Matthew Robert Smithย (born 28 October 1982) is an English actor. He is known for playing theย Eleventh Doctorย in theย BBCย science fiction television seriesย Doctor Whoย (2010โ2013),ย Prince Philipย inย Netflix's historical seriesย The Crownย (2016โ2017)โfor which he received aย Primetime Emmy Awardย nominationโandย Daemon Targaryenย inย HBO's fantasy drama seriesย House of the Dragon(2022โpresent).
Smith initially aspired to be a professionalย footballer, butย spondylolysisย forced him out of the sport. After joining theย National Youth Theatreย and studying drama and creative writing at theย University of East Anglia, he began his acting career in 2003, performing in plays such asย Murder in the Cathedral,ย Fresh Kills,ย The History Boys, andย On the Shore of the Wide Worldย in London theatres. Extending his repertoire intoย West Endย theatre, he has since performed in the stage adaptation ofย Swimming with Sharksย withย Christian Slater, followed a year later by a critically acclaimed performance inย That Face.
Smith's first television role was in 2006 asย Jim Taylorย in the BBC adaptations ofย Philip Pullman'sย The Ruby in the Smokeย andย The Shadow in the North. His first significant television role came as Danny in the 2007 BBC seriesย Party Animals. In film, he has played aย dual roleย in the science fiction filmย Wombย (2010), theย physical formsย ofย Skynetย in the cyberpunk action filmย Terminator Genisysย (2015), a 1960s pimp in the psychological horror filmย Last Night in Sohoย (2021) andย Milo Morbiusย in the superhero filmย Morbiusย (2022).
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