House of the Dragon star Matt Smith was photographed enjoying a pub outing in North London with fashion designer Jessica Horwell, sparking widespread romantic speculation across the British press following a relaxed evening at The Flask pub in Highgate on Friday, August 7.
The Bottom Line:
- Matt Smith was photographed with fashion designer Jessica Horwell at The Flask in Highgate on Friday, August 7.
- Neither Smith nor Horwell has confirmed a relationship, and both have maintained a private approach to their personal lives.
- The sighting arrives immediately following the finale of HBO’s House of the Dragon, where Smith stars as Daemon Targaryen.
Inside the Highgate Pub Sighting
The 43-year-old English actor was spotted sitting closely with Jessica Horwell, the creative director and designer behind the luxury label Hardware LDN. According to published photographs from the outing, the pair shared drinks, and Smith was seen wrapping his arm around Horwell and pulling her in for a warm embrace while accompanied by his dog, Bobby.
Despite the intimate nature of the photographs, neither party has issued a public statement or confirmed whether they are in a relationship. Smith has a history of keeping his romantic life relatively shielded from public view, though his relationships frequently attract intense media scrutiny.
Prior to this sighting, Smith’s romantic life has seen connections to several high-profile figures in the entertainment industry. In the summer of 2025, he was linked to actor Emma Laird, and in January 2025, photographs captured him kissing Jessica Felix in Rio de Janeiro. His most high-profile long-term relationship was with actor Lily James, whom he met on the set of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies in 2014 before their final split in the fall of 2020. Past media reports have also romantically linked him to Billie Piper, Mayana Moura, and Daisy Lowe.
Parallel Lives in Royal Costumes
While his personal life captures weekend tabloid space, Smith’s professional trajectory remains anchored in playing complex, high-status men who chafe under royal authority.
| Series | Character | On-Screen Partner | Key Accolades |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Crown (Netflix) | Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh | Claire Foy (Queen Elizabeth II) | Primetime Emmy Nomination (Outstanding Supporting Actor) |
| House of the Dragon (HBO) | Prince Daemon Targaryen | Emma D’Arcy & Milly Alcock (Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen) | Critics’ Choice Nomination |
According to ScreenRant, House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal noted in 2022 that Smith was the only actor seriously considered for the role of Daemon Targaryen, a casting choice directly inspired by Smith’s tempestuous, Emmy-nominated work as Prince Philip in the first two seasons of Netflix’s The Crown.
Both characters occupy the difficult position of the royal consort, playing second fiddle to reigning queens while harboring personal ambitions to rule. But the narrative destinations diverge significantly. While the real Prince Philip remained married to Queen Elizabeth II for 73 years until his death at age 99, Daemon Targaryen operates within the violent, high-stakes medieval world of Westeros.
Streaming Stakes and Franchise Momentum
The timing of Smith’s public outing aligns with a critical juncture for Warner Bros. Discovery and its flagship streaming service, Max. The season of House of the Dragon concluded its run on August 9, with HBO having already renewed the fantasy epic for a fourth season.
Whether this latest chapter in Smith’s private life develops into anything long-term remains to be seen.
