Matt Smith

October 28, 2024

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Matt Smith, born on October 28, 1982, became famously known for his role in the “Doctor Who” series as the Eleventh Doctor. During childhood, Smith had dreams of becoming a football player and was talented in the sport too, until he suffered from a serious back injury which restricted him from playing his favorite sport. Smith became part of the National Youth Theater and thereafter enrolled in a drama and creative writing course. His acting career immediately embarked after graduating when he landed his very first role in a television film called “The Ruby in the Smoke.” From 2010 until 2013, Smith became famous as the Eleventh Doctor on “Doctor Who.” We share insights into the rising actor’s career in celebration of his birthday here!

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Matthew Robert Smith

Nickname:

Matt

Birth date:

October 28, 1982

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Scorpio

Height:

5' 11"

Relationship Status:

In a relationship

Net Worth:

$9 million

Background

Matthew Robert Smith, famously known as Matt Smith, was born in Northampton, England, on October 28, 1982. He attended the Northampton School for Boys and dreamed of following in his grandfather’s footsteps as a professional football player. During school, he was part of the youth soccer teams for Northampton Town, Nottingham Forest, and Leicester City. Unfortunately, Smith’s football dreams were crushed after suffering from a serious back injury which resulted in a condition called spondylolysis, which restricted him from continuing to play soccer.

Smith’s cousin, who was a drama teacher, signed him up for theatrical productions, which he initially refused to take part in. Eventually, after much persuasion, he joined the National Youth Theater in London. During his time there, he acted in concerts such as “Murder in the Cathedral” and “The Master and Margarita.” After high school, Smith enrolled in a Drama and Creative Writing course at the University of East Anglia and graduated in 2005. The following year, he landed his first roles in two television films called “The Ruby in the Smoke” and “The Shadow in the North.” In 2007 and 2008, he started gaining more recognition for his role in a BBC series called “Party Animals” and in the comedy crime film “In Bruges.” In 2010, the rising actor landed his breakthrough role in the British sci-fi television series called “Doctor Who” as the Eleventh Doctor. Starring in “Doctor Who” from 2010 to 2013, Smith became popular for his role in this series. His performance in “Doctor Who” earned him a nomination in the ‘Outstanding Drama Performance’ category of the National Television Awards. He also became the first actor in this role to receive a nomination for a British Academy Television Award for ‘Best Actor.’ In 2013, Smith ventured into directing his own films and made his directorial debut in a film called “Cargese.”

In 2015, Smith landed a role as “Prince Philip” in Netflix drama series “The Crown.” His performance earned him a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2018. He appears in a 2022 series called “House of the Dragon,” a prequel to the popular “Game of Thrones” series.

Career timeline

2006

Smith’s Television Film Debut

He lands his first roles in two television films called “The Ruby in the Smoke” and “The Shadow in the North."

2010

He Stars in “Doctor Who”

Smith gets his breakthrough role in “Doctor Who” as the Eleventh Doctor.

2013

His Directorial Debut

Smith directs his first short movie, called “Cargese,” which is airs on Sky Arts.

2018

A Primetime Emmy Award Nomination

Smith earns a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for ‘Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series’ for his performance in the Netflix series “The Crown.”

Why We Love Matt Smith

He was the best Eleventh Doctor
We don’t think the directors could have chosen anyone better than Smith to star as the Eleventh Doctor in “Doctor Who.” Many people doubted his ability to play this character as they believed him to be young and inexperienced, but Smith showed them a thing or two with his brilliant acting.
He took a chance on acting and ended up loving it
Smith really just wanted to become a professional football player. However, the universe had different plans for him. He took a chance, believed in himself, and now he's a successful, rising actor.
His ambition to take his career further
After building himself up as an actor, Smith became inspired to direct his own movie and went for it. There’s no limit to what our favorite doctor can do!

5 Surprising Facts

He’s an atheist
Smith revealed that after reading “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins, he’s adopted a more scientific and mathematical version of the world.
He’s a talented guitar player
Smith loves playing the guitar and even has his personal record collection.
He’s extremely clumsy
It’s rumored that the cast and production members on set place bets on how long it’ll take until Smith drops something or breaks a prop!
He had no clue about “Doctor Who”
He had not watched an episode of “Doctor Who” until his auditions.
He learns his lines rhythmically
A lover of poetry, Smith learns his character scripts by rapping them.

Matt Smith FAQs

What nationality is Matt Smith?

Smith is British.

What seasons of “Doctor Who” is Matt Smith in?

Smith stars in season five to seven.

Why did Matt Smith stop appearing in “Doctor Who?”

He said it was a very intense process to play the Doctor; the line-learning was really hard, and he had to live away from home for nine or 10 months a year.