Matthew Goode

Last updated on the 9 May 2025 by Maeve

Mini Biography

Born: 3 April 1978, Exeter, Devon, England.

Matthew Goode was raised by his mother, Jennifer, a nurse, after his parents divorced when he was young. He has four siblings, including a half-brother who is also an actor. Goode received his education at Exeter School, an independent school for boys, before furthering his studies at the University of Birmingham, where he studied drama. He later trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Matthew Goode embarked on his acting journey in the early 2000s, securing roles in various television films and series. He gained wider recognition for his performance as Ben Calder in the romantic comedy Chasing Liberty (2004) alongside Mandy Moore. This early role contributed to establishing his on-screen persona as a charismatic leading actor. He further solidified his presence in film with roles in Woody Allen’s Match Point (2005), the historical drama Copying Beethoven (2006) and the period romance Brideshead Revisited (2008).

His career has also flourished in television. Goode starred as Henry Talbot in the critically acclaimed period drama Downton Abbey (2014-2015), a role that introduced him to a global audience. He also took on the role of Finn Polmar in the legal and political show “The Good Wife”, appearing between 2014 and 2015. More recently, he has garnered significant praise for his portrayal of Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, in the Netflix historical drama series The Crown (2017-2018), for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. His diverse roles in both film and television have established him as a respected and sought-after actor.

In his personal life, Matthew Goode has been in a long-term relationship with Sophie Dymoke since 2007. Dymoke, a fashion sales director, and Goode have three children together: two daughters and a son. They have chosen to keep their personal life relatively private, residing in Surrey, England.

Suggested viewing

Dept. Q (2025)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.7

In Edinburgh, a newly formed cold case unit takes on the city’s most baffling unsolved murders. Led by a tenacious but troubled detective, the team dive into the dark and complex histories of these forgotten crimes. As they unearth long-buried secrets and confront dangerous truths, they strive to bring closure to the victims and their families.

Top cast: Matthew Goode, Kelly Macdonald, Chloe Pirrie, Alexej Manvelov, Leah Byrne, Mark Bonnar, Jamie Sives, Shirley Henderson.

Brideshead Revisited (2008)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 6.7

An impressionable young man from a modest background becomes entangled with a wealthy and eccentric aristocratic family during his time at Oxford. His initial fascination with their opulent lifestyle and a close friendship with the charming heir evolve into a complex web of desire, faith and social class, ultimately shaping the course of his life against the backdrop of a changing England.

Top cast: Matthew Goode, Felicity Jones, Greta Scacchi, Jonathan Cake, Michael Gambon, Ben Whishaw, Hayley Atwell, Emma Thompson.

The Crown (2016)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 8.0

This historical drama chronicles the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, from her unexpected ascension to the throne in the aftermath of World War II through the challenges and triumphs of subsequent decades. It explores the intricate personal and political relationships within the royal family and the evolving role of the monarchy in a changing world, revealing the human drama behind the crown.

Top cast: Jeremy Northam, Matt Smith, Claire Foy, Helena Bonham Carter, Olivia Colman, Vanessa Kirby, Victoria Hamilton, Matthew Goode (S2).

A Discovery of Witches (2018)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.8

A historian’s discovery of a bewitched manuscript plunges her into a hidden world of supernatural beings. Drawn into a forbidden alliance with a mysterious vampire, she must embrace her own magical heritage to unravel the book’s secrets and confront the dangers that threaten their existence.

Top cast: Valarie Pettiford, Louise Brealey, Aiysha Hart, Teresa Palmer, Owen Teale, Alex Kingston, Malin Buska, Matthew Goode.

Downton Abbey (2010)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.7

Set in an Edwardian country estate, this period drama follows the lives of an aristocratic family and their servants. As they negotiate societal shifts, personal dramas and historical events, the intricate hierarchy and interwoven destinies of those above and below stairs are revealed, showcasing love, loss and the changing face of Britain.

Top cast: Brendan Coyle, Michelle Dockery, Hugh Bonneville, Phyllis Logan, Maggie Smith, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter, Matthew Goode (S.5-6).

The Imitation Game (2014)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.9

During World War II, a brilliant but socially awkward mathematician leads a team in cracking the German Enigma code. Facing immense pressure and personal struggles, their groundbreaking work significantly shortens the war, yet his own wartime contributions and personal life are tragically kept secret due to prevailing societal prejudices.

Top cast: Matthew Beard, James Northcott, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rory Kinnear, Keira Knightley, Allen Leech, Charles Dance, Matthew Goode.

Death Comes to Pemberley (2013)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.1

In this gripping mystery set in the world of “Pride and Prejudice”, Elizabeth and Darcy’s idyllic life at Pemberley is shattered when a shocking murder occurs on their estate. As secrets unravel and reputations hang in the balance, they must confront dark truths and untangle a web of intrigue before justice is served.

Top cast: James Norton, Matthew Goode, Nichola Burley, Eleanor Tomlinson, Matthew Rhys, Jenna Coleman, Trevor Eve, Anna Maxwell Martin, Tom Ward.

Full filmography @ Wikipedia