Matt Smith
Biography
Matthew Robert Smith, born 28 October 1982 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, is an English actor. He first pursued football before a back condition ended that ambition, leading him to the National Youth Theatre and a degree in drama and creative writing at the University of East Anglia. Smith began his professional acting work in 2003, appearing on stage in productions such as Murder in the Cathedral. He rose to international prominence for his television roles as the Eleventh Doctor in the BBC series Doctor Who (2010–2013), Prince Philip in Netflix’s The Crown (2016–2017), and Daemon Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon (2022–present).
Career overview
After his football aspirations were halted by spondylolysis, Smith joined the National Youth Theatre and studied drama and creative writing at the University of East Anglia. He entered professional acting in 2003, performing on stage in productions including Murder in the Cathedral and Fres, establishing a foundation in classical theatre. These early roles allowed him to develop his craft and gain experience in both verse and prose performance. Smith’s television breakthrough arrived when he was cast as the Eleventh Doctor in the long‑running BBC science‑fiction series Doctor Who, a role he inhabited from 2010 to 2013. His portrayal was noted for its energetic eccentricity and earned him a dedicated fan base, solidifying his status as a leading figure in contemporary British television. During his tenure, he appeared in several special episodes and celebrated the series’ 50th anniversary. Subsequent high‑profile work includes playing Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in Netflix’s historical drama The Crown during its 2016–2017 seasons, a performance that garnered a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. In 2022 he joined the cast of HBO’s fantasy series House of the Dragon as Daemon Targaryen, continuing his presence in major international productions.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Matt Smith.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Wishful Thinking (2027) Producer
- Star Wars: Starfighter (2027)
- Caught Stealing (2025) as Russ
- The Death of Bunny Munro (2025) as Bunny Munro
- The Death of Bunny Munro (2025) Executive Producer
- Doctor Who: Wish World & The Reality War (2025) as The Doctor (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Starve Acre (2024) as Richard
- Doctor Who at the Proms (2024) as The Doctor (11) (archive footage)
- Perfect Match (2024) as Concierge London
- House of the Dragon (2022) as Prince Daemon Targaryen
- Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg (2022) as Self – Actor
- Morbius (2022) as Milo
- The House That Dragons Built (2022) as Self
- The Forgiven (2022) as Richard Galloway
- Last Night in Soho (2021) as Jack
- Superworm (2021) as Superworm (voice)
- The Big Night In (2020) as Self
- His House (2020) as Mark Essworth
- Lungs (2020) as M
- Official Secrets (2019) as Martin Bright
- This Time with Alan Partridge (2019) as Dan Milner
- Mapplethorpe (2019) as Robert Mapplethorpe
- Charlie Says (2019) as Charles Manson
- Patient Zero (2018) as Morgan
- Sparks! (2018) Thanks
- The Crown (2016) as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) as Parson Collins
- The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015) as Self
- Terminator Genisys (2015) as Alex / Skynet
- Lost River (2015) as Bully
- Doctor Who: The Husbands of River Song (2015) as The Doctor (11) (picture) (uncredited)
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Guest
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- Doctor Who: Deep Breath (2014) as The Doctor (11)
- Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor (2013) as The Doctor (11)
- Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited (2013) as Self
- An Adventure in Space and Time (2013) as Self / The Doctor (11) (uncredited)
- Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor (2013) as The Doctor (11)
- Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS (2013) as self
- The Day of the Doctor: Cinema Intro (2013) as The Doctor (11)
- Doctor Who at the Proms (2013) as Self - Special Guest Appearance / The Doctor
- Doctor Who: She Said, He Said (2013) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who Explained (2013) as Self
- The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot (2013) as Self
- Doctor Who: Farewell to Matt Smith (2013) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor (2013) as Self
- Doctor Who: The Ultimate Guide (2013) as Self
- Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty (2013) as Self
- Doctor Who: Rain Gods (2013) as The Doctor
- The Science of Doctor Who (2013) as The Doctor
- Victoria Wood's Nice Cup of Tea (2013) as Self - Participant
- Victoria Wood's Nice Cup of Tea (2013) as Self
- Doctor Who: The Inforarium (2013) as The Doctor
- Playhouse Presents (2012) Director
- Doctor Who: Pond Life (2012) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who: The Snowmen (2012) as The Doctor
- Bert & Dickie (2012) as Bert Bushnell
- Pond Life (2012) as The Doctor
- The Science of Doctor Who (2012) as The Doctor (archive footage)
- Doctor Who: The Great Detective (2012) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who - Night and the Doctor: Bad Night (2012) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who: Good as Gold (2012) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who - Night and the Doctor: Good Night (2012) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who - Night and the Doctor: First Night (2012) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who - Night and The Doctor: Last Night (2012) as The Doctor
- OK! TV (2011)
- Christopher and His Kind (2011) as Christopher Isherwood
- My Sarah Jane: A Tribute to Elisabeth Sladen (2011) as Self
- Doctor Who: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe (2011) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who: Let’s Kill Hitler Prequel (2011) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who: Death is The Only Answer (2011) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who: The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe Prequel (2011) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who: The Rebel Flesh & The Almost People (2011) as The Doctor
- Womb (2010) as Thomas
- Doctor Who: The End of Time (2010) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol (2010) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who at the Proms (2010) as Self - Special Guest Appearance / The Doctor
- Doctor Who: Meanwhile in the TARDIS: Part 2 (2010) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who: Meanwhile in the TARDIS: Part 1 (2010) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who: The Hungry Earth & Cold Blood (2010) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who: The Time of Angels & Flesh and Stone (2010) as The Doctor
- Doctor Who: The Pandorica Opens & The Big Bang (2010) as The Doctor
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Moses Jones (2009) as Dan Twentyman
- Together (2009) as Rob
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- Secret Diary of a Call Girl (2007) as Tim
- The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007) as The Doctor
- Party Animals (2007) as Danny Foster
- The Shadow in the North (2007) as Jim Taylor
- Last Stand of the 300 (2007) as Darius
- The One Show (2006) as Self - Guest
- The Street (2006) as Ian Hanley
- The Ruby in the Smoke (2006) as Jim Taylor
- Doctor Who (2005) as The Doctor
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
- Doctor Who Confidential (2005) as Self
- Top Gear (2002) as Self
- Family Guy (1999) as (voice)
- The Salamander Lives Twice
- Doctor Who: The Impossible Astronaut & Day of the Moon as The Doctor