Amy Smart…what a smile
Amy Lysle Smart (born March 26, 1976) is an American film and television actress and former fashion model. Smart was born in Topanga, California. Her mother, Judy Lysle (née Carrington), worked at a museum, and her father, John Boden Smart, was a salesman. Amy Smart studied ballet for ten years.While modelling in Italy, Smart met fellow model Ali Larter and the two “became instant friends”, according to Larter. Whilst in Los Angeles, the two took acting classes together.
In 2003 Smart also had a small role in the American sitcom Scrubs, playing Jamie Moyer (aka “Tasty Coma Wife”), one of main character J.D.’s love interests.In 2005, Smart starred as Sarah in a British independent film called The Best Man. Seth Green was her co-star. She also appeared in the 2006 film Crank, portraying the girlfriend of the lead character, Chev Chelios (played by Jason Statham). She reprised the role in the sequel, Crank: High Voltage, released in 2009.
Smart was a regular cast member in the short-lived 2006 CBS television series Smith. She also has voiced some of the characters in the animated series Robot Chicken, created by Seth Green. Smart appeared as Joy in the 2006 movie Peaceful Warrior, starring Scott Mechlowicz and Nick Nolte. She stars as Melissa in the 2008 independent film Seventh Moon. In 2011, Smart joined the Showtime drama/comedy Shameless as the recurring character Jasmine Hollander. She continues to guest star in season two, which began airing January 8, 2012.Smart married Carter Oosterhouse from HGTV on September 10, 2011, in Traverse City, Michigan
Amy has a sex appeal that is not apparent at first glance. But when you digest her screen intensity and strength, you fall for her. She does have a loyal following of obsessed male fans that should spend more time on algebra homework than on creating suspect tribute sites.This is, of course, a sign that she has arrived. We have to reserve caution however, before placing her in the desirable babe category. After all, if Amy Smart is a babe, then what on earth are Shannon Elizabeth, Jessica Alba and Jennifer Love Hewitt? And that comparison was made with apples and apples — starlets of the same age with comparable talent. What if we were to put Smart up against a goddess like Salma Hayek? Or Halle Berry? She is a definite looker with potential; we just refuse to get all excited until we see more from her.
Amy is one of those actresses whom you may recognize but confuse with about a dozen other young performers who have a similar look and talent level. We thought we had seen her in an episode of Buffy or That ’70s Show. We were wrong on both counts, although the latter could be because she actually did star in the NBC miniseries, The ’70s.For the time being, her role in Varsity Blues and appearances on Felicity are her main claims to fame. Unless you enjoyed one of her straight to video releases.
Smart later gained a small part in the Paul Verhoeven science fiction vehicle Starship Troopers. In How to Make the Cruelest Month, Smart played a seductress who betrays her sister. The horror film Campfire Tales followed in 1998, along with the Internet stalker thriller, Dee Snider’s StrangeLand, written, produced and starring the front man of Twisted Sister.
Smart reached her widest audience, however, with a starring role opposite James Van Der Beek in the 1999 sleeper teen hit, Varsity Blues. The actress played Jules Harbor, a girl who dreams of escaping the football-obsessed culture of her town yet is linked to it as the sister of the high-school quarterback and as the sweetheart of his replacement, played by Van Der Beek.Her portrayal of the intelligent Jules drew inevitable comparisons to Katie Holmes, co-star to Van Der Beek on the popular Dawson’s Creek.Smart would next be featured as a supporting love interest in the touching comedy, Outside Providence, starring Alec Baldwin. Those who enjoyed her performance got to see more of her, when she was cast as Ruby, Noel’s girlfriend on the WB’s Felicity, from the 1999 to the 2001 season.In 2000, Amy starred in the disappointing NBC miniseries, The ’70s, before her appearance in the gross-out teen flick, Road Trip. She can now be seen on the current video hit, Rat Race, with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Whoopi Goldberg, and you can catch her next in a small role in the upcoming film, Interstate 60.In addition to her acting career, Smart is a spokesperson for an environmental group devoted to cleaning up the Santa Monica Bay.
