As Claire Foy and Matt Smith promoted the first two seasons of The Crown in 2016 and 2017, it was quite clear that they had become close friends while working together. They would often attend awards shows, premieres and events as each other’s dates. They seemed to have an affectionate work-wife and work-husband type of relationship and a great deal of chemistry together, on and off the set. As it turned out, Claire’s marriage to Stephen Campbell Moore was falling apart around that time, and she announced their separation in 2018. During those years, Matt Smith was with Lily James. They lived together and she seemed to think they would eventually marry, at least that’s the vibe I got from her interviews. But… it looks like Lily and Matt broke up at some point over the past three or four months. According to the Mail on Sunday, Matt and Lily haven’t been seen together since August, and Lily is currently on a girls’ trip with a friend. And… Matt and Claire have been doing a play together. I mean… is something happening?
They shared a Royal romance as the young Elizabeth and Prince Philip in the first two series of The Crown. And now close friends say that Claire Foy is providing a consoling shoulder for Matt Smith, whose relationship with his girlfriend, Downton Abbey actress Lily James, has been the subject of increasing talk among showbiz insiders. The couple have been dating for five years but have not been seen together for months, although suggestions that they have broken up are no more than unconfirmed gossip.
Smith and Foy have formed a close and mutually supportive friendship, and have been spending time together near their different homes in North London in recent weeks, a source told The Mail on Sunday. The two Crown stars recently appeared together on stage in an acclaimed production of Lungs at the Old Vic in London. The play, in which they portrayed husband and wife, required them to spend extensive time together in rehearsals and over three weeks of performances. The friends seemed to revel in each other’s company at the opening night after-party in October.
Speaking to Vogue as she promoted the climate-change drama, Ms Foy gushed of Smith: ‘To me, Matt is my friend and we acted together, as opposed to me seeing him as Prince Philip. From the inside it makes sense, from the outside, maybe not. I think the most important thing is I want to be good for Matt – and, I presume, Matt wants to be good for me.’
Around the same time, onlookers said the two stars looked relaxed and happy in each other’s company as they strolled on the streets of London, on one occasion giggling as they shared jokes. Meanwhile, Ms James has been enjoying a girls’ holiday in South Africa with her stylist friend Rebecca Corbin-Murray.
Part of me feels really sorry for Lily if this is how it happened, if Matt dumped her for Claire. Lily adored Matt and she thought they were going to be together forever. And… Matt left her for someone close to his age (Claire is 35, he’s 37) and a single/divorced mother? So on that side, I do feel for Lily. But I’m also sort of excited at the idea that Claire and Matt might be together!! Seriously, they seem so RIGHT for each other. Yes, he gives off f–kboy vibes but maybe the love of a good woman can change him, I don’t know.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
I kinda love this idea and man can she rock a red lip.
he looks like a pencil.
Yes! A pencil after it has been chewed a bit. I adore Doctor Who but he was always weird to me …
I’ve never understood the appeal of him. I find him rather unfortunate looking and was shocked when he was cast as Prince Philip. Prince Philip was a handsome young man and Matt Smith definitely not handsome. Lily can do better.
She is so pretty. Such great skin with next to no pores. It’s not acting if these co-stars again and again end up together. Those kisses and intimacy is real. Actors need to stop fooling themselves.
That photo of her touching his pocket square seems like an intimate gesture beyond colleagues. And he seems pleased too. Anyway I like them together but hope there was no cheating.
It’s like when Princess Margaret picked lint off of Captain Townsend’s jacket.
Love this comment… so appropriate.
Agree. There’s a familiarity there that extends beyond professionalism. And I get it — Actors are more physical and comfortable with each other physically, but it seems there is an intimacy here.
Yeah, i was looking through the pics thinking “just pals, just mates, just … OH NO, definitely boning.”
The actors who play Victoria and Albert are also together now. I guess playing a member of the British royal family spills over into your private life.
Sayimg that the love of a good woman can change a f-ckboy implies that there was something wrong with the woman he dated before. It’s on the man to change his ways when he is in a relationship. No one can make someone change.
This. I’ve cried many tears over men who were just awful and felt like it was my fault, when it was solely them.
Yep, that bugged me, too.
If he’s a f-ckboi, that’s on him. And I pity the women in his life if that’s the kind of person he is.
Personally, I’d never be able to get past whatever is happening with his brow. I don’t find him attractive… at ALL. He just looks so pissy.
Right? I don’t find him attractive at all either, and during some of his scenes it would strike me that he looks quite a bit like Prince Harry. Which just goes to show that facial hair was a good choice on Harry’s part. He should stick with that.
Same!
Get outta here with that talk @Oc you can’t expect men to take responsibility for themselves like they are adults with emotional intelligence and autonomy, we women just need to be trying harder!
(Because of the times we currently live in I would like to point out that the above comment is intended to be used as sarcasm and side effects include smiling, nodding and light laughter, please consult your physician if you experience any side effects not listed above)
😅
You’ve made my morning brighter with your sarcasm and fine print.
+1000 to all of this.
I agree. He’s a douchbag and so is she if he dumped Lily James for her.
I have a good guy friend who is nearly 41 and he has never had a serious relationship. He likens it to him living in a small town and I mean less than 1000 people with the nearest city being an hour away. He doesn’t move away because his family business is fairly lucrative. I know in the past he basically relies on Tinder when he travels out of town(which he does a weekend or two a month). I bring all this up because does that constitute him as a f-ckboi? We recently hung out for the first time in 4 years in august and I dunno, ever since, he sends me selfies and he seems more chatty than in the 13 years we were previously friends (I met him through my ex bf). Should I be leery? I am going back to see him in a few weeks time for New Year’s.
@Andrea I think it’s pretty unfair of someone to call him a f*ckboy just because he’s never been in a serious relationship. I’m not much younger than your friend, and I’ve never had a serious relationship. People find that weird. I have a lot of issues with commitment and trust, and that makes it really hard to find someone I want to put effort into. I think people need to stop judging others and stop putting people into blanket categories, and determine case by case on if you want to pursue somebody.
@Gingerly Thank you! I must admit, I am interested in him. We have a lot in common and it just feels right when several years ago I would have said no way. I just know so many women would bulk at his story. He is genuinely a good man and I honestly am interested in pursuing it if there is anything there.
@Andrea I think you should pursue him then! You’ll never know unless you try, and honestly even the guys with a “great” track record can break your heart. I’m sending you both good vibes!
@Gingerly Thank you soooo much!
One of my friends is (coincidentally) a 41 man who has never had a serious relationship… until recently. He is now seriously involved with a woman he adores and she adores him. They were friends for a few years before it became romantic.
@paranormalgirl This is so promising and gives me hope!
No, f—boys exist to jerk you around. Someone who’s never had a relationship, or even just someone who is straightforward about only wanting a casual physical relationship, is not a f—boy.
F—boys lie.
This guy sounds great 🙂
@Maria You gals make me smile and have made my day! 🙂
I don’t know about this…? I mean, it could be. They’ve always given me the same vibes as Emilia Clarke and Jason Momoa, in that their off-screen relationship is very fraternal. If it really is the case, though, let’s hope there was no shady business in it.
I remember Lily saying in an interview earlier this year that she wasn’t sure where she stood on marriage. Matt is heading for 40 and has often said he wants a family. They always seemed very sweet together but it’s probably not a huge surprise if they’ve broken up now after years together.
I like Matt Smith and Claire Foy as a couple — they seem well suited more than him with Lily James. There always seemed like a power imbalance or something a bit off with him and Lily. Like he held all the cards. And there were loads of rumors for years he was cheating on her with groupies. Who knows.
Well, IF he was cheating on James with fans, then he will be cheating on Foy with fans soon enough. That won’t change. Also, a celebrity who sleeps with fans shows a serious character flaw. That’s a lot. There’s a huge power imbalance, and a lot of naivety going on there. I would be turned off to find this out about any actor.
I disagree. An adult definitely doesn’t need to be protected from acting on a fantasy with a famous crush.
Maybe I’m just old now, and all my celebrity crushes are still young, but this made me laugh. Power imbalance? Not remotely. Of course, my TV boyfriends might prefer to hook up with their younger, more impressionable fans…
Well yes EM, they would. That’s what I was picturing when I wrote that.
They make so much sense together, and I remember some interviews with Claire where she said her daughter adored Matt… But I do feel for Lily….
Isn’t that Smith’s thing though, he would not move on from on relationship until he has set up another one. That is how he and James got together.
Who did he break up with to get together with Lily?
There was a gf he was with, but I don’t think she was in the industry.
I think.
Wait, am I thinking of another dude.
Think he was dating a model while he was the Doctor.
I think it might have been Daisy Lowe? They were together for quite a while.
Thank you Polly. It was Daisy, the celebutant.
He’s a serial monogamist but hasn’t yet found someone he wants to be married to. I’m curious and a bit sad cuz I actually like him and Lily together.
I don’t really buy this. They’ve been friends for years. And Claire has ben single for some time. If Matt were going to dump Lily for Claire I feel like he would have done it a long time ago. If they are dating it could simply be because they are both available now. But I still dont think they are
Yeah- it definitely seems like Matt and Lily are over, but I’m not convinced Claire had anything to do with it.
That’s my feeling too and the tabloids want to make it more salacious than it actually is.
If this is legit, then I’m on Team Lily. I’ve had a crush on her ever since her performance in the excellent BBC adaptation of War & Peace. She is such a delightful Natasha Rostova, she stole every scene she was in. I always thought she could do better than Matt Smith. Yes he’s a fine actor and brilliantly disappears into every character he plays etc, but he seems so bland & joyless next to the effervescent Ms. James.
Claire is not any less than Lily because she’s divorced and a mother. You shouldn’t hurt for Lily because she was dumped for a mom. She wasn’t. He left her (if that’s true) for someone else, her background doesn’t matter. I hate when people do this like oh he left her for someone uglier/not as smart/a mom. It literally doesn’t matter. Claire is gorgeous and talented.
THANK YOU. Exactly. I find it insulting that just because she’s a “mom” that she should somehow be disqualified/less than.
I mean. Have you seen Claire f**king Foy? She’s amazing, regardless of her marital/parental status.
SERIOUSLY. I freaking love her. I can’t imagine why Matt wouldn’t like her, too.
Loads of projecting in these comments. No one said or implied that Claire is “less than” as a human being for being a divorced single mother. However, to straight men, divorced single mothers are less desirable partners. That is a fact of the society we live in. Im not defending it or saying I agree—I certainly know who id choose between Claire and Lily; Lily is annoying, extremely up herself, and she can’t act.
Starkille it’s not written somewhere that divorced single mothers are less desirable partners to straight men. Your stating it as a fact doesn’t make it so, and bringing that up as if Lily would be justified in feeling superior to Claire … well, that’s making a lot of assumptions.
Um, I’m probably dating myself here, but can someone define “f*boy” please? My immediate interpretation is a closeted gay man… but I definitely don’t get those vibes from Matt Smith. So what does that mean?
A f**kboi is basically another way of saying a serial womaniser and cheater. I really don’t get that vibe from him at all…he seems a bit awkward and nerdy. Are people just projecting Prince Philip on him?
Yeah, I don’t get those vibes from Matt Smith either. He’s been with Lily James for years without even a hint of infidelity. Thank you for answering by the way! I appreciate it
Yeah. no, if you’ve ever read or listened to interviews with him, I don’t get those vibes from him AT ALL. I think there is a lot of projecting going on here, and indeed trying to make it a juicier gossip story.
Hey, let’s not be dragging on single mothers. That has nothing to do with whatever went down and it’s judgey and irrelevant.
I like all three of them and I wish them all the best. Sometimes, it is what it is. Life goes on.
Hum, why are people saying Matt is a f*boy? I never got that impression from him at all !
Is this a shallow comment with no basis or is there actually something to it?
Nor did I. He seems to have long term relationships with his SOs.
It’s a shallow assumption. Matt has been in two high profile long term relationships. He was with Daisy Lowe on and off for a few years and then was with Lily. I don’t get where this f*ck boi narrative has come from. He strikes me as a serial monogamist.
Spoiler alert:
The love of a good woman never changes him.
Sincerely,
A good woman
+1
A) People break up and it doesn’t have to be because of an outsider.
B) Is there something wrong with divorced Moms that it’s a step down to date them because it was implied.
C) Women and men can be friends without sex
Here to ship Richard Madden and Lily now!
isn’t that guy gay?
He seems to be fluid now, but they have good chemistry
I feel like it’s a big assumption that he left Lily FOR Claire. All we really know is that they split and now (maybe) these two are together. I guess we’ll see if any further information comes out…
Meh. Don’t get the gossip on these two. Seems like typical relationships, where couples break up and people couple up — not quite sure I buy into the “he/she cheated” angle on this story. Also, I had to Google who all these people were … I don’t do Netflix, Hulu, etc. so I’m not up to date on any of their shows.
Their chemistry though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXkTiDNLChc
Matt and Lily were seen out and about today…
I love Matt – he’s the best Dr Who. I adore Lily. I hope if they have indeed broken up that they each find the right person. I hope they don’t end up hurting each other to a point of no return.
I don’t think much of celebrities in general, but Claire seems like an exemplary human being and an absolute catch. He or any other man should be so lucky! Sorry for Lily, though; if true, it can’t be easy to break up after so long, especially after talks of marriage.