I think Matt Smith was mis-cast as Prince Phillip. First, his face which I find sort of strange and fetal. The real Prince Phillip is handsome, with an air of bon vivant. The way Matt Smith plays him he's more like a bratty child trying to get over on his mommy, i.e., not a man with dignity who happens to be married to the Queen of England. The way he looks up at her from under those deep-set eyes is absurd.
I find it impossible not to think of him as Dr Who. Through the whole series I keep thinking, So Dr Who went back in time and married Queen Elizabeth?
sharelol... that is hilarious. Though I haven't seen Dr. Who, I can imagine how bizarre it must have seemed to have him as Prince Phillip.
shareMuch as I like Matt Smith, and actually think he is making a very good attempt at trying to be Prince Philip, I too think he is miscast. He isn't as handsome as the real Prince Philip, who really had movie star looks when he was young. (The Queen fell for him when she was only 13!) Matt Smith is also too short. I'm not usually so hung up on such things, but in this case I think it matters. (The actress playing Princess Margaret is too tall for Margaret, but it really doesn't matter in her case.)
I think it matters in the case of Prince Philip because his height enhanced his good looks and overall manliness, and emphasised how awkward and emasculated he may have felt having always to walk 5 paces behind such a small woman (the Queen is really short). The visual image of him doing this would hit home all the stronger, is they'd cast a taller actor.
But as I said, Matt Smith is doing as good a job as possible, given the physical disadvantages he has for the role, if that doesn't sound too much like a back-handed compliment.
You sound like a very nice person who doesn't want to say something negative about someone. I agree that Matt Smith actually does a good job given the role and the script. He just doesn't look the part. And maybe the script could be better, too. But as you say, the looks of whatever actor playing the part are significant, because looks were/are significant in the true story.
shareMatt isn't too short. He's about the same height of Prince Philip. You should check out the real Philip next to Michelle Obama. I thought he was fine, but I had the problem everyone else had. I thought of him as The Doctor more than the prince.
How the name, "Martha" brought out the real Batman
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This was what I was thinking the whole season. His acting was pretty good, but every time I see his face I just think of the doctor. I think if they cast another actor who acted just as well would of made the series better. Just my opinion.
shareThe casting and the series would have been improved with a bit of glamming up as with The Tudors ie Dynasty meets history!!
shareI can see why they cast him. His features are like an over-emphasised version of Prince Phillip (I don't want to say caricature). But Matt Smith is just too heavy featured. I don't think he's totally mis-cast, but I don't think he suits it perfectly either, and his performance does come over as more petulant/childish than I suspect it should (though you could put a lot of that down to script/director).
shareThough Matt Smith seems like a good guy in interviews and he was a great Doctor, I agree he was miscast. His looks are unusual...he looks like Frankstein's Monster fixed up by a plastic surgeon. There is zero chemistry between he and Foy, so there is no bite when he is forced to bow to her, or walk behind her.
shareYes, I agree that's something else that's missing. There isn't the chemistry between the two, that I believe should be there. Let's face it, the real couple have been together through thick and thin. It may not have always been plain sailing and easy, but you don't last that long without the chemistry. :-)
shareIn real life, Foy and Smith DO have chemistry, so I am not sure why it doesnt come across on screen...I think perhaps Smith is intimidated playing Philip. In an interview he said he met Prince William and William was told Smith was playing his Grandfather and to give him advice. Prince William said, "He is a legend, a legend!". I binge watched this series...I think we Americans are too depressed over the election, which explains the weak ratings. I hope the series continues...I am fascinated by their long relationship and its hard not to enjoy the pomp and glamour!
shareI suppose one of the biggest difficulties is that you're playing a real person who is still alive, but in turn very little is seen of that person in their private life. Unlike movie stars, the Royals are seen primarily at 'events'. Whether it's entertaining politicians from other countries, or state events such as memorial services and the like.
Sure, there might be a bit more of the younger generation, but Prince Phillip and the Queen are certainly people of whom we know, of their life behind closed doors, very little. So it's perhaps very difficult to play someone in that circumstance.
I'm really enjoying the series so far (though only getting to watch in 20-30 minute stints, during lunch/breakfast at the moment... I work from home, but with deadlines it's pretty much 7 days a week and evenings working at the moment! So this is my one TV vice. ;-) ). I do hope it continues, as it makes for fascinating viewing. Fills a bit of a gap now that Downton has finished as well. ;-)
There's a part of me that thinks it must be very weird for those it is made about. It's one thing making historical dramas about people who are long gone, but another making them about people who are alive, and the closer events come to the present, the more difficult it must be. I'm sure the Queen probably hasn't watched it, because even if you think it's generally positive about the monarchy, it must be strange to see/know your life and problems are portrayed on screen as entertainment. I wondered something similar about The Theory of Everything, but I suppose that was at least based on a book written by one of the two main people involved.
I think Matt is doing a great job portraying Prince Philip as best he can. His acting talent is great. To have cast someone that looked more like Philip but with awful acting chops and no chemistry with Claire Foy would have been a greater disservice!
shareThere probably was chemistry at the beginning. But that turned into 'duty', divorce being out of the question. They had separate bedrooms even before the 1982 Michael Fagan incident.
Most people of their class and generation have/had separate bedrooms. But they actually prefer to sleep together unless there is a reason not to. The Fagan incident was a good example of this - Philip's schedule for that day meant he had to be up at dawn that morning so he slept in his own room so as not to wake his wife early.
BTW, many couples do habitually sleep separately which often has more to do with getting good rest than the state of their intimacy. My husband snores while I have chronic insomnia and cannot wear earplugs. We spend each evening together in our bed, then when it is lights out time one of us moves to the guest room so we both can sleep well.
All the upper classes and aristocracy have separate bedrooms. it says nothing about their relationship. The characters have wonderful chemistry and are clearly in love, despite the conflict between them
To you, Baldrick, the Renaissance was just something that happened to other people, wasn't it?
"No sex, please, we're British." Wasn't that the name of a farce on the London theatre circuit some years ago?
Yes, I agree that's something else that's missing. There isn't the chemistry between the two, that I believe should be there. Let's face it, the real couple have been together through thick and thin. It may not have always been plain sailing and easy, but you don't last that long without the chemistry. :-)
If Prince Philip was so handsome, how did he father a child like Prince Charles who sort of looks like an unattractive troll? Is he really the father? I'd like to see that episode of Maury. ahaha
shareI was looking at recent-ish photos of the four children, along with old pictures of Prince Philip and had a similar thought as you. While I don't see any of Philip in poor Charles, the youngest, Edward, is even more unfortunate looking. Andrew got the best of the gene pool; he is a nice-looking man.
shareI think he's doing a wonderful job. I find him quite handsome and I'm not reminded of the Doctor at all, which goes towards his acting ability, and the suburb writing of the show.
If Prince Philip was so handsome, how did he father a child like Prince Charles who sort of looks like an unattractive troll? Is he really the father? I'd like to see that episode of Maury. ahaha
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Having never seen Matt Smith before, I think he's is terrifically cast and acting the part very well. See the cast's interview on Charlie Rose where Lithgow compliments him several times for his great performance. He is not as handsome as Prince Philip, but it doesn't matter. He is very charming in the role and totally believable that Elizabeth would fall for him. They do have great chemistry together. This is an exceptionally well cast show and Matt Smith is part of that.
shareI thought Matt Smith was an interesting choice to play Phillip.
If it's all the same to you, I'll have that drink now.-Loki (Marvel's Avengers)
tbh, this is the only thing stopping me from watching this show! I've noticed British TV shows often don't have a good choice of actors..dunno if it's a matter of choice or some convention they adhere to! Matt Smith is hardwired in my brain as The Doctor and it's very hard to get out of such a character..
Also,I'm sure Prince Philip was just a human and not perfect physically or anyhow as people want him to be here but still, they should've chosen a fresh face for such a historical show that could match the persona of Philip
The way Matt Smith plays him he's more like a bratty child
The way he looks up at her from under those deep-set eyes is absurd
Thanks, Delta. It's really rewarding to have someone get what I'm saying and agree. Have you seen Doctor Foster? That's a good one. Also, Scott & Bailey.
shareThe whole thing gets 1/10
better than GOT....you are nuts.
If I knew what I was doing,it would not be called research.