Jean Smart

A versatile and gifted actress, Jean Smart continues to exhibit her extraordinary talents in theater, television and film. Since completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Washington Smart’s career has launched into worldwide critical acclaim. Before coming to Los Angeles she made her Broadway debut in “Piaf” and originated the role of Lil in “Last Summer at Bluefish Cove” Off-Broadway for which she received a Drama Desk nomination.

Smart completed production on director Chris D’ Arienzo’s BARRY MUNDAY co-starring Patrick Wilson, Colin Hanks and Chloe Sevigny, as Carol Munday.

Smart was seen in the Emmy Award winning comedy series, “Samantha Who?” with Christina Applegate, for which she just earned her third Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy.

In January, 2006, Smart received her fourth Emmy nomination, this time for her role as the troubled and medicated First Lady Martha Logan on the Fox Drama “24.” That same year the show won the Emmy for Best Drama, and received a Golden Globe nomination and a Screen Actor’s Guild nomination for Ensemble Cast.

In 2001 Smart won her second Emmy Award for her guest-starring role on “Frasier” and was nominated for Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her recurring role on “The District.” In the year 2000 Smart received recognition in theater, film and television; she earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for her critically acclaimed performance in the Miramax feature film GUINIVERE opposite Sarah Polley, she was awarded her first Emmy for her hilarious recurring role on “Frasier” and she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her starring role on Broadway opposite Nathan Lane in “The Man Who Came To Dinner.”

She starred in the HBO drama series “Maximum Security” before starring in the popular sitcom “Designing Women.” Several TV series and television films followed, including “Overkill,” the critically acclaimed story of serial killer Aileen Wuornos, “High Society”, in which she played neurotic novelist Ellie Walker opposite Mary McDonnell (an Americanized version of the British phenomenon “Absolutely Fabulous”), Peter Tolan’s comedy “Style and Substance,” “In-Laws” opposite Dennis Farina and “Center of the Universe” opposite John Goodman. In 2003 Smart starred with husband Richard Gilliland in the film “Audrey’s Rain” for the Hallmark Channel.

Smart’s recent film credits include Curtis Hanson’s LUCKY YOU opposite Eric Bana and Robert Duvall, HERO WANTED starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Ray Liotta, GARDEN STATE for first-time director and writer Zach Braff opposite Braff, Natalie Portman and Peter Sarsgaard, MISTRESS with Danny Aiello and Robert DeNiro, FLASHPOINT with Kris Kristofferson, with Steve Martin and Queen Latifah in BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE, THE KID with Bruce Willis and SWEET HOME ALABAMA with Reese Witherspoon, and I ♥ HUCKABEES.

Smart currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband and son.

The Weinstein Company