Matt Smith

0:00Sierra has all the best active and outdoor brands you need. From athletic stuff, like a full-court pickup game, swish, to athletic-ish stuff, like a half-mile stroll. Get those steps in! And for morning hikes up the mountain trail, good pace, to nighttime ghost stories from the camping chair. What a twist. Whatever level of active, Sierra loves it all. Head to Sierra or Sierra.com for the brands you want at the prices that let you do it all. From athletic to athletic-ish, Sierra's got it. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast instead of doom scrolling? Smart move.

0:37Another smart move? Getting help from one of State Farm's 19 ,000 local agents when you choose to bundle home and auto. Bundling. Just another way to save with the personal price plan. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings, and eligibility vary by state. What does it say about somebody when they say daemon targaryen's their favorite character they've got great taste right

1:07he's the face oh come on man what is you know daemon's the coolest character doesn't give a man you know prepare your ears humans happy sad confused begins hey guys it's josh welcome to another edition of happy sad confused today on the show Matt Smith always a charmer one of the most talented actors out there today returning in House of the Dragon in a live taping at the 92nd Street Y another fun one hey guys thanks as always for checking out the podcast remember if you haven't already what are you doing with your lives you gotta subscribe YouTube Spotify whatever podcast platform you're using you know what to do two episodes a week for about 12 years there's no end in sight not while I've got this trusty microphone in front of me and guests willing to be charming and amazing, like Matt Smith.

2:05Before we get to the main event, Matt Smith, let me mention, as always, patreon.com slash happy, sad, confused. If you haven't checked it out, if you hear me just talking about it endlessly week after week and say, I'm going to skip past that, go right to the episode, I get it. I'm the same way. But I'll say this for the record, Patreon helps me make this show. It is a huge factor in what we're able to do week in and week out. So check out our Patreon, patreon.com slash happy, say it confused. And it's not just about contributing. You get stuff for your money. You get early access, you get bonus content, you get discount codes to live events, you get autographed merch, all sorts of fun stuff.

2:43You can ask questions to some of the actors that come on the show and filmmakers, patreon.com slash happy, say it confused. And We do have another great live event coming up in just a few days. Millie Bobby Brown in New York City, June 24th. We're talking Stranger Things. We're talking in Noah Holmes. We're talking her entire career. She's never done the podcast. So this one's long overdue. Very excited for this. Get your tickets now. The information is in the show bio. You know what to do. Okay. Matt Smith. You know, I say often one of our favorites. He truly is one of our, one of my favorites, both as an actor and just a a great personality um you know him from doctor who and the crown and now in recent years as daemon targaryen and house of the dragon another iconic role for this guy who um always just exudes charisma an unpredictable vibe often in his performances he could be a leading man he can be a villain uh and with daemon targaryen he's kind of a little bit of everything isn't he uh the new season's fantastic i've seen the first two new episodes of house of the dragon it premieres on hbo june 21st uh so there's a little bit of a little bit of a sneak peek of the of the season to come but no spoilers i wouldn't worry about that um we cover a lot in this episode including some of his beginnings certainly getting dr who at the very young age of 26 the reception he got which wasn't all that positive at the very beginning um navigating his post-Doctor Who career, the fun bumps in the road like Morbius and Terminator.

4:21And of course, we talk a little bit about Star Wars, which is around the corner. He shot his role in Star Wars Starfighter opposite Ryan Gosling. So of course we had to talk about that. And he's just, he's also a cinephile and just loves kind of digging into pop culture. So this was a really, really, really fun live event at 92nd street y i know you guys are gonna dig it um yeah if you listen happy say confused you know matt smith's one of the real ones so without any further ado uh i take you to the live event 92nd street y me and matt smith enjoy hi everybody how's it going welcome to the 92nd street y thank you hi guys how's it going uh my name is josh horowitz i host a podcast called Happy Second Fused.

5:09You're inside of it right now, whether you know it or not. Welcome to Happy Second Fused. Welcome to the 92nd Street Y. I know why you're here tonight. To use one of the phrases that this guest uses a lot, we have a legend in the house tonight. I absolutely love and adore him. He's a Happy Second Fused all-star. You know him, you love him from Doctor Who, from The Crown. And yes, and yes, as Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon, we are catching him at a very great moment because the third season of House of the Dragon is about to debut. You'll all be watching, yes? Of course you will. Please make him feel welcome.

5:47He's a veteran of the 92nd Street Y. We're so thrilled to have him back. Give it up for the one and only, the legend, Matt Smith, everybody. Here he is.

6:01good evening new york hello hello thank you so much for coming out much appreciated my man here we go here we go i'm just gonna do this yeah you're gonna need more information for the next hour are you more more focused on house of the dragon right now or on world cup Matt, be honest. The World Cup. I was watching the game today and England play tomorrow, which is obviously of great importance in my life. I mean, I'm a huge, huge football fan. That was your first love, let's be real. Yeah, it probably is my first love in many ways. So, you know, I wish I could say I love them. Here's my way out of answering who my favorite companion is.

6:45And I always say I love them all equally more than each other. But when it comes to football, I can't really you know, I just love football so much So Timothy Chalamet just said the other day He was happier about the Knicks winning than potentially winning an Oscar. Would you rather win an Oscar or be a world? England win the World Cup. England win the World Cup, man Yeah, and also I'm never gonna win an Oscar I mean, I think that Timmy's in with a chance, but it's like I think I think England look there's a there's a long way to go and there's there's a lot of teams that are better than us, which feels a bit like my acting career essentially.

7:22You have to get rid of the competition. You have to wipe them out. Just kill Benedict and Eddie and Andy and everyone else.

7:32So I did notice when I was listening back to our many conversations, yes, you use the word legend a lot about people that you love. Who are legends in your estimation? People that you've worked with? Who's on the top of the mountain for you? It's probably a long list, but give me a few. No, yeah, Karen Gillan's a legend Billy Piper's a legend Emma Darcy's a legend Paddy Consonine's a legend Reese difference is a legend. I've been really lucky with legends actually Austin Butler's legend Josh is a legend. Okay, all right. That's what I was waiting on And no look I've been I've yeah, I feel so I think it's I've been really blessed with I mean generally Speaking actors are quite nice.

8:17I mean you find that absolutely Jen generally speaking We can name names if you really want to go there. Yeah, I say that for the end. Yeah, okay very good. Yeah So yeah, but I do think the word legend is banded around a lot isn't it? But yeah, I mean I've been I've been I've definitely worked with some legends So you mentioned a few that you're working with on House of the Dragon mention yeah, I would imagine Patty First season how do you say an amazing? Yeah, recent evens amazing. Yeah, um Have you found there's a common denominator in this cast? I mean you all do genuinely I've done group things with you guys You don't do all seem to actually get along I don't know if that's being in the bunker of an intense experience like this or what but What have you found that's unique about this cast in particular among other casts that you've worked with?

9:01Yeah, I think I Think this show is such a sort of it's such a beast to make that there is a real sense and weirdly even though there is kind of division with the greens and the blacks and all that business there is a real sense of it being a family and those and i mean i look back with great fondness on those early seasons on the first season i say those early seasons that early season in a way when we were all in one room you know and everyone was together and there was a king that we all kind of liked even if you know I did want to marry his daughter right it's a bit weird isn't it but but there was a sense of family and I think we've sort of cultivated that and also you know I think there's a great respect among us because there's some when you look at the younger guys in it like Tom and Ewan and Fabian these are you know and there's this such great quality in that cast and props to the casting team because you know It's this that it's it's a brilliant cast of actors really you say something that struck me too Yeah, cuz like at the outset when you signed on it was kind of like you you were the big name Patty's a big name and then there were like people that like now in subsequent years have become Notable because of their work on the show people like Fabian yes, and Emma That must be a joy for you as an actor to to see them I'm you saw they had the goods to begin with but like I don't know if they're carrying themselves in a different way but to see their career just rise in front of your eyes.

10:30It's very interesting. I mean, particularly, I work so closely with Emma, and they, you know, to watch them, it sounds really patronizing, and I don't mean to be at all. It's meant as a compliment in this, but I remember, like, and I hope they don't mind me sort of repeating this story, but on our first camera test, I remember holding Emma's hand, and they were, I could feel the sort of energy in them, and being in this costume and having this camera and all this stuff and now, I mean, Emma just lives and breathes the technicality and the craft of filmmaking in a way that is just, honestly, I mean, they are truly, you know, there's actors that turn up and Emma turns up and is like, she's like Jordan.

11:17Do you know what I mean? Sorry, she, they. They are like Jordan where it's just like, There's such consistency from take to take and it's um, it's amazing to watch So when you we talked before a little bit about how you came into the role But but to talk about it a little bit more I'm curious like look you'd obviously you've done television you've done television very successful television genre work Was there? Yeah, and I know you're not the kind of actor necessarily that like jumps into something immediately Like you labor over the decision a little bit true. Did you come close to passing on this or was this an easy?

11:50Yes Yeah, I mean, yeah, well, I mean, there was nothing easy about it, to be honest with you. And it came at quite a sort of difficult stage in my life. My father was ill and there was, you know, there was that that that had a great sort of governance on my state of being, really. But yeah, look, if I'm honest, I may as well be honest. There's no point not to me. I did I'm an R, you know, for a number of reasons. because I thought, you know, and maybe still think, how on earth can you follow in the footsteps of something that has been essentially a cultural phenomenon, really, in Game of Thrones and the way it was told and the success it had and the scale and the scope.

12:37And also the way television was consumed then is slightly different. And I just played a prince and, you know what I mean? And he was blonde as well. Did you you would you would share the film with Amelia before you were in the Terminator film? I don't know another classic on the list. I'm gonna break Morbius out soon as well. I

13:04There goes that Oscar I Think I think you know me well enough to know I have 20 minutes of questions on Morbius and Terminator a little bit later But we'll get there. But my question is, I don't know how well you knew Amelia, but is that someone that you went to when you were considering this? Yeah, I did. I had the yeah. Yeah. I mean in a brief way, I have to say I didn't know Amelia particularly well, but I did I did sort of ask about the people involved. And Amelia was was obviously very and now it's so weird, isn't it? Amelia is technically my sort of in, you know, theatrical terms. Great, great, great.

13:36I don't know how many greats down the line. Does anyone know that? How many great great great granddaughters they are that Amelia is No Tough one isn't it you call yourself yourself fans Unbelievable, there's just people walking around with their arms in the air Madhouse isn't it? What did you wait? So what did she say to you? Did you give you kind of no? Yeah, I mean she was very encouraging about her experience and I think I think you know in many ways I think for those guys, I remember being on, this sounds really stupid, but being on a panel at Comic-Con was the evening, not the evening standard, the Entertainment Weekly newcomers panel.

14:21And I was there with Kit and he was making this, I was doing Doctor Who and he was making this show called Game of Thrones. And I just remember the Game of Thrones guys had the really nice hotel. And at the BBC, we were given like a cup of tea and a biscuit and like made to run to work Do you know what I mean? And you know, those days are gone. But, and I remember, you know, and then it became this huge thing. And I guess my point is, I think to them, that experience was probably formative and they have the same love and sort of a sense of wonder about it that I hold about Doctor Who in a way.

15:00Because I was 26 and that just sort of changed my life in such a profound way. You mentioned kind of early days with Emma. I mean it was it was an unusual first season in the way they structured it and thank goodness it worked out But you're playing opposite obviously two different actors. Yeah, I'm Rhaenyra super girl Did you screen test with both? Yeah, especially given the relationship. Yeah with both Millie and Emma like were you the one? They were both cast you so yeah, I mean I didn't test with anyone actually really yeah I just tested on my own and and then we're all kind of pieced together, but I mean, I know I'm aware that some people weren't keen on that, but as an acting experience for me, that was amazing.

15:41These two amazing actors. And actually, it really lent to two sort of different energies, actually, you know, and the difference of sort of youth and age. And I found it really, really, really interesting. So let's talk a little bit about season three. I've seen the first two episodes. It gets off to an amazing, fantastic star. You guys have probably heard that there's, I mean, to say an epic battle is the understatement of the year. But I think, I would imagine it's also refreshing for you. I mean, you talked a little bit about season two. I remember we talked, like, you're kind of off on your own in a lot of that season.

16:16And this season, it seems like you're back into the mix a little bit more. Did you find it, I don't know, reinvigorating to kind of, like, have more with Emma and other characters as opposed to being on this kind of vision quest for Damon? I did. Yeah, there you go. it's about the right response isn't it I think I did look I thought you know you don't want to get yourself to say too much but yes I feel like in the first season I really recognised who Damon was in the second season whilst it was the right idea I think perhaps the sort of the notion of it the experience it could have been I think dramatically you could have pushed him a bit further and explored it a bit more on some level you know so to be back in in back with the gang and back you know at war and back you know in what I believe to be a more sort of sort of true personality was was yeah was was good and and honestly just on a practical level to be back with your friends of course and not just a goat I'm like, why is there a goat?

17:25I know Yeah, but why is there a goat? I don't know You fucking better know Because there's a fucking goat walking around What does it say about somebody When they say Daemon Targaryen's their favourite character? They've got great fucking taste Right

17:44He's the face Oh, come on, man You know, Daemon's the fucking coolest character doesn't give a fuck man you know why do you i mean beyond just it being the matt smith magic why do we forgive damon well some despicable choices you think well it's a i think it speaks to a broader question like and you know just to talk about me a bit more like i um yeah and i i can compare it like i i i i played patrick bateman in a musical right and and and you know i sort of there was something the great challenge of it was going well if by the end you can go i kind of feel sorry for him there's something what a wonderful challenge and i think generally if you look at a lot of characters i've played there's a sort of not feel sorry for him but i i mean i don't know i think in in a way that's the sort of challenge and damon is for all intents and purposes he what he you know he's wrong a lot of the time but he thinks with great faith that he's making the right choice.

18:48Right. Now, that doesn't stand up, you know, a lot of bad people throughout the year, you know what I mean? Thought they were justified in their choices. Yeah, well, you know. And it's, but there's, I think in honesty, I sort of view him for a slightly more romantic lens than most. Do you view his like motives as pure when it comes to like protecting, propping up Rhaenyra? Yeah. Yeah, and that there's a sense of real destiny that he truly believes. And it's about an umbilical type of love that is in his mind, you know. And now that's not to say that you can forgive his behavior, but it's just interesting because it's like, you find yourself literally defending these people, you know, because, and a lot of the stuff they do is indefensible, but it's your job in a way to sort of do that, Totally because you're protecting them and you're fighting for them and you're spending little years in the mud with goats Yeah thinking about them.

19:46I know and also that's when they're at their best You know and that is my thing with Damon. I'm always I'm always trying to encourage the people I'm going let's push him Let's make him the worst version he can be right actually it's interesting because like when I talked to Emma about Going into this season before you guys had shot this they spoke about their character in the similar ways like wanting to kind of like there's so much goodwill towards Rhaenyra now but like how much can they push that goodwill with bad actions I think it's like intrinsic to any actor you want to kind of test the audience and see how much you can kind of yeah has their limits yeah and also yeah exactly and that's why that's that's I think you've just answered it it's intrinsic to every action where you want to and then and push your own limits as well.

20:30Right. As a performer, think, you know, you want to, what's that line? It's Jack Nicholson. Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight? In Batman. And it's basically, you know, it was that. I got that line in Morbius, by the way. And they fucking cut it out. I improvised that line. I was like, come on, let's nick that from Big Jack. And they cut the fucker out. Can you believe me? That was the problem with the movie. That was it. That would have just changed the whole damn thing. Jesus Christ. More shirtless Matt Smith dancing. Yeah. Was that your idea too? That scene? Yeah. Can we?

21:12Well, that was basically, we came back months later and they were like, well, I don't know this. Why don't we whack your top off and get you to dance in the mirror? And I was like, cool. Okay. Yeah, let's go. Amazing. We'll be right back with more Happy, Sad, Confused. Sierra has all the best active and outdoor brands you need. From athletic stuff, like a full-court pick-up game, SWISH! To athletic-ish stuff, like a half-mile stroll. Get those steps in! And for morning hikes up the mountain trail, good pace! To nighttime ghost stories from the camping chair. What a twist! Whatever level of active, Sierra loves it all.

21:57Head to Sierra or Sierra.com for the brands you want at the prices that let you do it all. From athletic to athletic-ish, Sierra's got it. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Listening to this podcast instead of doom scrolling? Smart move. Another smart move? Getting help from one of State Farm's 19 ,000 local agents when you choose to bundle home and auto. Bundling. Just another way to save with the personal price plan. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings And eligibility vary by state

22:36I like being in the blood And the mud Do you? Yeah, yeah, yeah I think there's something I don't know There's something about it I'm always like more blood More blood Like my idea for this The opening shot of episode one Was I just saw him covered in blood To go And then the audience go yes we're back yeah that's who I know you know what I mean well it's like I'm in I'm in a tv show but I'm in the movies I'm like I'm doing the thing it's like you know what I mean like putting on the armor putting in the blood the wigs it's like this is what we all grew up thinking it was exactly yeah exactly again to go back to Jack Nicholson you just want to be white paint with a get a blaster on your thing walking in and like we get a little prince going yeah exactly I mean the physicality obviously is important to Damon.

23:26Do you get as much satisfaction out of a successful action sequence as a meaty speech in House of the Dragon? Yeah, yes, I think you do. I think what's sort of interesting about it is one of the challenges in that stuff is sort of being, because I'm quite a physical person generally and I'm quite a physical actor I would say, And and sometimes it's hard. I sound like I'm moaning here But I'm always trying to get out of the armor in a way because then you can see the body Do you know I mean then you can feel the sort of person But sometimes when you're in that it's it's it's kind of hard to sort of Tell a story with your body in in the armor, but I think there is great You know he see it's it's yeah, there's there's a good there's a pleasure in doing that stuff.

24:10Well, absolutely So what is what is your relationship with like you've dealt with fandoms before over the years? Yeah, and like it must be unusual most fascinating when actors are in something where You can't possibly know as much about Game of Thrones than many of the people that come up to you that have like lived and breathed Oh, I absolutely don't Yeah, is that an is that an unusual place to be where people come up to you and maybe reference things that you don't even know No idea of yeah, no, no, it's not actually um because I mean you know I've done it with a lot of things I've been in I was I mean I'd never seen an episode one single episode of Doctor Who before I got it but then I watched them all and I sort of fell in love with Doctor Who and but the lore of that is so great as well and it was I mean I'd watch Game of Thrones but I haven't consumed all of the literature and I think it's amazing people that have I mean my friend Scarlett she's she's 21 now and I've known her since she was a little girl.

25:07And she's, you know, there's a kind of writer friend of mine, a great writer called Simon Stevens, and it's his daughter. And she's consumed everything. And I bring her to the set, and she's like, well, that's not right. And you shouldn't be doing that. And do you know what's happening next year? And I'm like, oh, really? But she's literally all of it, like every novel. She's your tech advisor? Pretty much, yeah. So we know there's this season, eight episodes of this season. Yeah, and there's one more season so it's that's kind of a go luxury as an actor to kind of know the endpoint and the creators to kind of build towards This end.

25:40Yeah, and again reading George R Martin's work. It's out there. We know yes, simply where what happens Yes, like have you talked to Ryan the showrunner the writers about sort of like how much it's gonna line up with what? Don't tell me nothing man because I mean what's what's interesting is like, you know, it's gonna happen But you don't know what strand they're gonna choose right? Do you know I mean and they could they could They could take a story any which way they want to, to be honest with you. And so, you know, ostensibly I know where it's going, but I don't know the story that they want to tell about Damon.

26:15Is there anything before all is said and done that you are advocating for to do as Damon? Yeah, yeah, there's quite a lot that I would like to happen, but I'm not in control, sadly. Sometimes I know which ways I'd like to take it, of course, yeah. Can you hint at anything that you'd like to see? You're not in control so it doesn't matter if it happens or not. Yeah, I know well Yeah, I mean but I mean also in in terms of tone of character sometimes Yeah about going well, how do you see him and how do I see him and how do you know? But you know the truth is that that's that's that's not my job Right on this much as I would like to influence that it isn't it's um That's that's up to the guys who write it and and and and it's it's their story to tell All right, so let's go go backwards now.

27:02We have the luxury of time You're probably the most interesting Matt Smith ever like your your name is the least interesting thing about you. Yes There is you know, there's this thing in England There's this place called England You're from England? Yeah, I'm from England. It's a it's another country And there's this thing called equity where so if you're an actor and you're called Matt Smith and there's another Matt Smith, when you join Equity, you're not allowed to call yourself Matt Smith. I'm just trying to get my name into every sentence that I say. So there was this other Matt Smith who's a TV presenter, a sports presenter, a football presenter of all things, the bastard.

27:43And so then they were like, well, you've got to, you know, change your name to like, that's why people change their name. Sure. And I was like, well, I'm not changing my name. So I just didn't join for years. But then it wasn't part of the union and blah, blah, blah. But so thank you. There was no alternate name You consider just to differentiate yourself because that's my name. What would I be like? Yeah, Matt power He's an adult film No, I just think wasn't that didn't home a change his name to max power once Homer Simpson did he did he did climb the mountain do you have any nicknames do people just call you man?

28:16Yeah, I've got a few What do you got? Smithy? Well, there's you know some I can name some I can't But you know, I'm from a kind of friendship group where we have multiple nicknames Do you know I mean people have got like four or five? Yeah, and I've got quite quite a few actually Yeah Okay Well our conversations often devolve into talking about movies because you're a cinephile like me and we were similar ages I mean we just did that. We just basically did a podcast in there We cast the new James Bond. We basically bat around every potential name. Oh my god The people are back you're the only one that sees that i don't know what you're talking about so what were did you have any movie posters on your wall as a kid did you yeah i had the mask because i was um i was obsessed with cameron diaz getting out the car she was my like super powerful yeah and then um i mean i was i was obsessed with like i start there was this shop this local shop and you could go and you could rent movies out and so i would go and i used to I was obsessed with kind of kung fu movies.