Each actor who has played the Doctor on Doctor Who had other roles before and after the show, but fans often remember them primarily as the Time Lord. Though Matt Smith is best known as the Eleventh Doctor with his signature bow tie, a little-seen sci-fi film he made right before Doctor Who called Womb (from 2010) is a fantastic, overlooked movie that really showcases his acting talent.
While Matt Smith is well-known for his role in Doctor Who, he’s also received a lot of praise for playing Prince Philip in The Crown and Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon. However, one of his strongest performances – as Tommy in the 2010 film Womb – doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Even today, Womb remains a captivating and thought-provoking movie that stays with you long after you’ve finished watching it.
Why Matt Smith’s ‘Womb’ Deserves More Love, 16 Years Later
Unlike the adventures of Doctor Who, the sci-fi series Womb tells a more intimate story. It focuses on Tommy (Smith) and Rebecca (Eva Green), childhood friends who fall in love as adults. Tommy is a passionate activist, and he often brings Rebecca with him to protests, including one against a company involved in cloning. Tragically, Tommy is struck by a car and killed during one of these events.
There’s a strange parallel between Smith’s character and the Eleventh Doctor from Doctor Who – Tommy is essentially resurrected, but remains physically identical. Rebecca then uses a biotechnology company to have a clone of Tommy, raising the clone as her son. Womb is a disturbing film, but it’s so compelling that you can’t help but become engrossed in the story. It’s particularly unsettling to watch the child listen to Rebecca tell stories about his “father” and the circumstances of his original death.
This sci-fi film gets even stranger as Tommy grows up. Throughout everything, it’s obvious Rebecca has romantic feelings for him, but it becomes truly disturbing when her teenage son physically transforms into the man she loves. While the developing attraction between them could be considered incest, the situation is complicated by the fact that a biotech company was involved in cloning, and Rebecca and Tommy aren’t actually related by blood. Most viewers find their relationship deeply uncomfortable, regardless of the technicalities.
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Even though it’s an independent film from over 15 years ago, Womb remains a truly worthwhile watch. Its unsettling story, complex characters, and stunning visuals are all exceptional. While the movie unfolds at a deliberately slow pace, this actually enhances its creepy and atmospheric feel. Womb might not be an Oscar winner, but it’s definitely a gripping film that deserves to be seen.
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2026-01-09 17:02