Modeling

Smulders worked in modeling, which she later said she "kind of hated", adding that the experience made her hesitant about pursuing acting as a career: "You know, you go into these rooms, and I've had the experience of people judging you physically for so long and I was over that but, then it was like... 'Oh no, I have to actually perform. I have to do well, and I have to have a voice... and I have to have thoughts now.'"^[8]

2002–2016: Early roles and breakthrough

Smulders made her professional acting debut in 2002, with guest appearances in the UPN science fiction comedy series Special Unit 2 and the Showtime science fiction drama series Jeremiah. She subsequently made multiple appearances on television, including in the Fox supernatural drama series Tru Calling (2003), the WB superhero series Smallville (2003), and the Global space opera series Andromeda (2005). Smulders' first role as a series regular was in the short-lived 2003 ABC adventure drama series Veritas: The Quest, which ran for one season. She made her film debut in 2004 with a supporting role in the action film Walking Tall. She then had a supporting role in the 2005 comedy film The Long Weekend. That same year, she had a recurring role as Leigh Ostin in the Showtime drama series The L Word.

In 2005, Smulders was cast as television reporter and former teen pop star Robin Scherbatsky in the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother. The series concluded in 2014 after nine seasons, winning 10 Emmy Awards throughout its run.^[9] For her performance, she garnered wide recognition and earned a People's Choice Award nomination.^[10] In 2009, she appeared in the comedy film The Slammin' Salmon. She then appeared in the 2010 pilot episode of the HBO comedy-drama series How to Make It in America. In June 2010, Smulders made her off-Broadway debut in Delia and Nora Ephron's play Love, Loss, and What I Wore at the Westside Theatre.^[11] She went on to star in the 2012 political comedy film Grassroots.

Smulders gained further recognition for starring as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise, beginning with the 2012 superhero action film The Avengers. She received training from a Los Angeles SWAT team trainer to handle guns to portray the character.^[12] Smulders reprised the role in three episodes of the ABC superhero television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2015),^[13] and in the films Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).^[14][15] In 2013, she appeared in an episode of the comedy series Comedy Bang! Bang!. Smulders also starred in the romantic drama Safe Haven (2013), the comedy-drama Delivery Man (2013) and the romantic comedy They Came Together (2014).^[16] Smulders voiced a Lego version of Wonder Woman in the 2014 animated film The Lego Movie. It was the first time the Wonder Woman character had a theatrical film appearance.^[17]

In July 2015, she was reported to have exited the television film Confirmation because she had broken her leg; Zoe Lister-Jones was then confirmed to replace her in the role of Harriet Grant.^[18] In 2015, Smulders starred in the drama film Unexpected and the romantic comedy Results. She also appeared in the documentary film Being Canadian and guest starred in the NBC variety series Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris. In 2016, she appeared in the comedy-drama The Intervention starring Melanie Lynskey, Natasha Lyonne, and Alia Shawkat as well as the action adventure film Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, the latter opposite Tom Cruise. Smulders had guest voice roles in the HBO animated series Animals (2016) and the PBS Kids animated series Nature Cat (2017–2018).

2017–present: Broadway debut and other roles

In 2017 she made her Broadway debut portraying Joanna Lyppiatt in the revival of Noël Coward's comedy Present Laughter opposite Kevin Kline. Marilyn Stasio of Variety praised Smulders in the role writing, "Smulders has a graceful, Cowardian air in the role, and makes Susan Hilferty’s costumes look even more fabulous."^[19] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Smulders looks sensational; she’s the epitome of late-’30s elegance...she carries herself with poise and assurance".^[20] For her performance she was honored with a Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway debut. Her performance was filmed with Great Performances and shown on PBS.^[21]

Also in 2017, she portrayed the recurring character of "Mother", also known as Mrs. Quagmire, in the Netflix black comedy drama series A Series of Unfortunate Events, based on the book series of the same name.^[22] That same year, she appeared in the comedy films Literally, Right Before Aaron and Killing Gunther. From 2017 to 2019, she starred in the Netflix comedy series Friends from College, in the main role of Lisa Turner.^[23] In 2018, she starred in the lead role of Joanne Skye in the comedy-drama film Songbird, also alternatively titled Alright Now. The film was improvised, and shot in the course of five days.^[24] She then reprised her role as Wonder Woman in the 2019 animated sequel film The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part.

In 2019, she guest starred as Young Lucille Bluth in three episodes of the Netflix sitcom Arrested Development and appeared in an episode of the HBO anthology series Room 104. She also starred as Dexedrine "Dex" Parios, a PTSD-stricken military veteran turned private detective, in the ABC crime drama series Stumptown, which premiered on September 25, 2019 to positive reviews.^[25] She received a Critics' Choice Super Award for Best Actress in a Superhero Series nomination for her performance. The series was canceled after one season due to production delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.^[26] In 2020, Smulders starred in the romantic drama film Cicada and voiced a guest appearance in the Fox animated sitcom The Simpsons.

In 2021, she portrayed media pundit Ann Coulter in the FX true crime anthology series Impeachment: American Crime Story, which received positive reviews from critics.^[27] That same year, she had a voice role as Maria Hill in the Disney+ animated anthology series What If...?. In 2022, she reprised her role of Robin Scherbatsky in the first season finale of the HIMYM spinoff How I Met Your Father, which aired on Hulu.^[28] Also in 2022, she starred in the Amazon Freevee coming-of-age drama series High School, based on the 2019 memoir of the same name by Tegan and Sara.^[29]

In 2023, Smulders reprised her role as Maria Hill, voicing the character in the Disney Channel animated series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur and appearing in the Disney+ limited series Secret Invasion.^[30]

Charity work

Smulders filmed a public service announcement with Oceana, an international ocean-conservation organization, in 2014.^[42][43] In May 2020, she released a clip parodying "Let's Go to the Mall", a song her character performed on How I Met Your Mother, titled "Let's All Stay at Home", to encourage the public to enforce COVID-19 lockdowns. Smulders also encouraged fans to donate to Save the Children, Canada Helps and the Daily Bread Food Bank amidst the pandemic.^[44]

Film

Television