Inside Lily James and Matt Smith’s split: Differing views on marriage and his flirty friendships

Matt Smith and Lily James’ differing views on marriage and children have emerged following news of their split.

The couple of five years have reportedly called time on their romance amid a flurry of rumours about the Doctor Who actor’s flirty friendship with his female co-stars and their hectic work schedules.

Both stars have previously been candid about their plans for the future, but while Matt. 37, gushed in 2018 that he was ‘thinking about kids quite a lot,’ Lily admitted she’s ‘gone through different phases of wanting and not wanting to get married. 

Matt told Desert Island Discs in 2018: ‘I am thinking about kids quite a lot. I’d like a lot of them. A lot of my friends are having children and, dare I say, I think I’d be quite a good dad.’

He also previously said that the purpose of life is to ‘procreate’, explaining ‘for me it’s my family and friends, getting involved. Taking risks, not looking back. Laughing as much as you can. I don’t know. Who knows?’

‘Every day unveils something different. But children and family are what I’d put at the top of that list.’ He also said: ‘Essentially, the purpose of us all is to procreate.’ 

Lily though has been open about her changing views on settling down, admitting in January 2019: ‘I’ve gone through different phases of wanting and not wanting to get married. I don’t know where I sit with it now. What matters is the relationship and how you feel about each other. 

Distant: Lily and Matt were pictured having a tense lunch in London on Tuesday, their first public outing in four months with insiders saying they split a few months ago

‘I come from the most incredible family, so that means a lot to me. Eventually, sharing your life with a family is the most important thing.’ 

Lily and Matt were pictured having a tense lunch outing at The Spaniards Inn in Hampstead, London on Tuesday – their first public outing in four months. 

Reports have emerged the couple split a couple of months ago after tensions grew due to their busy workload and a growing discomfort over Matt’s close friendships with his female co-stars. 

‘Things haven’t been right for a while, and a few months ago they decided to finally end it properly,’ a source told The Sun on Tuesday.   

‘It has been difficult because they have many mutual friends, so hopefully it will all stay civilised. But for now the relationship is formally off.’

Differing views? Both stars have previously been candid about their plans for the future, but while Matt. 37, gushed in 2018 that he was ‘thinking about kids quite a lot,’ Lily admitted she’s ‘gone through different phases of wanting and not wanting to get married

Co-stars: The couple reportedly split a couple of months ago after tensions grew due to ‘workload and a growing discomfort over Matt’s close friendships with his female co-stars’ – he was said to be being supported  by pal Claire Foy in the wake of the split [pictured last year]

On screen: Matt starred as a young Prince Philip in the first two series of The Crown alongside Claire who played Elizabeth II

The insider added the ‘relationship had been under strain for some time and there were rows about their schedules which meant long periods away from each other – and often close to other stars’. 

In an interview with Marie Claire Australia in 2018, Lily talked about her and Matt’s parallel lives, admitting that she was desperate to take ‘a few months where I go travelling and just switch off.’ 

‘When you’re an actor, its like, ‘you’ve got to keep the momentum up.’ And I’m like, ‘No!”

Secret split? ‘Things haven’t been right for a while, and a few months ago they decided to finally end it properly,’ a source told The Sun 

‘You have to trust that things won’t go away if you stop for a bit. I haven’t really stopped, and I don’t think that’s a feasible way to work. For me, eventually, that’s not the lifestyle I want.’ 

She added: ‘That’s not only with regards to my relationship with Matt, but with my friends and family. There’s so much you miss. That’s why I know I can’t keep working at this intensity. I finish a job; Matt starts one.’ 

It had also been alleged Doctor Who star Matt was leaning on his Crown co-star Claire Foy, 35, for support in the wake of split rumours.  

Good night? Matt was drowning his sorrows on Tuesday night as he partied with pals including Rita Ora at Laylow in Notting Hill, looking worse for wear as he headed home in a taxi

Partying: Matt failed to raise a smile as he partied with Rita at Vas J Morgan’s birthday bash

Matt, who starred as a young Prince Philip in the first two series of The Crown was rumoured to have been supported by Claire (who played Elizabeth II), as speculation over the state of his and Lily’s romance swirled. 

Foy has been single since splitting from her actor husband Stephen Campbell Moore, the father of her daughter Ivy-Rose, in 2018. 

Matt and Claire 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.

New pal: Matt and Lily’s meeting came after Lily was seen enjoying the company of actor Max Ianeselli as they exited the star-studded Giorgio Armani Fashion Awards after party At Harry’s Bar in Mayfair, London together on Monday

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, Claire gushed of the actor: ‘To me, Matt is my friend and we acted together, as opposed to me seeing him as Prince Philip.

Shock: Lily is said to have been left ‘shell-shocked’ by the split, with onlookers at last weekend’s British Independent Film Awards saying the actress looked ‘visibly shaken’

‘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. 

Lily is said to have been left ‘shell-shocked’ by the split, with onlookers at last weekend’s British Independent Film Awards saying the actress  looked ‘visibly shaken’ and ‘as though she was putting on a brave face’.

Brave face: On fellow guest said that the actress at one point broke off a conversation with Kristin Scott Thomas — who she had presented with an award — to compose herself

On fellow guest told The Sun that the actress at one point broke off a conversation with Kristin Scott Thomas — who she had presented with an award — to compose herself in the toilets. 

‘Lily was re-doing her eye make-up and just looked like she was a bit shell-shocked,’ claimed the onlooker.

‘At one point during a conversation she sort of glazed over and then apologised saying she had a lot on her mind.

‘She doesn’t know what to believe — she still loves Matt of course, but it has been a very difficult period for her.’ 

Difficult: ‘She doesn’t know what to believe — she still loves Matt of course, but it has been a very difficult period for her,’ said the source