Image of Yeardley Smith

Yeardley Smith

Yeardley Smith (born July 3, 1964) is a French born American actress, voice artist, writer and painter. She is best known for her long-running role as Lisa Simpson on the animated television series The Simpsons. She was born in Paris, France and moved with her family to Washington, D.C. in 1966. As a child, Smith was often mocked because of her unusual first name and her voice. She became a professional actress in 1982 after graduating from drama school and moved to New York City in 1984 where she appeared in the Broadway production of The Real Thing. Her first film role came in 1985's Heaven Help Us, followed by roles in The Legend of Billie Jean and Maximum Overdrive. She moved to Los Angeles, California in 1986 and received a recurring role in the television series Brothers. In 1987, she auditioned for a role in a series of animated shorts about a dysfunctional family on The Tracey Ullman Show. Smith intended to audition for the role of Bart Simpson, but the casting director felt her voice was too high so she was given the role of Lisa instead. She voiced Lisa for three seasons on The Tracey Ullman Show, and in 1989, the shorts were spun off into a half hour show called The Simpsons. For her work as the character, Smith received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in 1992. Alongside The Simpsons, Smith acted in the sitcom Herman's Head as Louise, and had recurring appearances as Marlene on Dharma & Greg, and Penny in two episodes of Dead Like Me. She has appeared in several films, including City Slickers, Just Write, Toys and As Good as It Gets. In 2004 Smith performed her own off-Broadway one-woman show entitled More at the Union Square Theatre in New York City. Aside from The Simpsons, Smith has recorded few voice over parts, only commercials and the film We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story. Smith starred in and served as executive producer for the independent relationship comedy Waiting For Ophelia, which had its world premiere at the Phoenix Film Festival in April 2009. Smith was married to actor Christopher Grove from 1990 to 1992 and Daniel Erickson from 2002 to 2008. She enjoys writing and painting. During the first season of Herman's Head, Smith taught herself to paint by copying other artists. She released a children's book titled I, Lorelei in 2009 and her story The Race was included in the book Just Humor Me. Description above from the Wikipedia article Yeardley Smith, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.


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Born:
Jul 3, 1964 In Paris, France
Movie/TV Credits:
56
First Appeared:
In the series ABC Afterschool Special 1972-10-04
Latest Project:
Movie The Simpsons Meet the Bocellis in Feliz Navidad 2022-12-15
Known For
Poster of The Big Bang Theory
Poster of The Simpsons
Poster of Murphy Brown
Poster of Mathnet
Filmography
Movie The Simpsons Meet the Bocellis in Feliz Navidad Lisa Simpson (voice) 2022-12-15
Movie Dear Class of 2020 Lisa Simpson 2020-06-07
Movie Gossamer Folds Phyllis 2020-09-17
Movie Love & Debt Allison Joy 2019-09-21
Movie All Square Beaches 2018-10-12
Movie Miles Mrs. Armstrong 2017-06-09
Movie Planet of the Couches Lisa Simpson (voice) 2016-10-16
Movie TV's Funniest Animated Stars: A Paley Center for Media Special Self 2015-12-07
Movie Tug Mom 2013-02-19
Movie 8 Dr. Nancy Cott 2012-03-03
Movie New Year's Eve Maude 2011-12-08
Movie The Chaperone Miss Miller 2011-02-11
Movie Virginia Mrs. Whitaker 2010-05-18
Movie High School Computer Skills Teacher 2010-06-03
Movie The Wishing Well Mary Williams 2009-12-09
Movie Waiting for Ophelia Caitlin O'Malley 2009-04-09
Series Mad Men Unknown 2007-07-19
Series The Big Bang Theory Unknown 2007-09-24
Movie The Simpsons Movie Lisa Simpson (voice) 2007-07-25
Movie Back By Midnight Veronica 2005-01-25
Movie The Simpsons: Christmas 2 2004-11-02
Series Best Week Ever Unknown 2004-01-23
Series Phil of the Future Unknown 2004-06-18
Series Dead Like Me Penny 2003-06-27
Movie The Simpsons: Christmas 2003-10-14
Movie CyberWorld Lisa Simpson (voice) 2000-10-06
Series Family Guy Unknown 1999-01-31
Movie The Simpsons: Too Hot For TV 1999-03-08
Series Sports Night Unknown 1998-09-22
Series Smart Guy Unknown 1997-03-26
Series Dharma & Greg Unknown 1997-09-24
Movie Just Write Lulu 1997-03-01
Series Teen Angel Miss Gross 1997-09-26
Movie As Good as It Gets Jackie Simpson 1997-12-19
Movie Toothless Gatekeeper 1997-10-05
Movie Jingle All the Way Woman Who Flirts with Howie (uncredited) 1996-11-21
Movie We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story Cecilia (voice) 1993-11-24
Series Likely Suspects 1992-09-11
Movie Toys Researcher Miss Drum 1992-12-18
Series Herman's Head Louise Fitzer 1991-09-08
Movie City Slickers Nancy 1991-06-07
Movie Listen to Me Cootz 1989-05-05
Movie Silence Like Glass 1989-07-06
Series The Simpsons Lisa Simpson (voice) 1989-12-17
Movie Ginger Ale Afternoon Bonnie 1989-08-25
Series Murphy Brown Unknown 1988-11-14
Series The Tracey Ullman Show Lisa Simpson 1987-04-05
Series Mathnet Jane Rice Burroughs 1987-01-26
Series Square One Television Jane Rice-Burroughs 1987-01-26
Series CBS Summer Playhouse Paula Bennett 1987-06-12
Movie Three O'Clock High Cheerleader 1987-10-09
Movie Maximum Overdrive Connie 1986-07-25
Movie Heaven Help Us Cathleen 1985-02-08
Movie The Legend of Billie Jean Putter 1985-07-19
Series Brothers Louella Waters 1984-07-13
Series ABC Afterschool Special Unknown 1972-10-04