Matt Smith

Matthew Robert Smith (born 28 October 1982) is an English actor. He is known for playing the Eleventh Doctor in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who (2010–2013), Prince Philip in Netflix's historical series The Crown (2016–2017)—for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination—and Daemon Targaryen in HBO's fantasy drama series House of the Dragon(2022–present). Smith initially aspired to be a professional footballer, but spondylolysis forced him out of the sport.

After joining the National Youth Theatre and studying drama and creative writing at the University of East Anglia, he began his acting career in 2003, performing in plays such as Murder in the Cathedral, Fresh Kills, The History Boys, and On the Shore of the Wide World in London theatres. Extending his repertoire into West End theatre, he has since performed in the stage adaptation of Swimming with Sharks with Christian Slater, followed a year later by a critically acclaimed performance in That Face. Smith's first television role was 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 significant television role came as Danny in the 2007 BBC series Party Animals.