# Matt Smith
**Matt Smith** is an English actor born in 1982, best known as the [Eleventh Doctor](https://www.edgepedia.org/eleventh-doctor) in *Doctor Who* and as Prince Philip in *The Crown*, and currently playing Prince Daemon Targaryen in *House of the Dragon*. He was born in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, in 1982, the son of Lynne (Fidler) and David Smith, and attended the state secondary school Northampton School for Boys.[1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1741002/bio/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1982, Northampton, Northamptonshire, England[1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith) |
| Signature role | Eleventh Doctor in *Doctor Who*, cast at age 26 as the youngest actor to hold the lead[1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith) |
| *The Crown* | Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for two seasons beginning in 2016; Emmy-nominated in 2018 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series[1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith) • [3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/matt-smith) |
| *House of the Dragon* | Prince Daemon Targaryen, 2022–2026, 25 episodes[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/34550/matt-smith) |
| Training | National Youth Theatre; drama and creative writing at the University of East Anglia[1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith) |
| Awards | BAFTA Television Leading Actor nominations for *Doctor Who* (2011) and *The Death of Bunny Munro* (2026)[5](https://www.bafta.org/awards/search/?search=Matt+Smith) |
| Upcoming | Star Wars: *Starfighter* (2027), playing the villain[6](https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/star-wars-starfighter-hub) |
## Early life and training
Football came first. Smith played as a teenager for the youth teams of [Northampton Town F.C.](https://www.edgepedia.org/northampton-town-f-c), Nottingham Forest F.C., and [Leicester City F.C.](https://www.edgepedia.org/leicester-city-f-c) and wanted a professional career, but a back injury, spondylosis, ended that plan.[1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith) A Guardian interview places the injury at age 16.[7](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/mar/30/matt-smith-interview)
His drama teacher suggested a role in a school production of *Twelve Angry Men*, which started his interest in acting.[1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith) The Guardian's 2011 profile names the teacher, Mr Hardingham, as the person who pushed him to apply to the [National Youth Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-youth-theatre) after he missed a drama festival.[8](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/dec/03/matt-smith-interview-lord-misrule) Smith has said that the National Youth Theatre is the reason he became an actor; from its stage performances he was signed by an agent and left university early for a professional role.[9](https://archive.nyt.org.uk/story/my-journey-matt-smith/) • [10](https://nationalyouththeatre.substack.com/p/matt-smiths-nyt-journey) He later studied drama and creative writing at the [University of East Anglia](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-east-anglia).[1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith)
## Stage and early television
His first professional stage role was *Fresh Kills*, staged Upstairs at the Royal Court, followed by *On the Shore of the Wide World*, which transferred to the [Royal National Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-national-theatre), and [Alan Bennett](https://www.edgepedia.org/alan-bennett)'s *The History Boys*.[1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith) • [9](https://archive.nyt.org.uk/story/my-journey-matt-smith/) In Polly Stenham's *That Face*, staged at the Royal Court before moving to the West End, he performed alongside a cast that earned a joint 2008 [Laurence Olivier](https://www.edgepedia.org/laurence-olivier) nomination for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre; he additionally received the *Evening Standard*'s "Best Newcomer" prize.[1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith)
His television debut came in 2006 as Jim Taylor in the [Philip Pullman](https://www.edgepedia.org/philip-pullman) adaptations *The Ruby in the Smoke* and *The Shadow in the North*, and he had a semi-breakthrough in the series *Party Animals*.[1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith) • [8](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/dec/03/matt-smith-interview-lord-misrule) He was largely unknown when he was announced as a surprise choice for the Doctor.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1741002/bio/)
## Doctor Who
In 2009, at age 26, Smith was cast by producer [Steven Moffat](https://www.edgepedia.org/steven-moffat) as the Eleventh Doctor, the youngest actor to be cast in the lead role of the series.[1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1741002/bio/) The announcement followed an intense, three-week casting process, and the news became big in Britain.[1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith) Despite the risk of alienating fans of his predecessor [David Tennant](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-tennant), he won audiences over.[11](https://au.variety.com/2024/tv/features/matt-smith-house-of-the-dragon-season-2-weaker-daemon-14356/)
Smith left in 2013, the series' 50th anniversary year, appearing in the anniversary special *The Day of the Doctor* alongside David Tennant, John Hurt, and [Tom Baker](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-baker); [Peter Capaldi](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-capaldi) was introduced as the new Doctor in that year's Christmas special.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1741002/bio/) • [1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith) He received a BAFTA Television nomination for Leading Actor for the role in 2011.[5](https://www.bafta.org/awards/search/?search=Matt+Smith)
## The Crown and film work
From 2016 to 2018 Smith played [Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh](https://www.edgepedia.org/prince-philip-duke-of-edinburgh), opposite [Claire Foy](https://www.edgepedia.org/claire-foy)'s Queen Elizabeth II, in the Netflix drama *The Crown*, recast after two seasons to reflect a time jump. The role brought him a 2018 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.[1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith) • [3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/matt-smith) Smith has said he liked the "maverick" prince despite not being a royalist.[12](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/jun/14/im-outacted-by-a-nine-year-old-matt-smith-on-house-of-the-dragon-chaos-and-child-stars)
His film work spans the British film *Womb* (2010, co-starring Eva Green), *Terminator Genisys* (2015), the thriller *Patient Zero*, *Charlie Says* (in which he played Charles Manson), the Mapplethorpe biopic, *Last Night in Soho*, *Morbius*, and *Starve Acre*.[1](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith) • [13](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/matt-smith/) • [14](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-matt-smith-mapplethorpe-charlie-says-20190307-story.html)
## House of the Dragon and recent work
Since 2022 Smith has played Prince Daemon Targaryen, Rhaenyra's uncle and husband, in HBO's *House of the Dragon*, set two centuries before *Game of Thrones*; he had appeared in 25 episodes through 2026.[11](https://au.variety.com/2024/tv/features/matt-smith-house-of-the-dragon-season-2-weaker-daemon-14356/) • [4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/34550/matt-smith) Casting singled him out for the part after his performance in *The Crown*, and his first-season episodes averaged 29 million viewers in the US alone, with critics praising a performance built on insinuation and "tensely coiled threat".[11](https://au.variety.com/2024/tv/features/matt-smith-house-of-the-dragon-season-2-weaker-daemon-14356/) • [12](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/jun/14/im-outacted-by-a-nine-year-old-matt-smith-on-house-of-the-dragon-chaos-and-child-stars) The Guardian's review of the third season, which returned in 2026, found him "more impressive when swords are sheathed" as the imperious warrior prince.[15](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jun/22/house-of-the-dragon-review-season-3-sky-atlantic-hbo-max-now)
In 2025 he starred in Darren Aronofsky's crime film *Caught Stealing* as Russ, a punk-styled catalyst of the story, and led Sky's six-part limited series *The Death of Bunny Munro*, adapted from Nick Cave's novel, in the title role and as executive producer; the performance brought a 2026 BAFTA nomination for Leading Actor.[16](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/matt-smith-so-nervous-hair-caught-stealing-darren-aronofsky-step-in) • [17](https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/matt-smith-stars-in-sky-original-limited-event-series-the-death-of-bunny-munro-official-trailer-unveiled-ahead-of-20-november-launch-) • [5](https://www.bafta.org/awards/search/?search=Matt+Smith) He is set to appear as the villain in *Star Wars: Starfighter*, directed by Shawn Levy and releasing in theaters on May 28, 2027.[6](https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/star-wars-starfighter-hub)
## Note on other people of the same name
The name Matt Smith refers to several people besides the actor. A production manager named Matt Smith, born in Littlehampton, Sussex, works in art departments on films such as *Black Widow* (2021);[18](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3356256/) and a separate Matt Smith, born in London in 1994, studied history at St John's College, Oxford.[19](https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/documents/474/1520-TW-Magazine-2017-4iiiFWEB.pdf) This article covers the Northampton-born actor Matthew Robert Smith.
## References
1. [Matt Smith Biography, Biography.com (A&E Television Networks)](https://www.biography.com/actors/matt-smith)
2. [Matt Smith Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1741002/bio/)
3. [Matt Smith, Emmy Awards and Nominations, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/matt-smith)
4. [Matt Smith, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/34550/matt-smith)
5. [Awards Search: Matt Smith, BAFTA](https://www.bafta.org/awards/search/?search=Matt+Smith)
6. [Star Wars: Starfighter hub, TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/star-wars-starfighter-hub)
7. [Q&A: Matt Smith, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/mar/30/matt-smith-interview)
8. [Matt Smith interview: lord of misrule, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/dec/03/matt-smith-interview-lord-misrule)
9. [My Journey: Matt Smith, National Youth Theatre Archive](https://archive.nyt.org.uk/story/my-journey-matt-smith/)
10. [Matt Smith's NYT Journey, National Youth Theatre (Substack)](https://nationalyouththeatre.substack.com/p/matt-smiths-nyt-journey)
11. [Matt Smith Pulls Back the Curtain on 'House of the Dragon' Season 2, Variety](https://au.variety.com/2024/tv/features/matt-smith-house-of-the-dragon-season-2-weaker-daemon-14356/)
12. ['I'm outacted by a nine-year-old': Matt Smith on House of the Dragon, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/jun/14/im-outacted-by-a-nine-year-old-matt-smith-on-house-of-the-dragon-chaos-and-child-stars)
13. [Matt Smith, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/matt-smith/)
14. [Matt Smith leaves 'The Crown' behind for Charles Manson and Robert Mapplethorpe, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-matt-smith-mapplethorpe-charlie-says-20190307-story.html)
15. [House of the Dragon review, season three, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jun/22/house-of-the-dragon-review-season-3-sky-atlantic-hbo-max-now)
16. [Matt Smith Was So 'Nervous' About His Hair In Caught Stealing, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/matt-smith-so-nervous-hair-caught-stealing-darren-aronofsky-step-in)
17. [Matt Smith stars in The Death of Bunny Munro, Sky Group](https://www.skygroup.sky/en-gb/article/matt-smith-stars-in-sky-original-limited-event-series-the-death-of-bunny-munro-official-trailer-unveiled-ahead-of-20-november-launch-)
18. [Matt Smith (production manager), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3356256/)
19. [St John's College, Oxford magazine feature](https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/documents/474/1520-TW-Magazine-2017-4iiiFWEB.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Sh to S*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license