor being iconic for 11 minutes straight
However, in 2013 it became clear that Smith was saying goodbye to the role of the Doctor. In the eighth season of the series, he was replaced by Peter Capaldi. The actor didn't elaborate on his reasons, only saying it was due to "circumstances." Much later, Smith admitted that leaving the show was tough - even his mom had asked him to stay as the Doctor. And while reading the script for his character's final lines, Matt shed tears.

The heyday of his career

Following his Doctor Who success, Matt expanded beyond British television. He starred in the films "Lost River" (2014) and "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" (2015), and had a supporting role in the action movie "Terminator: Genisys" (2015). He was set to have a much larger role in future franchise installments, but the movie bombed at the box office and sequels never materialized.
Matt Smith in the film Lost River
Matt Smith in the film Lost River
In 2016, another major career milestone arrived for the actor - he landed the role of Prince Philip in the series "The Crown". The project tells the story of the British royal family. Smith played the husband of Elizabeth II in the first two seasons.
Matt Smith as Prince Philip
His partner was actress Claire Foy. In the third season, they handed over their roles to new actors - the show's creators had always planned for cast changes as the characters aged.
Matt Smith in the series "The Crown"
Matt Smith in the series "The Crown"
Matt was incredibly proud to reveal an unknown side of the Queen's consort, especially since Prince Philip was radically different from the Doctor Who character fans knew Smith for.
Matt Smith on the set of "The Crown"
Matt Smith on the set of "The Crown"
In 2018, the actor had several memorable roles. He starred in the biographical drama "Mapplethorpe," the thriller about the Manson cult "Charlie Says," and the horror film "Patient Zero." Rumors swirled that Matt might join the new "Star Wars" episode as a young Emperor Palpatine, but they proved false.
Matt Smith in the film "Mapplethorpe"
Matt Smith in the film "Mapplethorpe"
A year later, Smith appeared in the Oscar-winning director Gavin Hood's military drama "Official Secrets." The actor received one of the main roles alongside Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, and Rhys Ifans. The film was recognized as the best political film of the year.
Matt Smith in the film Official Secrets
Matt Smith in the film Official Secrets
In 2021, Matt had a role in the retro horror film "Last Night in Soho" alongside Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy. Although the movie didn't do well at the box office, it received several nominations from BAFTA, the Hollywood Critics Association, and the Venice Film Festival. Additionally, the actor starred in the drama "The Forgiven", alongside Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain.
Matt Smith in the film The Forgiven
Matt Smith in the film The Forgiven

Matt Smith's personal life

After his "Doctor Who" breakout, the press became obsessed with Matt Smith's love life, particularly his pattern of dating co-stars. Dating back to 2005, he was linked to "Doctor Who" actress Billie Piper. In 2008, he was frequently spotted with Brazilian singer Mayana Moura, though that romance fizzled quickly.
Matt Smith and Billie Piper
Matt Smith and Billie Piper
His on-and-off romance with model Daisy Lowe spanned several years, from 2010 to 2013, with the couple breaking up and reconciling multiple times. Things ended when the actor showed up at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival with actress Lily James. The media instantly sparked romance rumors between the co-stars, which were later confirmed. The pair hit red carpets together and frequently shared couple photos on social media.
Matt Smith and Lily James
Matt Smith and Lily James
However, in 2019 they called it quits, officially blaming conflicting work schedules. But Smith's close bond with "The Crown" co-star Claire Foy was likely the real culprit. As Smith-Foy romance rumors swirled, she quickly filed for divorce, though both maintained they were just friends.
Matt Smith and Claire Foy
Matt Smith and Claire Foy
During lockdown, Smith and Lily James gave their romance another shot, but it didn't last. Soon, romance rumors linked the actor to "Game of Thrones" star Emilia Clarke. Though nothing serious developed beyond a few dates, his split from Lily was definitely final.
Matt Smith with Emilia Clarke
Matt Smith with Emilia Clarke
After filming "Last Night in Soho," the press buzzed with rumors about a romance between Matt and rising star Anya Taylor-Joy. The actor stayed mum on the speculation.
Matt Smith and Anya Taylor-Joy
Matt Smith and Anya Taylor-Joy
Matt Smith isn't big on social media. He'd rather spend his downtime watching football, playing piano, taking photos, and listening to music. His favorite bands are Radiohead and Pink Floyd. Matt's also into chess and collecting antique furniture.

Matt Smith now

In 2022, a new opportunity came along for the actor to showcase different sides of his talent. In March, the Marvel comics-based action film "Morbius" was released, in which Smith played a negative character. In the story, Jared Leto's character discovers a cure for a deadly disease, but his friend (played by Smith) steals the miraculous serum to use its powers for evil.

Despite sky-high expectations, the film bombed at the box office. The only positive aspect of the film was said to be the performances of Leto and Smith.
Matt Smith in the film Morbius
Matt Smith in the film Morbius
In August 2022, the "Game of Thrones" prequel series "House of the Dragon" premiered on HBO. Matt Smith landed one of the lead roles as the complex and enigmatic Daemon Targaryen. Throughout the series, his character plays his own game of schemes and manipulation in true George R. R. Martin fashion.
House of the Dragon's Matt Smith Shows Off His High Valyrian Fluency | The Tonight Show
As King Viserys's younger brother, Daemon had a claim to the throne, but yielded it to his niece Rhaenyra—despite having complicated feelings for her—when the king made his decision. Those feelings didn't stop the seasoned dragon rider from joining the war that followed. "He's somebody who instinctively behaves very cruelly, but has this strange sense of morality," the actor said about Daemon.
Matt Smith in the series "House of the Dragon"
Matt Smith in the series "House of the Dragon"
Smith initially took a casual approach when offered the "House of the Dragon" role, just like he had with "Doctor Who." But this time the reasons were different. He knew how successful "Game of Thrones" had been and wasn't sure the spin-off could match those heights. But when he learned Paddy Considine was on board, he changed his tune—he'd always wanted to work with the acclaimed actor. In addition to Considine and Smith, the series also stars Emma D'Arcy, Rhys Ifans, Eve Best, and Milly Alcock.
Matt Smith and the cast of House of Dragon
Matt Smith and the cast of House of Dragon
The horror film "Starve Acre" starring Matt was set for release in 2023. Alongside Morfydd Clark from "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," he plays half of a married couple raising a troubled child in 1970s England.

Interesting facts

  • Matt Smith became the youngest actor to take on the Eleventh Doctor in the long-running series "Doctor Who" at just 26 years old.
  • In 2012, he participated in the Olympic torch relay ahead of the Summer Olympics in London. He admitted he was proud of the opportunity but terrified of dropping the torch since he's quite clumsy.
  • In 2013, Smith directed a short film called "Cargese" that aired on the Sky Arts channel.
  • In 2021, he appeared in several music videos for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. Smith's a huge fan of Gallagher's music and treasures their friendship.
  • For his role as Daemon Targaryen in the series "House of the Dragon," the actor learned the fictional Valyrian language.
  • In September 2022, Smith revealed that he once bumped into Prince Harry at a polo match. Turns out the royal family member enjoyed the actor's performance in "The Crown." He extended his hand to Smith and called him "grandad." Smith's friends also told him the real Prince Philip just snorted when he heard about the show.