14 Tales From The History Of Doctor Who From William Hartnell To Jodie Whittaker
3. Introducing Professional Footballer Matthew Smith As 'The Doctor'
When Matt Smith took on the role of the Eleventh Doctor, he was only twenty six, making him the youngest actor by three years to be cast in the lead role. Yet somehow, with arguably the least amount of experience in terms of years under his belt, he managed to present a version of The Doctor who was young and old simultaneously.
Acting had not always been his dream though. In the episode The Lodger, The Doctor shows off some talent on the football pitch that hadn't previously been known.
Smith grew up in Northampton and had dreams of being a professional footballer. A serious injury killed that dream however, and he fell into the back-up plan of acting - an industry notoriously known for not being the fall back choice of a career.
Smith made such an impact on audiences in the role that a scene was added to Peter Capaldi's first episode with a cameo by the Eleventh Doctor, asking both Clara (and the audience) to be kind to the new incarnation.