1976–1992: Early life

Smart was born March 26, 1976,^[2][3] in Los Angeles, California,^[2][4] and raised in Topanga Canyon.^[5] Her mother, Judy Lysle (née Carrington), worked at a museum, and her father, John Boden Smart, was a salesman. She studied ballet for ten years,^[6] and graduated from Palisades Charter High School.^[7]

1993–2003: Modeling and film beginnings

While modeling in Milan, Italy,^[8] Smart met fellow model Ali Larter and the two "became instant friends", according to Larter.^[9] In Los Angeles, they took acting classes together.^{[citation needed]}

After appearing in the video for The Lemonheads' "It's About Time" in 1993, Smart's first film role was in director Martin Kunert's Campfire Tales, followed by a small role as Queenie in the 1996 adaptation of John Updike's short story "A&P". She had a minor role in Paul Verhoeven's science fiction thriller Starship Troopers (1997) as a copilot,^[10] and a starring role in the miniseries The 70s, playing a young woman from Ohio. In 1999, Smart played the girlfriend of a popular American football player in the film Varsity Blues, reuniting her with Larter.^[11] Also in 1999, she appeared in the film Outside Providence.

From 1999 to 2001, Smart played Ruby, a recurring character on the series Felicity. She costarred in the films Road Trip (2000), Rat Race (2001),^[12] Starsky & Hutch (2004),^[13] and the science fiction drama The Butterfly Effect (2004).

In 2003, Smart had a small role in the American sitcom Scrubs, playing Jamie Moyer.^[11]

2005–2013: Studio films and television

In 2005, Smart co-starred with Ryan Reynolds in the romantic comedy film Just Friends, playing the high school friend of a previously overweight young man who, years later, returns to her hometown and attempts to confess his love for her. The film was a box office hit, grossing over $50 million worldwide.^[14] Also in 2005, she starred as Sarah in the British independent film The Best Man with Seth Green. She had a lead role in the independent drama Bigger Than the Sky (2005), a loose adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac.^[15]

Smart appeared in the 2006 action thriller film Crank. She reprised the role in the sequel, Crank: High Voltage, released in 2009.^[16]

Smart was a regular cast member in the short-lived 2006 CBS television series Smith, playing a professional burglar.^[8] She has also voiced characters in the animated series Robot Chicken, created by Seth Green. Smart appeared as Joy in the 2006 sports drama Peaceful Warrior, about a gymnast whose life changes after an encounter with a spiritual guide.^[17] She starred as Melissa in the 2008 independent horror film Seventh Moon,^[18] and had a supporting role in Alexandre Aja's supernatural thriller Mirrors (2008).^[19]

In March 2011, Smart joined the Showtime comedy-drama Shameless as recurring character Jasmine Hollander.^[20] She continued to guest star in season two. On September 20, 2011, Smart married TV carpenter Carter Oosterhouse from the U.S. cable channel HGTV, in Traverse City, Michigan.^[21][22]

2014–present: Television and independent films

In 2014, Smart appeared in the Tyler Perry comedy The Single Moms Club, followed by the thriller Hangman (2015). In 2016, she appeared in a supporting role in the television film Sister Cities (2016).^[23] She also appeared in two episodes of the IFC series Maron (2016), portraying Nina.^[24]

On December 26, 2016, Smart's daughter, Flora, was born via a surrogate; she revealed this publicly in 2017, explaining that she struggled for years trying to conceive, writing: "After years of fertility struggles I give thanks today to our kind, loving surrogate for carrying her."^[25]

In 2019, Smart was cast to play Barbara Whitmore in the DC Universe/The CW superhero drama television series Stargirl, a role she has played from 2020 to 2022.^[26]

Film

Television