Daemon Targaryen is one of the most complex and unpredictable characters in House of the Dragon, constantly blurring the line between hero and villain. Actor Matt Smith, who brings Daemon to life on screen, is acutely aware of the challenges and appeal of portraying such a morally ambiguous figure. Over the years, Smith has built a career exploring dark, complicated characters, from the psychopathic Patrick Bateman in American Psycho to cult leader Charles Manson in the 2018 film Charlie Says, a vampire in Morbius, and the ruthless Daemon himself.
Yet he has also demonstrated his versatility with more sympathetic or nuanced roles, including Prince Philip in The Crown and biographical portrayals such as Robert Mapplethorpe and Christopher Isherwood. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Smith reflected on his career trajectory, shared insights into Daemon’s layered personality, and discussed his upcoming starring role as Russ in Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing, where he plays a latter-day punk rocker whose anarchic energy drives a darkly comic, Guy Ritchie-style caper.
Quick Read:
- Matt Smith says Daemon believes all his choices are justified and mostly on the right side
- He also said playing Daemon requires making the audience root for him despite his actions
- He noted that Daemon’s loyalties are unpredictable, and he remains unapologetic
- Emma D’Arcy said that on set, Smith is never predictable, constantly inventing and improvising on the material
Read More: Matt Smith to play a villain in Ryan Gosling’s Star Wars: Starfighter
Matt Smith talks about the complexities of Daemon’s character
Credit: Liam Daniel/HBO
In his Financial Times interview, Matt Smith discussed his approach to playing Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon, reflected on his past roles, and spoke about upcoming projects, including Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing.
On Daemon’s character, Smith emphasized the unpredictable and morally complex nature of the role. Summarizing the character, he highlighted that Daemon believes in the validity of his own choices, keeps everyone guessing, and is unapologetic. Smith said:
“You’ve got to root for them. That’s your job. Daemon thinks every choice he’s made is valid and mostly on the right side. We’re talking about one of the most morally ambiguous characters. He is a brilliant, brilliant character, you know. Because you never know what side he’s on at any point. He’s unapologetic.”
Smith’s House of the Dragon co-star Emma D’Arcy described the energy he brings to the set and how it affects their scenes together. They summarized Smith’s presence as unpredictable and electric. D’Arcy said:
“I think Matt creates that danger on screen through volatility. On set, he refuses to be predictable – he is always inventing and improvising on the material. And he’s in constant physical motion too. Until the moment the camera rolls, he’s stalking the room. There’s something of the caged animal about him. That constant disruption and unpredictability creates an electricity on set. Sharing a scene with him is the most incredible thrill – you never know what reactions that volatile element will provoke.”
Beyond Westeros, Smith is exploring diverse roles. In Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing, he stars as Russ, a latter-day punk rocker in New York, complete with a saffron-coloured mohican, army-surplus coat, and tartan trousers. Though Russ disappears for much of the story, his actions spark a darkly comic, violent chain of events. Regarding future projects, Smith added that he now wants to explore lighter, comedic roles, saying: “I want to do stuff that’s a bit lighter and a bit more madcap and funnier, really. I want to stretch my funny bones a bit.”
Read More: House of the Dragon’s Matt Smith to star in Darren Aronofsky’s upcoming film “Caught Stealing”
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