Editing Yeardley Smith

{{Short description|American actress}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| image              = YeardleySmith2019.png
| caption            = Smith interviewed on ''The Woody Show'' in 2019
| birth_name         = Martha Maria Yeardley Smith
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1964|7|3}}
| birth_place        = [[Paris]], France
| citizenship        = United States
| occupation         = Actress
| years_active       = 1982–present
| spouse             = {{unbulleted list|{{marriage|Christopher Grove<br/>|1990|1992|reason=divorced}}|{{marriage|Daniel Erickson<br/>|2002|2008|reason=divorced}}}}
{{marriage|Daniel Grice|2022}}
}}
'''Martha Maria Yeardley Smith''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|j|ɑr|d|l|i}} {{respell|YARD|lee}};<ref name=name/> born July 3, 1964) is an American actress. She stars as the voice of [[Lisa Simpson]] on the animated television series ''[[The Simpsons]]''.

Smith began acting in 1982 after graduating from drama school.  She moved to New York City in 1984, where she appeared in the Broadway production of [[Tom Stoppard]]'s ''[[The Real Thing (play)|The Real Thing]]''. She made her film debut in 1985's ''[[Heaven Help Us (film)|Heaven Help Us]]'', followed by roles in ''[[The Legend of Billie Jean]]'' and ''[[Maximum Overdrive]]''. She moved to Los Angeles in 1986 and took a recurring role in the television series ''[[Brothers (1984 TV series)|Brothers]]''.

In 1987, Smith auditioned for the ''[[The Simpsons shorts|Simpsons]]'' shorts 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, and she was cast as Bart's sister Lisa. In 1989, the shorts were [[Spin-off (media)|spun off]] into their own half-hour show, ''[[The Simpsons]]''. For her work on ''The Simpsons'', Smith received a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance|Outstanding Voice-Over Performance]] in 1992.

Alongside ''The Simpsons'', Smith appeared in the sitcom ''[[Herman's Head]]'' as Louise, and had recurring appearances as Marlene on ''[[Dharma & Greg]]'' and as Penny in two episodes of ''[[Dead Like Me]]''. She has appeared in several films, including ''[[City Slickers]]'', ''[[Just Write]]'', ''[[Toys (film)|Toys]]'', and ''[[As Good as It Gets]]''. In 2004, Smith performed an [[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 (film)|We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story]]''. Smith starred in and served as executive producer for the independent romantic comedy ''Waiting For Ophelia'', which had its world premiere at the [[Phoenix Film Festival]] in April 2009.

==Early life==
Smith was born on July 3, 1964, in [[Paris, France]]. Her father, Joseph Smith, worked for [[United Press International]] in Paris and moved to Washington, D.C., in 1966, where he became ''[[The Washington Post]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s first official obituary editor.<ref name="Steps"/><ref>{{Cite news|title=Two in one. Yeardley Smith is behind Lisa Simpson, but up front on 'Herman's Head'|work=[[The Knoxville News-Sentinel]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-yeardley-smi/166896190/|date=February 26, 1992|author=Pickle, Betsy}}</ref> Her mother, Martha Mayor, was a [[conservation-restoration|paper conservator]] for the [[Freer Gallery of Art|Freer]] and [[Arthur M. Sackler Gallery|Sackler Galleries]] at the [[Smithsonian Institution]].<ref>Smith, Martha. "[http://cool.conservation-us.org/coolaic/sg/bpg/annual/v16/bp16-13.html Hunting for Old Paper with James McNeill Whistler] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909124907/http://cool.conservation-us.org/coolaic/sg/bpg/annual/v16/bp16-13.html |date=September 9, 2011 }}." ''The Book and Paper Group Annual''. v16 (1997). [[American Institute for Conservation]]. Accessed August 2, 2011.</ref> Smith's parents later divorced.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/18/AR2006011802475_pf.html |title=J.Y. Smith, 74; Raised Standards for Post Obituaries |last=Bernstein |first=Adam |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=January 19, 2006 |access-date=April 3, 2009 |archive-date=October 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012132001/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/18/AR2006011802475_pf.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Her maternal grandfather was art historian [[A. Hyatt Mayor]], and among her great-grandparents were marine biologist and zoologist [[Alpheus Hyatt]] and artist and sculptor [[Harriet Randolph Hyatt Mayor]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/h/huntington_ah.htm|title=Anna Hyatt Huntington Papers An inventory of her papers at Syracuse University|website=library.syr.edu|access-date=March 17, 2021|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327211346/https://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/h/huntington_ah.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1980/03/02/a-h-mayor-ny-print-curator-dies/b60f7c58-acf8-4718-b458-45f3045c6068/|title=A. H. Mayor, N.Y. Print Curator, Dies|first=J. Y.|last=Smith|date=March 2, 1980|access-date=March 17, 2021|via=www.washingtonpost.com|archive-date=November 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111010806/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1980/03/02/a-h-mayor-ny-print-curator-dies/b60f7c58-acf8-4718-b458-45f3045c6068/|url-status=live}}</ref> She is also the paternal niece of political scientist, historian, and [[Latin American studies]] specialist [[Peter H. Smith]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/joseph-smith-obituary?id=5551299 |title=Joseph Yeardley Smith |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=January 19, 2006 |access-date=July 30, 2021 |archive-date=July 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730215207/https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/joseph-smith-obituary?id=5551299 |url-status=live }}</ref> Smith has labeled her family "upper crust and reserved".<ref name=laughs>{{cite news|title='Lisa Simpson' turns insecurities to laughs|date=April 5, 2004|work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]] |first= Heidi|last=Vogt|page=3}}</ref> As a child, Smith was often teased because of her unusual voice.<ref name="love">{{cite magazine|title=Yeardley Smith Confesses: I Love Lisa|magazine=Simpsons Illustrated | volume=1|date=Spring 1992|first=L. W. |last= Michion| pages= 20–23}}</ref> Smith has stated: "I've sounded pretty much the same way since I was six. Maybe [my voice is] a little deeper now."<ref name=targum/> She made her acting debut in a sixth-grade play.<ref name=local/>

==Career==

===Early career===
Smith became a professional actress in 1982.<ref name= local/><ref name=austele/> After appearances in a number of school plays, she joined the local [[Arena Stage]] theater group on an apprenticeship, featuring in their production of ''[[Peter and Wendy|Peter Pan]]''. She went on to star in several other plays in Washington.<ref name=local/> She moved to New York City in 1984 and appeared in the Broadway production of [[Tom Stoppard]]'s play ''[[The Real Thing (play)|The Real Thing]]'' alongside [[Jeremy Irons]] and [[Glenn Close]].<ref name=love/><ref name="Town"/>

Smith's first film role came in ''[[Heaven Help Us (film)|Heaven Help Us]]'' (1985).<ref name=love/> She then played Putter in ''[[The Legend of Billie Jean]]'' (also 1985). The film was a [[box office bomb]] and critically panned, although Smith "thought it would be the movie that launched my career. And then it was out at the box office about 10 days before it died."<ref name=targum/> When filming was over, she rejoined ''The Real Thing'' before being out of work for six months. Smith worried her career was over.<ref name=love/> However, the following year, she played Connie in [[Stephen King]]'s ''[[Maximum Overdrive]]'' (1986), noting it was "truly a dreadful film, but I had a great part in it."<ref name=love/>

Smith moved to Los Angeles in 1986 on the "semi-promise" of a part in a TV film.<ref name="Steps"/><ref name=love/> After the audition, the role was given to another actress. Smith realized "that people don't mean what they say. It's not malicious. They just don't realize how much impact they have on an impressionable actor – and all actors are impressionable." From then on, she decided to "just sort of build a wall around myself", to cope with the disappointment of not getting a part.<ref name=love/> In Los Angeles, Smith appeared in theatrical productions of ''Living on Salvation Street'', for which she was paid $14 for each performance,<ref name= austele/> ''Boys and Girls/Men and Women'', and ''[[How the Other Half Loves]]'', and played the recurring role of Louella Waters on the [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] series ''[[Brothers (1984 TV series)|Brothers]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brothers on Showtime|url=http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/brothers/200260|work=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=April 3, 2009|archive-date=July 23, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723201552/http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/brothers/200260|url-status=live}}</ref> She appeared in the films ''The Legend of Billie Jean'' and ''[[Ginger Ale Afternoon]]'' (1989) as "trailer-park girls".<ref name="Steps"/> She later spoke of her regrets of appearing in the latter in her one-woman show ''More''.<ref>{{Cite web|title= "The Simpsons" Actress Yeardley Smith Brings Her More to Los Angeles|last= Hernandez|first= Ernio|work= [[Playbill]]|url= http://www.playbill.com/news/article/90684-The_Simpsons_Actress_Yeardley_Smith_Brings_Her_More_to_Los_Angeles|archive-url= https://archive.today/20120911153338/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/90684-The_Simpsons_Actress_Yeardley_Smith_Brings_Her_More_to_Los_Angeles|url-status= dead|archive-date= September 11, 2012|date= January 19, 2005|access-date= May 24, 2009}}</ref>

===''The Simpsons''===
{{Quote box |width=30em | bgcolor=transparent |align=right |quote=It's a happy fluke. When she was cast back in 1987, I just liked the sound of her voice. She's also a great actress. In general, people who make their living doing voices on cartoons aren't always great for us. Most cartoons want things peppy and cartoony. Yeardley is able to go through moments of great emotion and wring it for all she's worth.|salign=right|source=—[[Matt Groening]] on Smith's vocal style<ref name=love/>}}
Smith's longest-running role is voicing [[Lisa Simpson]] on ''The Simpsons''. She has voiced Lisa since 1987, beginning with ''[[The Simpsons shorts]]'' on ''The Tracey Ullman Show''. Smith had initially been asked to audition for the role of Lisa's brother [[Bart Simpson|Bart]], but casting director [[Bonita Pietila]] thought her voice was too high. Smith later recalled "I always sounded too much like a girl, I read two lines as Bart and they said, 'Thanks for coming!'"<ref name=austele/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1565538/20070725/story.jhtml |title='Simpsons' Trivia, From Swearing Lisa To 'Burns-Sexual' Smithers |access-date=July 29, 2007 |date=October 26, 2008 |first=Larry |last=Carroll |publisher=MTV |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220140402/http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1565538/20070725/story.jhtml |archive-date=December 20, 2007 }}</ref> Smith was given the role of Lisa, instead. She denies rumors that she almost turned down the role, though admits she had never planned a career in voice-over work.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.newshub.co.nz/entertainment/yeardley-smith-life-as-lisa-simpson-2013052413| work= 3 News NZ| title= Life as Lisa Simpson| date= May 24, 2013| access-date= September 24, 2020| archive-date= August 7, 2018| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180807185813/https://www.newshub.co.nz/entertainment/yeardley-smith-life-as-lisa-simpson-2013052413| url-status= dead}}</ref> Pietila stated that, having seen her in ''Living on Salvation Street'',<ref name=austele/> Smith was always her preferred choice.<ref name=love/> Smith lifts her voice up slightly to perform the role.<ref name=austele>{{cite news|title=She who laughs last| date= December 8, 2007| page=8E| work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)]]|first= Charles |last= Miranda}}</ref> Lisa is the only regular character voiced by Smith, although in some earlier episodes, she provided some of [[Maggie Simpson|Maggie]]'s squeaks and occasional speaking parts.<ref name=com>{{cite video | people=Smith, Yeardley|date=2007|title=Audio commentary for ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]''| medium= DVD| publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Smith has only voiced characters other than Lisa on very rare occasions, with those characters usually being some derivative of Lisa, such as Lisa Bella in "[[Last Tap Dance in Springfield]]" and Lisa, Jr. in "[[Missionary: Impossible]]" (both from [[The Simpsons (season 11)|season 11]] in 2000).<ref name=name>Smith, Yeardley. (2005). Commentary for "[[Missionary: Impossible]]", in ''The Simpsons: The Complete Eleventh Season'' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.</ref> Smith spends two days a week recording the show.<ref name=guard/>

Until 1998, Smith was paid $30,000 per episode. During a pay dispute in 1998, Fox threatened to replace the six main voice actors with new actors, going as far as preparing to cast new voices.<ref name=Glaister/> However, the dispute was soon resolved and she received $125,000 per episode until 2004, when the voice actors demanded that they be paid $360,000 per episode.<ref name=Glaister>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/02/1080544690429.html|title=Simpsons actors demand bigger share|access-date=February 10, 2009|date=April 3, 2004|author=Glaister, Dan|newspaper=The Age|archive-date=November 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116081914/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/02/1080544690429.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The issue was resolved a month later,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/simpsons-cast-goes-back-to-work/|title='Simpsons' Cast Goes Back To Work|access-date=February 10, 2009|date=May 1, 2004|work=[[CBS News]]|archive-date=November 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110113625/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/01/entertainment/main615066.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> and Smith earned $250,000 per episode.<ref name="Sheridan"/> After salary renegotiations in 2008, the voice actors received about $400,000 per episode.<ref>{{cite news | title = Simpsons cast sign new pay deal | work = [[BBC News]] | date = June 3, 2008 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7434296.stm | access-date = February 10, 2009 | archive-date = June 20, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180620154525/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7434296.stm | url-status = live }}</ref> Three years later, with Fox threatening to cancel the series unless production costs were cut, Smith and the other cast members accepted a 25% pay cut, down to just over $300,000 per episode.<ref>{{cite news|last=Block|first=Alex Ben|title='The Simpsons' Renewed for Two More Seasons|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/simpsons-renewed-two-more-seasons-245748|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=October 15, 2011|date=October 7, 2011|archive-date=January 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125073424/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/simpsons-renewed-two-more-seasons-245748|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Yeardley Smith 2012.png|thumb|Smith at the [[At Long Last Leave#Promotion|''Simpsons'' 500th Episode Marathon]], February 2012]]
Despite her world-famous role, Smith is rarely recognized in public, which she does not mind, saying, "it's wonderful to be in the midst of all this hype about the show, and people enjoying the show so much, and to be totally a [[fly on the wall]]; people never recognise me solely from my voice."<ref name="Sheridan">{{cite news|title=Meet the Simpsons|date=May 6, 2004|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|Daily Express]]| first=Peter |last= Sheridan}}</ref> In a 2009 interview with ''[[The Guardian]]'', she commented: "It's the best job ever. I have nothing but gratitude for the amount of freedom ''The Simpsons'' has bought me in my life."<ref name=guard>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jan/16/lisa-simpson-yeardley-smith-film |title= From Springfield to Tinseltown |date= January 16, 2009 |first= Lisa |last= Marks |work= [[The Guardian]] |access-date= February 16, 2009 |archive-date= October 13, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131013100608/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jan/16/lisa-simpson-yeardley-smith-film |url-status= live }}</ref>

Smith received a [[Primetime Emmy Award]] in 1992, but felt it was not worth anything, saying "there's part of me that feels it wasn't even a real Emmy." The Emmy for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance|Outstanding Voice-Over Performance]] is a [[Creative Arts Emmy Award|Creative Arts]] and not handed out during the primetime telecast and, prior to 2009, was a juried award without nominations.<ref name="Happy">{{cite news| title=She's happy as Lisa Simpson, although she'd like more d'oh |date=April 4, 2004|work=[[The Spokesman-Review]]|publisher=Associated Press|first=Heidi | last= Vogt}}</ref> However, Smith says "if I had to be associated with one character in fiction, I will always be thrilled that it was Lisa Simpson."<ref name="Happy"/> The show's creator [[Matt Groening]] has called Smith very similar to Lisa: "Yeardley has strong moral views about her character. There are lines that are written for Lisa that Yeardley reads and says, 'No, I wouldn't say that.{{'"}}<ref name=love/> Writer [[Jay Kogen]] praised her performance on the show, particularly in the episode "[[Lisa's Substitute]]", as able "to move past comedy to something really strong and serious and dramatic".<ref name=love/>

===Further career===
From 1991 to 1994, alongside ''The Simpsons'', Smith was one of the lead cast members in the sitcom ''[[Herman's Head]]'' as Louise.<ref name=local>{{cite news|title=Local actress finds a voice in 'Simpsons'|date=November 20, 1994|work=[[The Washington Times]]|first=Paul|last=Freeman}}</ref> Her other television roles include recurring appearances as Marlene on ''[[Dharma & Greg]]'', and Penny in two episodes of ''[[Dead Like Me]]''. Smith has also appeared in ''[[Phil of the Future]]'' and ''[[Teen Angel (1997 TV series)|Teen Angel]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6653|title=Development update – July 12–13|work=The Futon Critic|date=July 13, 2004|access-date=April 3, 2009}}</ref> Her one-scene role as pregnant checkout girl Nancy in 1991's ''[[City Slickers]]'' earned her "more attention than all [her] previous roles combined", and taught her "that it's far better to have small parts in big movies that everyone sees."<ref name=targum/> In 1997, she appeared as Lulu the palm reader in the independent film ''[[Just Write]]''.<ref name=targum/> Her other roles include parts in [[Barry Levinson]]'s ''[[Toys (film)|Toys]]'' and [[James L. Brooks]]' ''[[As Good as It Gets]]''.<ref name="Steps"/> Brooks, who is also executive producer of ''The Simpsons'', had cast Smith in his 1994 film ''[[I'll Do Anything]]'' (in one of the film's musical numbers), but her part was cut.<ref name=targum/> Aside from ''The Simpsons'', Smith has recorded few voice-over parts, only commercials and the film ''[[We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (film)|We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story]]''. She "had a voice-over agent for about two years, and I used to go out [on auditions] all the time, but it never really came to anything. Everybody said, 'Oh Yeardley, you'll clean up,' and that was definitely not the case."<ref name=love/>

In 2004, Smith performed her own off-Broadway one-woman show entitled ''More'' at the [[Union Square Theatre]] in New York City. Directed by [[Judith Ivey]],<ref name="More"/> the play is about her mixed feelings over the success of ''The Simpsons'', her parents, her relationships, and her struggles with [[bulimia]].<ref name="Steps">{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE7D71731F934A25750C0A9629C8B63|title=Lisa Simpson's Voice Steps Out on Her Own|author=Gates, Anita|access-date=October 26, 2008|date=March 17, 2004|work=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=August 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809003628/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/17/theater/lisa-simpson-s-voice-steps-out-on-her-own.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Happy"/> ''[[The New York Times]]'' critic Margo Jefferson called it an "appealing if overlong show", adding that "The career narrative needed shortening. This would involve some editing and revising but wouldn't taint the best parts of ''More.'' It is refreshing to hear a celebrity talk cleanly about being fame-driven and about not getting the degree or the kind of fame you craved. It's fun to watch a skilled actress use her craft to the full."<ref name="More">{{Cite web|author=Jefferson, Margo|work=The New York Times|title=Theater review; What Do I Want? It's Just One Word|url=http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?html_title=More%20(Play)&tols_title=More%20(Play)&pdate=20040325&byline=Margo%20Jefferson&id=1078134675658|date=March 25, 2004|access-date=April 3, 2009|archive-date=November 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111010809/https://www.nytimes.com/section/theater?byline=Margo+Jefferson&html_title=More+%2528Play%2529&id=1078134675658&pdate=20040325&tols_title=More+%2528Play%2529|url-status=live}}</ref> She would later perform the play for three weeks in Los Angeles the following year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Weekend/GC12Jp10.html |title=Local hero |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |last=Heffley |first=Lynne |year=2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629121817/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Weekend/GC12Jp10.html |archive-date=June 29, 2011 }}</ref>

Smith starred in and served as executive producer for the independent romantic comedy ''Waiting for Ophelia'', which was released in 2009. She funded the film, which was written by Adam Carl and based on a stage play he wrote in 2003. She said: "I loved it. I never get to play parts like that. I always play the friend of a friend, never the lead. And the script surprised me." Carl stated it was very unlikely she would recoup her money, but Smith decided she "believe[d] in this project, and my expectations have already been fulfilled by making the movie", and added: "You can support art even if it's not going to make a zillion dollars."<ref name=guard/> It premiered on April 4, 2009, at the [[Phoenix Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stars come out for Phoenix Film Festival |url=https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/get_out/stars-come-out-for-phoenix-film-festival/article_8f42f875-e088-5bde-b912-5635885d1efa.html |work=[[East Valley Tribune]] |author=Harter, Jess |date=March 31, 2009 |access-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111010756/https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/get_out/stars-come-out-for-phoenix-film-festival/article_8f42f875-e088-5bde-b912-5635885d1efa.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2011, Smith starred as Ms. Miller in the movie ''[[The Chaperone (2011 film)|The Chaperone]]'' alongside [[Triple H]] and [[Ariel Winter]].

In June 2016, the [[Human Rights Campaign]] released a video in tribute to the victims of the [[Orlando nightclub shooting]]; in the video, Smith and others told the stories of the people killed there.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hrc.org/blog/watch-49-celebrities-honor-49-victims-of-orlando-tragedy-in-new-ryan-murphy |title=49 Celebrities Honor 49 Victims of Orlando Tragedy &#124; Human Rights Campaign |publisher=Hrc.org |access-date=June 30, 2016 |archive-date=August 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823154109/http://www.hrc.org/blog/watch-49-celebrities-honor-49-victims-of-orlando-tragedy-in-new-ryan-murphy |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rothaus |first=Steve |date=June 12, 2016 |title=Pulse Orlando shooting scene a popular LGBT club where employees, patrons 'like family' |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/gay-south-florida/article83301677.html |work=The Miami Herald |access-date=June 15, 2016 |archive-date=June 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615082724/http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/gay-south-florida/article83301677.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 30, 2019, Smith was honored with the Human Rights Campaign's National Leadership Award in Los Angeles for her work as an advocate of the [[LGBT community]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Peters |first=Stephen |date=February 22, 2019 |title=HRC to Honor Yeardley Smith with National Leadership Award at 2019 HRC Los Angeles Dinner |url=https://www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-honor-yeardley-smith-with-national-leadership-award-2019-hrc-LA-dinner |work=Human Righrs Campaign |access-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401010013/https://www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-honor-yeardley-smith-with-national-leadership-award-2019-hrc-LA-dinner |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2017, Smith started a podcast, ''Small Town Dicks'', which explores real life crime in small towns in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Deffenbacher |first1=Chelsea |title=True-crime podcast has a local flavor |url=https://www.registerguard.com/rg/news/local/35885052-75/true-crime-podcast-has-a-local-flavor.html.csp |work=The Register-Guard |date=September 1, 2017 |access-date=December 6, 2019 |archive-date=December 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206060914/https://www.registerguard.com/rg/news/local/35885052-75/true-crime-podcast-has-a-local-flavor.html.csp |url-status=live }}</ref> Smith had co-hosted the podcast with actress and long-time friend Zibby Allen until March 2019 when the two filed lawsuits against one another, with Allen accusing Smith of pushing her out of ownership and profit rights from the show.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hitt |first1=Tarpley |title=The Simpsons' Lisa Simpson Accused of Screwing Over Her Best Friend |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-simpsons-yeardley-smith-aka-lisa-simpson-accused-of-screwing-her-bff-out-of-small-town-dicks-podcast |newspaper=The Daily Beast |access-date=December 6, 2019 |date=September 25, 2019 |archive-date=October 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024185741/https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-simpsons-yeardley-smith-aka-lisa-simpson-accused-of-screwing-her-bff-out-of-small-town-dicks-podcast |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Politics==
Smith is a lifelong [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/politics/news/yeardley-smith-donates-250000-to-human-rights-campaign-pac-ahead-of-midterms-1202982693/|title=Yeardley Smith Donates $250,000 to Human Rights Campaign PAC Ahead of Midterms|first=Ted|last=Johnson|date=October 17, 2018|access-date=March 17, 2021|archive-date=February 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205174406/https://variety.com/2018/politics/news/yeardley-smith-donates-250000-to-human-rights-campaign-pac-ahead-of-midterms-1202982693/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, Smith mocked [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Ted Cruz]] after he labeled the Democratic Party as "the party of [[Lisa Simpson]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/02/22/ted-cruz-simpsons/364747002/|title=Ted Cruz: 'Democrats are the party of Lisa Simpson'|first=William|last=Cummings|website=USA TODAY|access-date=March 17, 2021|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302184651/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/02/22/ted-cruz-simpsons/364747002/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.themarysue.com/how-dare-you-yeardley-smith-responds-to-those-ted-cruz-simpsons-comments/|title=Yeardley Smith Responds to Ted Cruz's 'Simpsons' Comments|date=March 27, 2018|access-date=March 17, 2021|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304195717/https://www.themarysue.com/how-dare-you-yeardley-smith-responds-to-those-ted-cruz-simpsons-comments/|url-status=live}}</ref> Smith recommended that people of differing political views should be able to work together on [[gun control]], promoting [[LGBT movements|gay rights]] and [[environmentalism]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/yeardleysmith/status/966830185457754113?lang=en |title=Yeardley Smith on Twitter: "@tedcruz u say "Lisa Simpson is the party of the Dems" like it's a bad thing! But Im sure what u mean is "Lisa sits across the aisle FRM me but I look forward to working w/ Her & the Dems on #GunReform #LGBTQIequality & protecting the 🌏" 😊" |access-date=May 30, 2020 |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111010727/https://twitter.com/yeardleysmith/status/966830185457754113?lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Smith married [[English Canadians|English-Canadian]] actor Christopher Grove in 1990. They were divorced in 1992, citing irreconcilable differences.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/datacenter/ci_9357980 |work=[[Denver Post]] |title=People: Cameron Diaz gives a hair-raising scene |last=Smith |first=Lori |access-date=April 3, 2009 |date=May 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529233102/http://www.denverpost.com/datacenter/ci_9357980 |archive-date=May 29, 2008 }}</ref>

In a 1997 interview with ''[[The Daily Targum]]'', Smith stated "I am shy, but I have an extroverted persona which I can draw on when I need to," and that she is a "private" actress.<ref name=targum/>

She married Daniel Erickson in 2002; the marriage lasted for six years and Smith filed for divorce on May 21, 2008, citing irreconcilable differences.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/2008/05/23/5651356.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525123246/http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/2008/05/23/5651356.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 25, 2012|title='Simpsons' actress files for divorce| access-date= March 8, 2009| date=May 23, 2008 |publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=Jam! Showbiz}}</ref>

In 2009, she commented, "People have said to me that I'm unassuming. It's true, I'm the worst celebrity ever. But I'm trying to become better."<ref name=guard/>

Smith had [[bulimia nervosa|bulimia]] when she was a teenager. She noted "It would make me high, I would feel [[endorphins]] and this great sense of victory."<ref name=laughs/><ref name="Town">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/2004/03/18/2004-03-18_a_homer_town_girl.html |work=[[New York Daily News]] |title=A Homer Town Girl |date=March 18, 2004 |last=Dziemianowicz |first=Joe |access-date=April 3, 2009|archive-url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/nydn-features/homer-town-girl-article-1.577510|archive-date=March 18, 2004}}</ref>

Smith enjoys writing and painting. During the first season of ''Herman's Head'', Smith taught herself to paint by copying other artists.<ref name=targum/> The book ''Just Humor Me'' includes a story, "The Race", written by Smith.<ref name=targum>{{cite news|title=Ms. Smith goes to Springfield |first= Nancy E. |last= Dalin|work=[[The Daily Targum]]|date=January 23, 1997}}</ref> She has written a children's book, ''I, Lorelei'', which was published by [[HarperCollins]] in February 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z2z2z175z13z4&bioid=1674 |title=Yeardley Smith |publisher=FoxFlash |access-date=April 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929002227/http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z2z2z175z13z4&bioid=1674 |archive-date=September 29, 2011 }}</ref>

In 2011, Smith launched a women's shoe line called Marchez Vous.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://marchezvous.com/company |title=Yeardley Smith |publisher=MarchezVous |access-date=February 7, 2013 |archive-date=June 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602105606/http://www.marchezvous.com/company |url-status=live }}</ref>

In November 2021, Yeardley was noted for producing a podcast on the [[murder of Sheila Anderson]], one of Scotland's most notorious unsolved murders.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brutal murder of Scots sex worker Sheila Anderson probed by Simpsons star in crime podcast |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/brutal-murder-scots-sex-worker-25420307 |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=Daily Record |date=10 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rudden |first=Liam |date=9 November 2021 |title=True Crime podcast: Sheila Anderson Edinburgh cold case explored by Left For Dead podcast |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/crime/us-podcast-explores-edinburgh-cold-case-murder-of-sex-worker-3449440 |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=Edinburgh Evening News}}</ref>

On June 11, 2022, Smith married one of the co-hosts of her podcast, ''Small Town Dicks'', Detective (Ret) Dan Grice. She met him while he was providing personal security for her during a ''Simpsons'' event.<ref name=gofactyourself>{{cite podcast | url=https://gofactyourpod.com/episode/ep-57-jordan-morris/ | title=Ep. 57: Jordan Morris | website=Go Fact Yourself | publisher=Maximum Fun | host=[[J. Keith van Straaten]] and [[Helen Hong]] | date=April 17, 2020 | access-date=May 17, 2020 | archive-date=May 7, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200507170722/https://gofactyourpod.com/episode/ep-57-jordan-morris/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Filmography==

===Film===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|- Mamas Family
! Year
! Film
! Role
! Notes
|-
| rowspan="2"|1985
| ''[[Heaven Help Us (film)|Heaven Help Us]]''
| Kathleen
| 
|-
| ''[[The Legend of Billie Jean]]''
| Putter
|
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Maximum Overdrive]]''
| Connie
|
|-
| 1987
| ''[[Three O'Clock High]]''
| Cheerleader
|
|-
| rowspan="3"|1989
| ''[[Listen to Me (film)|Listen to Me]]''
| Cootz
|
|-
| ''[[Silence Like Glass]]''
| Karen
|
|-
| ''[[Ginger Ale Afternoon]]''
| Bonnie Cleator
|
|-
| 1991
| ''[[City Slickers]]''
| Nancy
|
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Toys (film)|Toys]]''
| Researcher Miss Drum
|
|-
| 1993
| ''[[We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (film)|We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story]]''
| Cecilia Nuthatch
| Voice
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Jingle All the Way]]''
| Woman who hits Howard with her purse<ref name=targum/>
| Uncredited
|-
| rowspan="2"|1997
| ''[[Just Write]]''
| Lulu
|
|- 2000
| ''[[As Good as It Gets]]''
| Jackie Simpson
|
|-
| 2002
| ''Back by Midnight''
| Veronica
|
|-
| 2007
| ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]''
| [[Lisa Simpson]]
| Voice
|-
| rowspan="4"|2009
| ''The Pinky:st. Movie''
| Jennifer
| Voice
|-
| ''Waiting for Ophelia''
| Caitlin O'Malley
| Awaiting release; also executive producer
|-
| ''Miracle of Phil''
| Holly
| Awaiting release
|-
| ''[[Tug (film)|Tug]]''
| Mom
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|2010
| ''[[High School (2010 film)|High School]]''
| Teacher
| Cameo Appearance
|-
| ''[[Virginia (2010 film)|Virginia]]''
| Mrs. Whitaker
|
|-
|rowspan="3"|2011
|''[[The Chaperone (2011 film)|The Chaperone]]''
| Ms. Miller
|
|-
| ''[[New Year's Eve (2011 film)|New Year's Eve]]''
| Maude
|
|-
|''[[Spork (film)|Spork]]''
|Ms. Danahy
|
|-
|2016
|''[[Miles (film)|Miles]]''
|Mrs. Armstrong
|
|-
|2018
|''[[All Square]]''
|Beaches
|Producer
|-
|rowspan=2|2021
|''[[The Good, the Bart, and the Loki]]''
|rowspan=3|Lisa Simpson
|rowspan=5|Short film
|-
|''[[Plusaversary]]''
|-
|rowspan=3|2022
|''[[When Billie Met Lisa]]''
|-
|''[[Welcome to the Club (2022 film)|Welcome to the Club]]''
|Lisa Simpson, [[Snow White (Disney character)|Snow White]]
|-
|''[[The Simpsons Meet the Bocellis in "Feliz Navidad"]]''
|Lisa Simpson
|}

===Television===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Series
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1984
| ''[[ABC Afterschool Special]]''
| Jenny
| Episode 13.4: "Mom's on Strike"
|-
| 1987–1989
| ''[[Brothers (1984 TV series)|Brothers]]''
| Louella Waters
| Appeared in 46 episodes
|-
| 1985
| ''The Recovery Room''
| Jill
| TV film
|-
| rowspan="2"|1986
| ''[[Tales from the Darkside]]''
| Betty Ann Cooper
| Episode 2.23: "Fear of Floating"
|-
| ''[[Mama's Family]]''
| Bonita Rokiki
| Episode 3.11: "Where There's Smoke"
|-
|1987
| ''[[Square One Television]]'' (''[[Mathnet]]'')
| Jane Rice-Burroughs
| Appeared in four episodes; Episode 1.2: "The Problem of the Missing Monkey"
|-
| 1987–1989
| ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]''
| [[Lisa Simpson]] (voice)
| [[The Simpsons shorts|''The Simpsons'' shorts]]
|-
| 1988
| ''[[CBS Summer Playhouse]]''
| Paula Bennett
| Episode 2.17: "Tickets, Please"
|-
| 1989
| ''[[Murphy Brown]]''
| Phoebe Cramer
| Episode 2.5: "Miles' Big Adventure"
|-
| 1989–present
| ''[[The Simpsons]]''
| Lisa Simpson (voice) <br/> Herself
| Main cast member; longest-running role<br/>[[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|1990
| ''[[Sydney (TV series)|Sydney]]''
| Tracy Cole
| Episode 1.8: "The Me Nobody Knows"
|-
| ''[[42nd Primetime Emmy Awards]]''
| Lisa Simpson (voice)
| TV special
|-
| 1991–1994
| ''[[Herman's Head]]''
| Louise Fitzer
| Main cast member; appeared in all 72 episodes
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Sesame Street]]''
| Lisa Simpson (voice)
| One episode; Celebrity [[Monster in the Mirror]]
|-
| 1991–2004
| ''[[Rugrats]]''
| Brown Dummy Bear, additional voices (voice)
| 
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Likely Suspects]]''
| Unnamed character
| Episode 1.11: "Am I Not Your Stiff"
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Empty Nest (TV series)|Empty Nest]]''
| Sally
| Episode 7.3: "Just for Laughs"
|-
| rowspan="3"|1997
| ''[[Toothless (film)|Toothless]]''
| Gatekeeper
| TV film
|-
| ''[[Smart Guy (TV series)|Smart Guy]]''
| Mrs. Rawlings
| Episode 2.5: "Dumbstruck"
|-
| ''[[Teen Angel (1997 TV series)|Teen Angel]]''
| Miss Gross
| Episode 1.8: "Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog"
|-
| 1997–2002
| ''[[Dharma & Greg]]''
| Marlene
| Appeared in 17 episodes
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Sports Night]]''
| Malory Moss
| Episode 1.4: "Intellectual Property"
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Nash Bridges]]''
| Stevie Strong
| Episode 5.9: "Crosstalk"
|-
| 2001
| ''Last Dance''
| Unnamed character
| TV film
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Becker (TV series)|Becker]]''
| Ruby
| Episode 5.19: "Ms. Fortune"
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Dead Like Me]]''
| Penny
| Episodes 2.12: "Forget Me Not" and 2.14: "Always"
|-
| rowspan="2"|2005
| ''[[Phil of the Future]]''
| Mandy Teslow
| Episodes 1.18: "Double Trouble" and 1.20: "Corner Pocket"
|-
| ''[[Strong Medicine]]''
| Real Estate Agent
| Episode 6.5: "Dying Inside"
|-
| rowspan="2"|2009
| ''[[Mad Men]]''
| Nurse
| Episode 3.5: "The Fog"
|-
| ''[[The Wishing Well (film)|The Wishing Well]]''
| Mary
| TV film
|-
| rowspan="2"|2010
| ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]''
| Sandy
| Episode 3.14: "The Einstein Approximation"
|-
| ''[[The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special – In 3-D! On Ice!]]''
| Herself<br />Lisa Simpson (voice)
| TV special
|-
| 2012
| ''FOX 25th Anniversary Special''
| Lisa Simpson (voice)
| TV special
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Hot in Cleveland]]''
| Margaret
| Episode 4.21: "Corpse Bride"
|-
| rowspan=2|2014
| ''[[Revenge (TV series)|Revenge]]''
| Phyllis
| Episode 4.1: "Renaissance"
|-
| ''[[Family Guy]]''
| Lisa Simpson (voice)
| Episode 13.1: "[[The Simpsons Guy]]"
|-
| 2014–2015
| ''[[The Mindy Project]]''
| Carolyn
| Episode 3.6: "Caramel Princess Time" and Episode 3.12: Stanford
|-
|2016
|''[[Fresh Off the Boat]]''
|Marie (Costco Employee)
|Episode 3.6: "WWJD: What Would Jessica Do?"
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Mom (TV series)|Mom]]''
| Enid
| Episode 4.21: "A Few Thongs and A Hawaiian Funeral"
|}

===Video games===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Game
! Voice role
|-
|1991
|''[[The Simpsons (arcade game)|The Simpsons]]''
|rowspan="10"|[[Lisa Simpson]]
|-
|1996
|''[[The Simpsons Cartoon Studio]]''
|-
|1997
|''[[Virtual Springfield]]''
|-
|1999
|''[[The Simpsons Bowling]]''
|-
|2000
|''[[The Simpsons Wrestling]]''
|-
|2001
|''[[The Simpsons: Road Rage]]''
|-
|2002
|''[[The Simpsons Skateboarding]]''
|-
|2003
|''[[The Simpsons: Hit & Run]]''
|-
|2007
|''[[The Simpsons Game]]''
|-
|2012
|''[[The Simpsons: Tapped Out]]''
|-
|}

===Music videos===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Song
! Role
! Artist
|-
| 1990
| "[[Do the Bartman]]"
| [[Lisa Simpson]]
| [[Nancy Cartwright]]
|}

===Theme park===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Ride
! Role
|-
|2008
|''[[The Simpsons Ride]]''
|[[Lisa Simpson]]
|}

===Podcasts===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Show
! Role
|-
| 2017–present
| Small Town Dicks
| Co-host
|-
| 2019
| [[Harmontown]]
| Special guest (episode 337)
|-
| 2020
| Jensen and Holes: The Murder Squad
| Special guest (January 20, 2020)
|-
|2021
| I Said No Gifts!
| Special guest (June 3, 2021)
|-
| 2022
| [[The Adam Carolla Show (podcast)|The Adam Carolla Show]]
| Special guest (March 20, 2022)
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|810379}}
* {{tcmdb name|id=180187|name=Yeardley Smith}}
* [http://voicechasers.com/database/showactor.php?actorid=1225 Yeardley Smith] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930023716/http://voicechasers.com/database/showactor.php?actorid=1225 |date=September 30, 2007 }} at the Voice Chasers Database
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100207115926/http://harpercollins.com/authors/33648/Yeardley_Smith/index.aspx Yeardley Smith] at [[HarperCollins]].com
* [http://gobbingoff.tumblr.com Yeardley Smith's Personal Blog] at [[Tumblr]]
* {{emmytvlegends name|yeardley-smith}}

{{EmmyAward VoiceOver 1990-2000}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Yeardley}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:American video game actresses]]
[[Category:American voice actresses]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Actresses from Paris]]
[[Category:Actresses from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century American actresses]]
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ rights activists]]
[[Category:Washington (state) Democrats]]
[[Category:California Democrats]]