Matt Smith has revealed that he owes “a great debt” to Doctor Who fans for supporting his subsequent success.

The actor bowed out as the Eleventh Doctor in 2013 and has since gone on to enjoy a string of high profile roles, including his latest appearance in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, released in cinemas this week. Promoting the film, the former Time Lord affirmed that he isn’t “trying to actively shed” his association with the world’s longest running sci-fi franchise. “Doctor Who was always going to sit on my ether for a bit,” he said. “But it’s something that I’m very proud of.”

He continued: “The Who fans are wonderfully loyal and that character was a fantastic part, one that has been played before but allowed me to reinvent. So I will be forever grateful.”

You will also be able to catch Matt on Netflix later this year when he takes on the guise of Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, in the original 10-part period drama “The Crown”.

Matt Smith’s latest role has been revealed by Deadline.

The Eleventh Doctor actor will be starring in a new biopic as Robert Mapplethorpe, the avant-garde photographer known for his black and white nude portraits who died of AIDS in 1989, aged 42.

The film – simply titled “Mapplethorpe” – will be directed by Ondi Timoner when filming begins in the summer. Zosia Mamet co-stars as singer-songwriter Patti Smith, Mapplethorpe’s one-time lover and best friend.

Are you looking forward to seeing Matt take on his new project? Speaking of which, he’ll be coming to a big screen near you next month in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, while the new drama The Crown, in which he stars as the Duke of Edinburgh, will be arriving on Netflix later this year. He will also appear in Patient Zero, coming to cinemas in September.

Matt Smith has shared his reaction to the news that Steven Moffat will be stepping down as Doctor Who’s showrunner at the end of the next series.

The Eleventh Doctor actor helped Moffat to relaunch the show following the departure of David Tennant and Russell T Davies in 2009, and told The Anglophile Channel that he still feels “very privileged” to have been given such a once in a lifetime opportunity. “Steven pretty much is Doctor Who, so I’m sad he’s leaving,” he said. “He’s done so much for the show, and for me, but it will always endure.”

He continued: “There’s a wonderful writer starting, and it’s always been about reinvention.”

Steven’s last Christmas Special will air in December followed by Series 10 in spring 2017, after which Chris Chibnall will take over the reigns for Series 11, set to hit our screens in 2018. Read the full press release and share your own thoughts in our dedicated poll, here.

Matt is currently promoting his new film Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, in which he stars as Mr Collins, ahead of its international release into cinemas on 5th February 2016.

Matt Smith has revealed that he’ll be “ever grateful” to Doctor Who for launching his acting career.

The actor, who played the Eleventh Doctor from 2010 to 2013, stars in Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut, Lost River, which is currently in cinemas, and he’ll soon be on the big screen again in the new Terminator Genisys film. He has credited his TARDIS tenure for his subsequent success.

“It changed my life,” he told the Independent. “I wouldn’t be here without it. It was time to find new challenges.”

Have you seen Matt in Lost River? Are you looking forward to Terminator? Comment below!