Matt Smith
Biography
Life Story
Matt Smith is an English actor who shot to fame in the UK aged 26 when he was cast by producer Steven Moffat as the Eleventh Doctor in the BBC's iconic science-fiction adventure series Doctor Who (2005).
Matthew Robert Smith was born and raised in Northampton, the son of Lynne (Fidler) and David Smith. He was educated at Northampton School For Boys. He studied Drama and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. He got into acting through the National Youth Theatre and performed with the Royal Court and the National Theatre.
Smith made his television debut in The Ruby in the Smoke (2006) and won several further roles on television but was largely unknown when he was announced as the surprise choice for the role of the Eleventh Doctor in Doctor Who. He was younger than any other actor to have taken the role (Peter Davison was previously the youngest, aged 29 when he was cast in 1981). Smith starred in 49 episodes of Doctor Who (three short of his predecessor, David Tennant). He left in the momentous 50th anniversary year of the Doctor Who legend in 2013, which included starring in the 50th anniversary special, Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor (2013), which found him acting with Tennant, guest star John Hurt and the oldest living and longest-serving actor to play the Doctor, Tom Baker.
Since leaving Doctor Who, Smith has launched himself into a film career.
Family
No info available
Trivia
As a teenager, he was a talented footballer and considered turning professional, but had to give it up following a back injury and turned to acting instead.
He is a former member of the National Youth Theatre.
He attended Northampton School for Boys.
He studied drama and creative writing at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich.
At 26, he was the youngest actor to be cast as the Doctor in the long-running science fiction series Doctor Who (2005). The youngest had previously been Peter Davison, who was 29 when he was cast in Doctor Who (1963) in 1981.
He is very into music. He can play the guitar and enjoys buying and collecting records. His favourite band is Radiohead.
He was voted Best Actor by Readers of Doctor Who Magazine for his work on the 2010 Season.
Of the eleven actors to play the Doctor in Doctor Who (1963), Doctor Who (1996) and Doctor Who (2005), he and Christopher Eccleston are the only two who never worked with the late Nicholas Courtney, who played Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart in the former from 1968 to 1989 as well as in numerous Big Finish audio dramas.
He owns the tweed jacket that his Eleventh Doctor usually wears.
He is the first actor to play the Doctor to be born after the death of William Hartnell, the first (and earliest born) actor to play the Doctor (who died in 1975). Had Hartnell lived long enough, he would have been nearly 75 when Smith was born.
He was the first lead actor in Doctor Who (2005) to be nominated for a BAFTA Best TV actor.
He was discovered by agent Wendy Padbury. Prior to becoming an agent, Padbury had been an actress; one of her best-known roles was as the Second Doctor's companion Zoe Heriot on Doctor Who (1963).
Personal Quotes
[on his knowledge of past Doctor Who (2005)):] I'm very aware of the rich history of Chris [Christopher Eccleston] and David [David Tennant], and I've gone back and watched a lot of those episodes. And the previous history? I have to be honest, I can't claim to have watched the show in its entirety or have been a follower as avidly as some people are - and that's what I'm realising, that people love this show, people are avid, avid fans of it, and know it, and know its history and are part of it. I can't claim to know it as well as that, but I'm going to make it my business to do so, and fall into it in as much depth as I possibly can. [February 2009]
[on being the youngest actor to play The Doctor] I think the whole issue of me being the youngest has worked in my favour. I think there's an interesting contradiction of having a young face and an old soul. There's something funny about it, and it also allows you to reinvent being old. It's interesting because, when I first took the part on, obviously there was a bone of contention for some of the diehard fans.
As a character, the Doctor is excited and fascinated by the tiniest of things. By everything. By every single thing. That's what's wonderful about him as a character. It's why children like him, I think. Because he doesn't dismiss anything. He's not cynical. He's open to every single facet of the universe.
[on why he had no intention to become the longest serving Doctor Who] Tom Baker did it for seven years but he did it in different circumstances. I couldn't do this for seven years. I'd be run into the ground.
What struck me about Lis [Elisabeth Sladen] was her grace. She welcomed me, educated me, and delighted me with her tales and adventures on Doctor Who. And she also seemed to have a quality of youth that not many people retain as they go through life. Her grace and kindness will stay with me because she had such qualities in abundance and shared them freely... I will miss her, as will the world of Doctor Who and all the Doctors that had the good pleasure to work with Lis Sladen and travel the universe with Sarah Jane.
[on Trevor Eve's criticism of the BBC for spending so much money on a "children's programme" such as Doctor Who (2005)] If we all listen to Trevor Eve, then we're in trouble. Thank you very much, Trevor, we appreciate your opinion, but that's ridiculous. Doctor Who (2005) is brilliant. That's why it attracts some of the best writers in the country, and some of the best actors. Trevor, try telling that to Sir Michael Gambon. Show me any other series that can tackle this many big issues, appeal to this broad a range of people, and still have a laugh along the way and I will say, 'You can't.' That's what I'd say to Trevor Eve. At least we're never predictable. At least we're inventive. This whole show is testament to Steven Moffat, and his ambition and his scope, and that's a privilege to be part of. It's as simple as that.
