Matt Smith

Matt Smith
Name	Matt Smith
Caption	Smith in 2019
Birth name	Matthew Robert Smith
Birth date	28 October 1982
Birth place	Northampton, England
Alma mater	University of East Anglia
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2003–present
Partner	Lily James (2014–2019)

Matt Smith. Matthew Robert Smith is an English actor best known for his portrayal of the eleventh incarnation of The Doctor in the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who, a role he played from 2010 to 2013. He is also recognized for his performances as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in the Netflix series The Crown, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, and as Daemon Targaryen in the HBO fantasy series House of the Dragon. His career spans television, film, and theatre, having performed with prestigious companies including the National Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre.

Early life and education

Born in Northampton, he attended Northampton School for Boys where he was a talented youth footballer and athlete, playing for the youth academies of Northampton Town F.C. and Nottingham Forest F.C. before a back injury ended his sporting aspirations. He subsequently studied Drama and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, where he became involved in student theatre. His early theatrical work included performances at the National Youth Theatre and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which solidified his commitment to acting. He graduated in 2005 and soon after began his professional training, securing an agent following a notable performance in the play Fresh Kills at the Royal Court Theatre.

Career

His early television roles included parts in the BBC adaptations The Ruby in the Smoke and Party Animals. His breakthrough came in 2009 when he was cast as the Eleventh Doctor, becoming the youngest actor to play The Doctor in the series' history at age 26. His tenure on Doctor Who included major storylines like "The Eleventh Hour" and "The Day of the Doctor", and he worked alongside companions including Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill. Following his departure from the series, he transitioned to prominent film roles, starring in Lost River, Terminator Genisys, and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. His performance as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in the first two seasons of The Crown earned him widespread critical acclaim and several award nominations. More recently, he joined the HBO franchise Game of Thrones by starring in the prequel series House of the Dragon as the rogue prince Daemon Targaryen.

Personal life

He was in a long-term relationship with actress Lily James from 2014 to 2019. He is known to be a supporter of Northampton Town F.C. and maintains a private life, rarely discussing his personal affairs in the media. He has spoken publicly about his struggle with dyslexia and has supported various charitable causes, including work with the Royal National Institute of Blind People and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Filmography

A selection of his notable screen work includes the film Womb (2010), the BBC Two drama Christopher and His Kind (2011), and the Showtime series The Politician's Husband (2013). He starred in the MGM film Last Night in Soho (2021) directed by Edgar Wright and appeared in the Morbius (2022). His television work also includes starring in the BBC America and Amazon Prime Video series The Forbidden Game and lending his voice to animated projects such as The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

Stage work

His theatre career is extensive, beginning with acclaimed performances in London productions. He starred in the National Theatre production of That Face by Polly Stenham and received an Evening Standard Award for his role in The History Boys at the National Theatre. He played the title role in American Psycho: The Musical at the Almeida Theatre and appeared in Simon Stephens's play Song from Far Away. In 2019, he returned to the West End to star in the play Uncle Vanya at the Harold Pinter Theatre, alongside actors including Toby Jones and Richard Armitage.

Awards and nominations

For his role in The Crown, he received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and won a Broadcasting Press Guild Award. His performance in Doctor Who earned him a National Television Award and a Saturn Award. His stage work has been recognized with a Theatregoers' Choice Award and an Evening Standard Theatre Award nomination. He was also nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award for his work on House of the Dragon.

Category:English male television actors Category:English male film actors Category:English male stage actors Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the University of East Anglia Category:Doctor Who actors