Matthew Robert Smith is an English actor. He initially aspired to be a professional footballer, but spondylolysis forced him out of the sport. After joining the National Youth Theatre and attending the University of East Anglia, Smith became an actor in 2003, performing in London theatres. In the West End, he received critical acclaim for his role in That Face (2007).

The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain (NYT) is a youth theatre and charity in London, created with the aim of developing young people's artistic skills via theatrical productions and other creative endeavours. Founded in 1956 as the world's first youth theatre, it has built a reputation for nurturing the early talent of actors such as Daniel Craig, Daniel Day-Lewis, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Colin Firth, Derek Jacobi, Ben Kingsley, Ian McShane, Helen Mirren, Rosamund Pike, and Kate Winslet. Some former NYT members went on to pursue non-acting careers, such as musicians Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Ed Sheeran.