Line #64 Creator/MattSmith


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5	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/matt_smith.jpg]]
6	[[caption-width-right:350:[[Series/DoctorWho Bowties are cool!]]]]
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8
9	->''"Hello, I'm Matt Smith, and ''I'm wearing a fez!''"''
10	-->-- '''Matt Smith''', introducing ''Series/DoctorWhoConfidential''
11
12	Matthew Robert Smith (born 28 October 1982 in Northampton, England) is a British actor from UsefulNotes/TheMidlands. He aimed to be a professional footballer, but a [[CareerEndingInjury back injury]] put an end to that, and he went into acting instead.
13
14	Smith appeared in the National Theatre production of ''Theatre/TheHistoryBoys'', which was also made into a film, but not with him in. On TV, he appeared as Jim Taylor in two adaptations of the ''Literature/SallyLockhart'' novels, alongside Creator/BilliePiper in the title role. He also appeared alongside her in ''Series/SecretDiaryOfACallGirl'', which should make for some... interesting fanvids in the years to come.[[note]]His eventual casting in ''Doctor Who'' would mark the fourth time he appeared on a show or TV special that Piper had been on (and with the 50th anniversary special, the fourth time they'd worked together).[[/note]]
15
16	However, "Matt Smith ([[MeaningfulName XI]])", as he's listed on Website/{{IMDb}}, was catapulted into the UK national consciousness on January 3, 2009, when the BBC announced that he would be playing the [[Characters/DoctorWhoEleventhDoctor Eleventh Doctor]] in ''Series/DoctorWho''. Aged 26 when cast, he was at the time the youngest person to ever star in the role, taking the record from [[Characters/DoctorWhoFifthDoctor Fifth Doctor]] Creator/PeterDavison, who was cast at 29. He's actually still the youngest actor to date even chronologically speaking, as Creator/PeterCapaldi is several decades older, Creator/JodieWhittaker has him beat by a few months, and Creator/NcutiGatwa was 29 when his casting was announced, matching Peter Davison but leaving Matt comfortably in the lead.[[note]]Not counting Michael Jones as the young First Doctor in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS34E4Listen Listen]]" or the various child actors who played the [[Recap/DoctorWhoS38E10TheTimelessChildren Timeless Child]].[[/note]]
17
18	Although he was not much of a ''Who'' fan to begin with (both he and Creator/KarenGillan grew up in the period between 1989 and 2005 when the show was off the air), he started watching the old stories and became a big fan of Creator/PatrickTroughton. (He called up Creator/StevenMoffat in the middle of the night to spend twenty minutes raving about [[Recap/DoctorWhoS5E1TheTombOfTheCybermen "The Tomb of the Cybermen"]], then asked for a bow tie.) To get a feel for his character, he wrote FanFiction with the Doctor meeting UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein.
19
20	Like Creator/PeterDavison, Smith succeeded a beloved, loud, eccentric, and unbelievably popular Doctor, was the youngest Doctor at the time of his entry onto the series, and was followed up by an actor who shared a name with a previous Doctor and had appeared on the show before. Many critics and fans found that he did spectacularly well at it as well.
21
22	On 1 June 2013, over the sound of fangirls everywhere sobbing enough tears to double Britain's annual rainfall, he announced that he would be [[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22741493 leaving the show]] at Christmas. Per his statement, "It's been an honour to play this part, to follow the legacy of brilliant actors, and helm the TARDIS for a spell with '[[Creator/KarenGillan the ginger]], [[Creator/ArthurDarvill the nose]], and [[Creator/JennaColeman the impossible one]]'. But when ya gotta go, ya gotta go and Trenzalore calls. Thank you guys." Smith took his last bow as the Doctor on 25 December 2013, handing the reins to Creator/PeterCapaldi as the curtain closed on the Eleventh Doctor's tenure and the clock struck Twelve.
23
24	Since leaving the show, Smith has been in a wide variety of projects; he received plenty of acclaim for playing a young Prince Phillip in ''Series/{{The Crown\|2016}}'' and Prince Daemon Targaryen in ''Series/HouseOfTheDragon''. He was also fairly busy after the announcement of his ''Doctor Who'' casting, appearing in the Creator/{{BBC}}2 three-part drama ''Moses Jones'', a murder mystery set in London's Ugandan community, as DS Dan Twentyman.
25
26	Not well-known for his musical skills, he is nevertheless an accomplished keyboardist -- and was, for one brief, shining moment, the third member of Music/{{Orbital}}, ''actually playing the ''Doctor Who'' theme [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBrYrdz6YxA live at Glastonbury]]''.
27
28	The more you get to know him, the more you get the feeling he [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WKDULWP7Fc had to tone it down]] to play the Doctor. It's one of the reasons why he and Karen Gillan get on so well: ''they're both utterly mad!'' He's also extremely clumsy, as Steven Moffat has related -- just as Moffat was proposing to Piers Wenger (fellow executive producer) to run a book on how long Smith would take to break the sonic screwdriver prop, the prop man walked past...
29
30	Smith also has the same name as a presenter on Creator/{{ITV}}'s football coverage, and over sixty cast and crew members (including eleven actors) according to [=IMDb=].
31	----
32	!!Films:
33
34	* ''Film/InBruges'' (2008) - Young Harry Waters[[note]]Deleted scene[[/note]]
35	* ''Film/{{Womb}}'' (2010) - Thomas
36	* ''Christopher and His Kind'' (2011) - Christopher Isherwood
37	* ''Film/LostRiver'' (2014) - Bully
38	* ''Film/TerminatorGenisys'' (2015) - The T-5000
39	* ''Film/PrideAndPrejudiceAndZombies'' (2016) - Mr Collins
40	* ''Mapplethorpe'' (2018) - Robert Mapplethorpe
41	* ''Film/{{Patient Zero\|2018}}'' (2018) - Morgan
42	* ''Film/CharlieSays'' (2018) - UsefulNotes/CharlesManson
43	* ''Film/OfficialSecrets'' (2019) - Martin Bright
44	* ''Film/LastNightInSoho'' (2021) - Jack
45	* ''Film/{{Morbius\|2022}}'' (2022) - Milo Morbius[[note]][[https://youtu.be/oBp6exx2kZM HAVE SEX! Ekse! Ekse! Ma yenza yenza...]][[/note]]
46
47	!!Live-Action TV:
48
49	* ''[[Literature/SallyLockhart The Ruby in the Smoke]]'' (2006) - Jim Taylor
50	* ''[[Literature/SallyLockhart The Shadow in the North]]'' (2007) - Jim Taylor
51	* ''Series/PartyAnimals'' (2007) - Danny Foster
52	* ''Series/SecretDiaryOfACallGirl'' (2007) - Tim
53	* ''Series/{{The Street\|BBC}}'' (2007) - Ian Hanley
54	* ''Moses Jones'' (2009) - DS Dan Twentyman
55	* ''Series/DoctorWho'' ([[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E17E18TheEndOfTime 2010]]-[[Recap/DoctorWho2013CSTheTimeOfTheDoctor 2013]], [[spoiler:2014]]) - [[Characters/DoctorWhoEleventhDoctor The Eleventh Doctor]]
56	** ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures'' (2010) - The Eleventh Doctor
57	** [[spoiler:''Film/AnAdventureInSpaceAndTime'' (2013) - Himself]]
58	** ''Recap/TheFiveishDoctorsReboot'' (2013) - Himself
59	* ''Series/{{The Crown\|2016}}'' (2016-2017) - Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
60	* ''Series/HouseOfTheDragon'' (2022-) - [[Characters/HouseOfTheDragonDaemonTargaryen Daemon Targaryen]]
61
62	!!Video Games:
63	* ''Series/DoctorWho'' - The Eleventh Doctor
64	** The Adventure Games (2010-2011)
65	** ''Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth'' (2010)
66	** ''Videogame/DoctorWhoReturnToEarth'' (2010)
67	** ''Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock'' (2012)
68	** ''VideoGame/LEGODimensions'' (2015) ([[FakeShemp via archival audio]])
69
70	!!Tropes associated with this actor's work include:
71	* AbilityOverAppearance: [[invoked]] Steven Moffat said at one point that he was getting sick of younger Doctors, and was planning to cast an actor who was at least middle-aged. In walks Smith, who was only in his mid-20's at the time, and the rest is history. (Note that Smith was indeed followed up by an older Doctor— Peter Capaldi took over the role at 55, older than any other Doctor save John Hurt.) %% Capaldi as of "Deep Breath" was older than Hartnell as of "An Unearthly Child".
72	* ActorAllusion: [[invoked]] In the 2011 movie ''Christopher and His Kind'', Matt Smith's character and his mother are having an argument about him returning to medical school. She asks him, "Don't you want to be a doctor?" It's a shame there is no behind-the-scenes outtakes on the DVD to see what Matt Smith's answer is.
73	* TheCastShowoff: [[invoked]] Originally wanted to be a professional football (not the American kind) player, and had a fairly good chance of going pro, ending up as the captain of Leicester City's youth team. However, a back injury put an end to that, and instead, he went into acting. He gets to show off his football skills in the ''Doctor Who'' episode [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E11TheLodger "The Lodger"]].
74	* LargeHam: Gives an ode to overacting in the episode [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E4ThePowerOfThree "The Power of Three"]], and it is ''glorious''. Turns it up to Eleven (Ha!) when playing the Cyber-Planner "Mr. Clever" persona in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E12NightmareInSilver "Nightmare in Silver"]]. [[HamAndCheese Really gets to let loose]] in ''Film/{{Morbius\|2022}}'', and he received plaudits for his performance.
75	* MrFanservice:
76	** There's more where [[http://ianwylie.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/mattbafta1500.jpg?w=500&h=333 this]] came from. In that movie, ''Christopher and His Kind'', he has a very naked, very gay makeout session with a very hot man.
77	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwy-_jbACFM Doing a strip tease. In character as the Doctor.]] For charity.
78	** There's a nude scene in [[Recap/DoctorWho2013CSTheTimeOfTheDoctor "The Time of the Doctor"]], though it's [[NakedPeopleAreFunny played for laughs]].
79	** A few nude and topless scenes as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in ''Series/{{The Crown\|2016}}'', where an impressively muscular physique is very much on show. Doubles as TruthInTelevision, as His Highness really was that chiselled as a younger man. He was once described as looking "like a viking god". Creator/ClaireFoy joked in the initial press tour that "Matt Smith's bum" was the real star of the show. She's right, for it is, indeed, a ''very lovely bottom.''
80	** Some more nude scenes as Daemon Targaryen in ''Series/HouseOfTheDragon'', where said character is notorious for his whoring.
81	** Inasmuch as it contributed to the film's MemeticMutation (and [[SoBadItsGood not entirely the good]]), his ShowingOffTheNewBody in ''Film/Morbius2022'' to the tune of Off the Meds' "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI1ThTPTDO0 EKSE]]" falls under here as well.
82	* PlayingAgainstType: [[invoked]] What were his first two high-profile roles after leaving ''Doctor Who''? Patrick Bateman in a stage adaptation of ''Literature/AmericanPsycho'', and freaking '''Skynet''' in ''Film/TerminatorGenisys''! He followed this as [[UsefulNotes/TheBritishRoyalFamily Prince Phillip]] in the Netflix series ''Series/{{The Crown\|2016}}''.
83	* PromotedFanboy: [[invoked]] Was an Isherwood fan before getting to play him in ''Christopher and His Kind''.
84	* ThrowItIn: [[invoked]]
85	** TheBigDamnKiss between the Doctor and companion Rory? Wasn't scripted.
86	** Steven Moffat revealed that the CatchPhrase "Come along, Pond" was purely Smith's invention. Apparently, Smith started calling her that during their very first photo shoot together before filming even began. When he heard it, he merely started adding it into the script.
87	** Geeta Patel, director of ''Series/HouseOfTheDragon'''s episode "[[Recap/HouseOfTheDragonS1E8TheLordOfTheTides The Lord of the Tides]]", reveals that the emotional beats of Daemon helping the ailing King Viserys I ascend the throne root from Smith improvising.
88	* TomHanksSyndrome: His StarMakingRole, the Eleventh Doctor, had his fair share of serious moments but was generally one of the more comedic incarnations of the Time Lord. Most of Smith's post-''Series/DoctorWho'' roles have been decidedly more serious.
89	* TrollingCreator: [[invoked]] Working with Steven Moffat has had this effect. Initially, Smith swore that the fish fingers he ate with custard were actual fish fingers; it was later revealed they were actually coconut breaded cakes. Remember kids, Rule One: The Doctor Lies.
90	* WagTheDirector: [[invoked]] A Administrivia/TropesAreTools example. Smith didn't feel happy in any of the outfits the ''Series/DoctorWho'' crew put him in, and eventually insisted on trying on a bow tie and suspenders. Creator/StevenMoffat objected that an outfit like that would be more of a ''Doctor Who'' parody than anything else. As soon as Smith was in his chosen outfit, though, things fell into place and his Doctor's entire wardrobe was changed into the one we know and love about half a day before the deadline.
91	* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
92	** [[invoked]] He originally auditioned for ''Series/{{Sherlock}}'', but was rejected for being "too barmy". Steven Moffat, who created the show, saw his performance and offered the role of the Eleventh Doctor to him.
93	** He would have had a bigger role as the most advanced Terminator ever conceived in the planned sequels to ''Film/TerminatorGenisys'' that never got made.
94	** He was considered for various comic book movie roles before being cast as Milo in ''Film/{{Morbius\|2022}}'' such as the [[Comicbook/TheJoker Joker]] in ''Film/{{Suicide Squad\|2016}}'', Carlton Drake in ''Film/{{Venom\|2018}}'' and Comicbook/{{Mysterio}} in ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome''.
95	** He was the second choice for the part of Newt Scamander in ''Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'' before the casting of Creator/EddieRedmayne.
96	** He was reported as having been cast for a significant role in what would become ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker'', but he wasn't in the finished film and he later confirmed that his role was [[invoked]]{{deleted\|role}} during the film's TroubledProduction (before filming began).

Context Creator / MattSmith