Matt Smith Bio
Matthew Robert Smith (born 28 October 1982) is an English actor known for playing the Eleventh Doctor in Doctor Who (2010–2013), Prince Philip in The Crown (2016–2017), and Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon (2022–present). Born in Northampton, England, he studied drama and creative writing at the University of East Anglia before training with the National Youth Theatre and pursuing a stage and screen career that spans theatre, television, and film. He has appeared in Terminator Genisys (2015), Last Night in Soho (2021), Morbius (2022), and has taken on major roles in West End productions. His performances have earned Emmy and other nominations, making him a prominent figure in contemporary British acting.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Robert Smith was born on 28 October 1982 in Northampton, England, the son of Lynne and David Smith. He has an elder sister named Laura Jayne. Smith attended Northampton School for Boys and initially aspired to be a professional footballer, having played for the youth teams of Northampton Town, Nottingham Forest, and Leicester City, eventually becoming captain of Leicester City’s youth team. A serious back injury resulted in spondylolysis, which forced him to abandon his footballing dreams.
Smith’s drama teacher introduced him to acting by signing him up for theatrical productions without his consent. After initially resisting, his teacher persisted and eventually persuaded him to join the National Youth Theatre in London. After leaving school, Smith studied Drama and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, graduating in 2005. With the National Youth Theatre, he played Thomas Becket in Murder in the Cathedral (2003) and Bassoon in The Master and Margarita (2004). His role in the latter earned him an agent and his first professional jobs.
Path to Actor
Smith began his professional acting career in theatre, performing in plays including Fresh Kills and On the Shore of the Wide World in London theatres. During his tenure in On the Shore of the Wide World, the play transferred to the Royal National Theatre in London. After finishing the play, he took on the role of Lockwood, a pupil in the Alan Bennett play The History Boys. Following The History Boys, he acted in the teen play Burn/Chatroom/Citizenship and with Christian Slater in Swimming with Sharks, the latter being his West End debut.
In 2007, Smith appeared as Henry in the Polly Stenham play That Face at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs in Chelsea. The play transferred to the Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End in 2008 and became Smith’s second role there. That Face focuses primarily upon alcohol and drug addiction in an upper-middle-class family after the paternal figure leaves. The entire cast of the play was nominated for the 2008 Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, and Smith garnered an Evening Standard Theatre Award nomination for Best Newcomer for his role.
Matt Smith Career
Early Career (2006–2009)
Smith’s first television role came in 2006 as Jim Taylor in the BBC adaptations of Philip Pullman’s The Ruby in the Smoke and The Shadow in the North. His first major television role came as Danny in the 2007 BBC series Party Animals, a drama series about fictional parliamentary advisors and researchers. Smith portrayed Danny Foster, a parliamentary researcher described as an intelligent but timid “politics geek.” During this period, he also appeared in Martin McDonagh’s black comedy crime film In Bruges (2008), though his scenes did not appear in the final cut. He starred in the 2009 short film Together and the film Womb (2010).
Breakthrough (2010–2013)
Smith was revealed as the Eleventh Doctor in the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who in January 2009 to follow David Tennant. At 26 years old, Smith was three years younger than Peter Davison was at the time of his casting in 1981, making him the youngest actor ever cast as the Doctor. He made his debut as the Doctor in the episode “The Eleventh Hour” in April 2010. Some fans initially believed Smith was inexperienced and too young for the role, while others supported him by citing his demonstrated acting ability.
Smith hosted the Doctor Who Prom at the Royal Albert Hall on 24–25 July 2010 and carried the Olympic torch in Cardiff on 26 May 2012. On 1 June 2013, the BBC announced that Smith would be leaving Doctor Who at the end of the 2013 Christmas special. He was succeeded by Peter Capaldi. Smith’s directorial debut, the short film Cargese, aired on Sky Arts in May 2013.
Notable Works and Milestones
The role of the Eleventh Doctor became Smith’s career-defining breakthrough, earning him recognition as one of the most promising young actors in Britain. For his performance in his first series, he was nominated in the Outstanding Drama Performance category of the National Television Awards. He was also the first actor in the role to garner a nomination for a British Academy Television Award for Best Actor.
Breakthrough (2014–present)
After Doctor Who, Smith portrayed Patrick Bateman in the musical adaptation of American Psycho at London’s Almeida Theatre from 2013 to 2014. He appeared in Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut Lost River (2014) and had a supporting role as the embodiment of Skynet in Terminator Genisys (2015). In June 2015, Smith was cast as Prince Philip in the Netflix royal drama The Crown, playing the role for the series’ first two seasons.
In 2020, Smith was cast as Daemon Targaryen in the HBO fantasy series House of the Dragon, a prequel to Game of Thrones. The series premiered on 21 August 2022. Smith joined the cast of Edgar Wright’s psychological horror-mystery Last Night in Soho (2021) starring opposite Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy. He portrayed Milo Morbius in the Sony Marvel film Morbius (2022). In 2024, Smith returned to the West End to star in a modern retelling of the Henrik Ibsen play An Enemy of the People at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, portraying Dr. Thomas Stockmann opposite Jessica Brown Findlay.
Matt Smith Award Nominations
Smith has received critical recognition for his performances across television and theatre. His most notable award nominations include a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Prince Philip in The Crown, and a Critics’ Choice Television Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon.
Matt Smith Awards Won
Based on verified information provided, specific awards won are not available. Smith’s performances have garnered significant critical acclaim and nominations across prestigious award ceremonies.
Matt Smith Family
Matthew Robert Smith was born to Lynne and David Smith in Northampton, England. He has an elder sister named Laura Jayne, who was one of the dancers featured in the music video for Eric Prydz’s 2004 song “Call on Me.”
Personal Life
Smith was in a relationship with Brazilian actress and singer Mayana Moura from 2008 to 2009. He later had an on-off relationship with model Daisy Lowe from 2010 to 2014. From 2014 to 2019, he was in a relationship with actress Lily James. Smith is an atheist and a supporter of Blackburn Rovers football club. He has cited the band Radiohead as an influence and has referred to Oasis as “the greatest rock-and-roll band in the world.” He is a friend of Noel Gallagher and attended his 50th birthday party in 2017. In 2015, Smith was named one of GQ’s 50 Best-Dressed British Men.