Yeardley Smith

Birthday: 3 July 1964, Paris, France

Birth Name: Martha Maria Yeardley Smith

Height: 160 cm

Comic actress and voice specialist Yeardley Smith has made a virtue out of her odd looks, small figure and distinctive, child-like nasal tones. Lending vocal life to the animated role of "Lisa Simpson" - the intelligent, caring, saxophone-droning, vegetarian member of the Simpson family - has been her bread-and-butter job for over 20 years. She is American but was born in Paris, France where her father served as a correspondent with UPI. By the time she was two, she and her family had moved to Washington, D.C., where she was raised. A shy, introverted child, she started her pixie-like young career as a teenager at a nearby dinner theater where she played "Tinkerbell" in a musical adaptation of "Peter Pan". After receiving her high school diploma, she apprenticed for a time at the famed Arena Stage, then headed off to New York and bigger things.Yeardley understudied the role of "Debbie" on Broadway in Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing", starring Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close, then took over the part for eight months. Small film offers started coming her way with Heaven Help Us (1985) and The Legend of Billie Jean (1985), so in 1986, she headed West and settled. After some work on the LA stage with "Boys and Girls/Men and Women" (1987) and "How the Other Half Loves" (1988) and a recurring role on the ground-breaking gay comedy, Brothers (1984), Yeardley won the part of daughter "Lisa Simpson". The animated character was launched on the sketch TV comedy series, The Tracey Ullman Show (1987). Two years later, she spun off into The Simpsons (1989) and still going strong after 20 years.Yeardley has made the TV rounds on-camera as well with amusing guest appearances on Dharma & Greg (1997), Murphy Brown (1988), Empty Nest (1988), Mama's Family (1983) and a regular role for three seasons as "Louise" on Herman's Head (1991). Other film supports include roles in City Slickers (1991), Jingle All the Way (1996) and As Good as It Gets (1997). In 2004, Yeardley performed front-and-center in her own one-woman autobiographical show entitled "More" in New York. Show less «

Everybody sort of questioned why we get married on New Year's Day, and of course, the avid sports fa...Show more »

Everybody sort of questioned why we get married on New Year's Day, and of course, the avid sports fans wouldn't come, because they had to watch the Rose Bowl or whatever that is on that day. Show less «

It's usually character stuff that I'm offered unless they want a real offbeat leading role. Most of ...Show more »

It's usually character stuff that I'm offered unless they want a real offbeat leading role. Most of the time, I'm everybody's best friend. Or their annoying friend. It's like the story of my life. I will never get to play the Cinderella roles. Show less «

A man who envies our family is a man who needs help.

Is your remarkably sexist drivel intentional, or just some horrible mistake?

Romance is dead - it was acquired in a hostile takeover by Hallmark and Disney, homogenized, and sol...Show more »

Romance is dead - it was acquired in a hostile takeover by Hallmark and Disney, homogenized, and sold off piece by piece. Show less «

Oh no, the dead have risen and they're voting Republican.

You can't create a monster, then whine when it stomps on a few buildings.

Actually, you wouldn't believe how many people come up to me and say 'This is my fantasy: to be in b...Show more »

Actually, you wouldn't believe how many people come up to me and say 'This is my fantasy: to be in bed with Lisa Simpson and have her say "Oh more, more!"' What is the matter with you people? This is sick! -- on the Australian talk show "Denton". Show less «

In my dreams, I was Rita Hayworth, Kim Basinger. I just wanted to be that long, tall drink of water ...Show more »

In my dreams, I was Rita Hayworth, Kim Basinger. I just wanted to be that long, tall drink of water with flowing blond hair and large blue eyes and cheekbones you could actually see - you know, be that. And I wasn't, so I hated myself. I'd beat myself up, tear myself to shreds. Now I've made peace with it. I don't mind it at all; I'd rather be who I am. It's comfortable. It's me. I got weary of putting so much energy into hating myself". Show less «

Being a part of "As Good as It Gets" was a great job for me. It was fun taking a bit of a break from...Show more »

Being a part of "As Good as It Gets" was a great job for me. It was fun taking a bit of a break from playing Lisa Simpson and doing real actual live-action camera work. I enjoyed having the honor of working with Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Greg Kinnear. And especially that cute little dog. Overall, I enjoyed working on the film, and I wish I at least got an Oscar nomination. Show less «