When Matt Smith and Emilia Clarke got together before House of the Dragon

Before we knew he was playing Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon, Matt Smith was seen out with Emilia Clarke. In hindsight, the pictures tell a new story.

Back in September 2020, rumors were swirling that Doctor Who veteran Matt Smith and Game of Thrones icon Emilia Clarke might be dating. They were spotted having dinner in London, and while they didn’t necessarily look romantically cozy, they were all smiles!

Since then, however, we learned that Matt Smith has been cast in the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon. And he’s playing a Targaryen! Specifically Daemon Targaryen, one of Daenerys’ ancestors. Looking back at those photos with this in mind makes the meeting seem less romantic and more like Smith wanted to seek out advice from the Mother of Dragons herself on how to play a member of Westeros’ first family, and maybe how to rock a platinum wig.

After all, if anyone knows how to play a complicated, ambitious Targaryen, it’s Emilia Clarke. And I’d like to think that was what their September hangout was all about. FYI, HBO had put out a casting call for the role of Daemon Targaryen around August of 2020. Perhaps Matt Smith was contacted for the role and immediately turned to Clarke for some guidance.

Whatever was happening here, we’re looking forward to seeing what Matt Smith can do as the dragon-riding Daemon. And based on the images we’ve already seen, he seems to be fitting right in.

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h/t Just Jared