“I worry everything’s being dialled and dumbed down”: Matt Smith isn’t Afraid to Let His Inner Daemon Get Out as House of the Dragon Star Can’t Stand Cancel Culture

Matt Smith has carved out a truly distinctive career, frequently stepping into the shoes of characters with questionable morals. If he had a nickel for every morally ambiguous role he’s played, he’d be rolling in change. It’s clear these complex, flawed figures are his bread and butter, and he loves bringing them to life on screen.

House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 6. Photograph by Liam Daniel| Credits: HBO.

However, Smith has voiced his frustrations with today’s cancel culture, feeling that these rich, provocative characters are being muzzled and not allowed to fully come alive. Now that he’s hitting a wall with the heavy-handed censorship of modern times, he is undeniably frustrated, especially when he wants his characters to run wild and free.

Why Always Psychos? Matt Smith’s Psyche Behind Choosing Psycho Characters

In a recent interview with The Times, Matt Smith, the standout star of House of the Dragon, shed some light on his career, a career that, upon closer inspection, reveals a rather intriguing pattern.

From grumpy Richard in Starve Acre and alcoholic misogynist Bunny in The Death of Bunny Munro to the troubled Prince Philip, Daemon Targaryen, and even Patrick Bateman in the 2013 stage production of American Psycho, Smith has a knack for playing “messed-up” characters.

While some might find this a tad concerning, others would crown him a gem of an actor. After all, it takes next-level talent to bring such complex characters to life and truly do them justice! Regarding his project choices, he said,

I don’t think I’ve equated it to that, but I was doing too little, So I decided not to worry. After Doctor Who, which is a family show, I actively played messed-up people. Choices were based on, ‘What is the flip here?’ But I’ve worked lots this year because I chose to say yes to things, stop second-guessing.

Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon | Credits: HBO

People definitely have a soft spot for a good villain, or even just “colorful characters” and Matt Smith delivers plenty of those both on screen and on stage. However, he prefers these characters to run wild and free, believing that for a story to truly resonate, it needs to let its characters breathe. Unfortunately, according to Smith, today’s climate makes this increasingly difficult, putting a serious damper on his dramatic flair.

Matt Smith Feels Trigger Warnings and Story Policing Are Squeezing the Fun Out of Art

When it comes to today’s censorship and cancel culture, Matt Smith argues that his characters are the ones who really suffer. While they might not be the nicest folks, he insists that for his magic to truly shine on screen, his characters need to be left alone.

According to Smith, it’s essential for them to be uncomfortable and provocative, anything less just isn’t fun. He’s not shy about pointing out that policing series and trigger warnings are the culprits behind ruining the excitement and edge that make his roles so captivating. He says,

We should be telling morally difficult stories, nowadays in particular. It’s OK to feel uncomfortable or provoked while looking at a painting or watching a play, but I worry everything’s being dialled and dumbed down. We’re telling audiences they’re going to be scared before they’ve watched something.

Isn’t being shocked, surprised, stirred the point? Too much policing of stories and being afraid to bring them out because a climate is a certain way is a shame. I’m not sure I’m on board with trigger warnings. I used to go to a local video shop and get Slither, Basic Instinct, Disclosure — all these erotic thrillers. I was way too young to be watching them. I watched Friday the 13th when I was nine. Actually, that scarred me. Absolutely ruined me.

Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon | Credits: HBO

While he’s not exactly advocating for parents to let their nine-year-olds watch Friday the 13th, Matt Smith believes that art should be experienced in all its emotional complexity, the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.

He feels that to truly savor the joy and depth a story offers, one needs to embrace its full spectrum of feelings. Unfortunately, it seems like this holistic approach to art is increasingly at odds with today’s climate. Here’s hoping people find a balance and the essence of authentic, bold storytelling is kept alive in the years to come!

House of the Dragon Season 2 is streaming on Max.