Matt Smith’s sword injury during ‘House of the Dragon’ rehearsals is a testament to his unflinching commitment to his stagecraft.

Famous for his role as the Eleventh Doctor on Doctor Who and his appearance in The Crown, Matt Smith took on the role of Prince Daemon Targaryen in HBO’s massively popular prequel House of the Dragon. Taking place 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, Smith recalled the choreography and fierce commitment that went behind his role as the Targaryen royal.
Matt Smith in House of the Dragon | Credit: HBO Entertainment
During a discussion with his co-star Fabian Frankel, Matt Smith recalled a choreographed fight sequence that they were rehearsing. Reminiscing the time from the set and the efforts that went behind his character, Smith recalled sustaining a pretty serious-sounding injury that left him bleeding.

Matt Smith Sustained a Sword Injury on House of the Dragon

Premiered in the summer of 2022, the HBO prequel series House of the Dragon is once again set to make its big return with its second season on June 16, 2024. Based on George R.R. Martin‘s Fire & Blood, the show focused on the chronicles of the Targaryen civil war, years before the events of Game of Thrones, is slated to return with Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen.

While the actor initially weathered criticism, as fans were skeptical about his capabilities to portray Daemon Targaryen, Matt Smith eventually proved to be the perfect choice to bear the Targaryen sigil and wage a handful of big battles. But in doing so, although the actor brought out Daemon’s fierceness, Smith also sustained some severe injuries that made him bleed.

Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon | Credit: HBO Entertainment
Almost taking the Targaryen sigil of fire and blood quite literally, Matt Smith revealed a particular scene from House of the Dragon that left him bloody during the rehearsals. Reacting to the very sequence from the show, in a recent video for Max, Smith spoke about the scene with co-star Fabien Frankel who played Ser Criston Cole in the HBO show.

We learnt it all at Leavesden, which is where we shoot, but we didn’t know each other. And I hit you in the face with a sword, and you were bleeding in the rehearsal. Frankel shared.

Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen | Credit: HBO Entertainment

Yeah, it was here, wasn’t it? [Points next to his left eye]. ‘Cause we were just going for it. It’s like learning a ballet, isn’t it? Just with swords. Sword ballet. Smith noted.

Looking back at their choreographed fight sequence from the show’s premiere, as Fabien Frankel and Matt Smith laughed about the accidental injury, it highlighted the complexity of the scene while pointing out how things could have gone terribly wrong. But this isn’t the only time that Smith risked his physical well-being on House of the Dragon.

Matt Smith Suffered Neck Injuries While Performing Stunts

According to Matt Smith’s discussion with THR, following the release of House of the Dragon season 1, the actor admitted injuring his neck, during one action sequence. Doing some of his own stunts for the show, Smith seemingly proved why most actors take professional help or stunt doubles for such intense scenes.

Revealing that he injured a disc in his neck while filming a stunt, Matt Smith told the outlet about undergoing physical therapy for it, long after filming had wrapped. Although the actor implied that he worked through pain to complete his portion of filming, Smith’s flawless performance in House of the Dragon allowed no evidence of injury to fans.
Matt Smith in House of the Dragon | Credit: HBO Entertainment

It’s a f***ing pain in the neck – literally, physically and metaphorically.

Despite sustaining risks and injuries through production, Matt Smith’s dedication to authenticity adds depth to the intense scenes in House of the Dragon. Eventually, the actor’s willingness to push boundaries for his role as charismatic and volatile Daemon Targaryen has garnered praise from fans and critics alike.

House of the Dragon is available on Max.