Matt Smith

Matthew Robert Smith, known as **Matt Smith**, is an English actor who gained fame for portraying the Eleventh Doctor in the popular BBC series *Doctor Who* from 2010 to 2014, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. In addition to his role in Doctor Who, he is also known for his portrayal of Prince Philip in the Netflix series *The Crown* from 2016 to 2017, and Daemon Targaryen in HBO's *House of the Dragon* from 2022 onwards. Smith initially aspired to be a professional footballer, but spondylolysis forced him out of the sport. After studying drama and creative writing at the University of East Anglia, Smith began his career in 2003, performing in several London theatre productions. In film, his credits include the science fiction film *Womb* (2010), *Terminator Genisys* (2015), *Last Night in Soho* (2021), and *Morbius* (2022). He was born in Northampton, England on 28 October 1982, the son of Lynne and David Smith. Although initially reluctant to pursue acting, Smith was persuaded by his drama teacher to participate in productions, leading him to join the National Youth Theatre in London and eventually to a professional acting career.