Matt Smith talks Daemon Targaryen role and World Cup odds before House of the Dragon season 3

British actor Matt Smith, 43, discussed his portrayal of Daemon Targaryen ahead of the third season of HBO Max’s prequel House of the Dragon, which premieres on 22 June on Sky, WOW and HBO Max. He described Daemon as “an agent of chaos”, emphasizing that the character’s core remains unchanged despite new plot twists. Smith noted the physical and mental demands of the role, including learning High Valyrian and a personal ritual of walking back and forth before intense scenes. When asked which fictional figure he would add to the Black faction’s council, he joked that Mr Burns from The Simpsons would “bring movement”. In a separate interview segment, Smith offered his World Cup predictions, naming France and Portugal as strong contenders, praising Argentina’s form, Spain’s squad depth, and saying England’s chances rest with coach Thomas Tuchel. His comments blended entertainment insight with informal football analysis.