Matt Smith feared TV could become ‘obsolete’ before taking latest role

BANG Showbiz
·2 min read
Matt Smith feared television could become ‘obsolete’ before he took his latest major small-screen role credit:Bang Showbiz
Matt Smith feared television could become ‘obsolete’ before he took his latest major small-screen role credit:Bang Showbiz

Matt Smith feared television could become “obsolete” before he took his latest major small-screen role.

The 41-year-old actor, famed for playing Prince Philip in ‘The Crown’, said he started to worry TV was on a downward spiral when he was offered the part of warrior prince Daemon in ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel ‘House of the Dragon’ as he thought the show couldn’t match its predecessor.

Appearing to refer to the rise of streaming and box sets, he told Variety: “Audiences have changed. The way TV is consumed has changed. You can see a market saturate itself and envelop itself, and become obsolete.”

Matt also opened up about how he had colourful ideas for his Daemon role.

The fighter exists among fire-breathing reptiles and palace backstabbing in ‘House of the Dragon’ – and Matt said he wanted the character to veer into the supernatural realm.

He added: “I think Daemon would make a really good vampire. I can imagine him wandering the earth alone for all eternity.

“He’d probably make a terrible king.”

‘House of the Dragon’ is entering its second season, which will start on 16 June, with Daemon’s future uncertain.

The show has seen him marry his niece Rhaenyra (played by Emma D’Arcy), to help secure her claim to the Iron Throne.

But when her father and Daemon’s older brother King Viserys (Paddy Considine) dies, Rhaenyra’s rivals within the family start a bid to grab power, while Daemon sets off to settle old scores and rally troops for the war on the horizon.

Matt said: “You never really know which way he’s going to go. I always viewed him as an agent of chaos.”

Even though he feels comfortable playing the warrior, he said he was kept on his toes by ‘Doctor Who’ fans when he was announced as the latest actor to play the Time Lord in 2009 when he was aged 26.

He said: “I would walk down the street, and people would say, ‘Don’t break “Doctor Who!’ because they had no idea who I was.”

He added he “briefly” considered turning down the chance to play the time traveller, but said his agent “very quickly” told him: “You’re doing it.”

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