The leading man checklist reads: charismatic, mysterious, approachable, attainable. Enter Matt Smith.

Known for his iconic portrayal of the Eleventh Doctor in the beloved sci-fi series Doctor Who, Smith’s rise to fame has been nothing short of meteoric.

Hailing from Northampton, England, Smith’s passion for the performing arts manifested at a young age. He cut his teeth on the theatrical stage, becoming a member of the National Youth Theatre before bursting onto television screens as the Doctor in 2010. And at only 26 years old, he was the youngest actor ever cast in the role. Smith brought a breath-of-fresh-air kind of eccentricity to the character, winning over skeptical critics and audiences alike. His portrayal was a fresh blend of dorky wit, intelligence, and undeniable charisma, making him one of the most beloved and memorable Doctors in the show’s storied history.

Leaving the TARDIS behind, he delved into what can only be described as a wildly eclectic range of roles. From period dramas ( The Crown – for which he received an Emmy nom for his performance of Prince Philip) to gritty thrillers (Official Secrets) and acid-dream dramas (Last Night in Soho), Smith has proved his versatility time and again. Not to mention his return to the stage in 2016 with Unreachable.

And now, as the violent and complicated Rogue Prince, Daemon Targaryen, it seems his star is once again on the rise – and this time, he’s taking that spotlight in a noticeably darker direction. 

Combating the idea that Daemon is a one note villain in an interview with the LA Times, Smith says, “Actually, Daemon’s a hugely complicated creature. He’s way more sensitive than he lets on, and that gives you something to play against on screen. You can sort of invert it.”

Outside the spotlight, Smith has taken keeping his private life private pretty seriously, and has remained relatively shielded from the prying eyes of the media. However, his advocacy for social causes, such as Dementia UK, speaks pretty well to his character. With a fervent, and oftentimes outspoken, belief in equality and justice, he’s leveraged his fame to amplify marginalized voices and raise awareness on pressing global issues. 

In an interview with Andrzej Lukowski, Smith said about acting, “I think art that is divisive is a good thing. The tragedy is that not everybody comes to see it; they’ll choose something else because they know they’ll have a good time.”

What’s next for Matt Smith? “I’d also like to do some Shakespeare, which I’ve never done. I didn’t want to put my friends through three hours of that.”