Matt Smith is best known for playing the Eleventh Doctor on the BBC cult classic TV show Doctor Who. His 40th birthday is today, Friday, October 28, 2022. Hitting the Big Four-Oh means he’s 80% as old as the television show he starred on for four years. Dr. Who premiered in 1963, making it fifty-nine years old.
Smith has played a wide range of characters, and is well regarded for the range and power of his portrayals. He played HRH Prince Philip on The Crown, for which he earned an Emmy nomination. He is currently on HBO’s House of the Dragon as Daemon Targaryen. He is also part of the MCU: he played Milo in Morbius (2022). Smith starred as Thomas in the science fiction film Womb (2010), also released as Clone. In Terminator Genisys (2015), Smith played the physical form of Skynet. In Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016), Smith played the irritatingly obsequious Rev. Mr. William Collins. He voiced Superworm in Superworm (2021). He has also voiced the Doctor in no fewer than five video games.
Doctor Who has taught as that you’re only as old as you feel. Sir Patrick Stewart and the late Dame Angela Lansbury showed us that good actors only improve with age, like fine wine or sharp cheese. Forty is nothing. Matt Smith still has a rich career ahead of him.
Happy Birthday, Matt Smith. Enjoy the day. Here’s wishing you cake, ice cream, fish fingers, and custard.
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.
