Amy Lysle Smart is an American actress and former fashion model who rose to prominence in the late 1990s. A native of Los Angeles, Smart began her career modeling in Italy and subsequently enrolled in acting school. Her first role in film was in director Martin Kunert's anthology horror film Campfire Tales, followed by a minor part in Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers. She garnered widespread recognition after appearing in the mainstream teen drama Varsity Blues, as well as for her recurring role as Ruby on the television series Felicity. She followed this with a lead in the college sex comedyRoad Trip, and co-starred in Jerry Zucker's ensemble comedy Rat Race. She had a lead role opposite Ashton Kutcher in the sci-fi drama The Butterfly Effect. Smart co-starred with Ryan Reynolds and Anna Faris in 2005's Just Friends, followed by the sports drama Peaceful Warrior. From 2011 to 2012, she had a recurring role as Jasmine Hollander on the series Shameless. She subsequently starred in Tyler Perry's comedy The Single Moms Club.
While modeling in Milan, Italy, Smart met fellow model Ali Larter and the two "became instant friends", according to Larter. In Los Angeles, they took acting classes together. After appearing in the video for The Lemonheads' It's About Time in 1993, Smart's first film role was in director Martin Kunert's Campfire Tales, followed by a small role as Queenie in the 1996 adaptation of John Updike's short story "A&P". She had a minor role in Paul Verhoeven's science fiction thriller Starship Troopers as the copilot for Carmen Ibanez, and a starring role in the miniseries The 70s, playing a young woman from Ohio. In 1999, Smart played the girlfriend of a popular American football player in the film Varsity Blues, reuniting her with Larter. Also in 1999, she appeared in the film Outside Providence. From 1999 to 2001 Smart played a recurring character on the series Felicity — Ruby, a former girlfriend of Scott Foley's character. She costarred in the films Road Trip, Rat Race, Starsky & Hutch, and the science fiction dramaThe Butterfly Effect, playing the childhood friend of Ashton Kutcher's character. In 2003, Smart had a small role in the American sitcom Scrubs, playing Jamie Moyer, one of main character J.D.'s love interests.
2005–2013: Studio films and television
In 2005, Smart co-starred with Ryan Reynolds in the romantic comedy filmJust Friends, playing the high school friend of a previously overweight young man who, years later, returns to her hometown and attempts to confess his love for her. The film was a box office hit, grossing over $50 million worldwide. Also in 2005, she starred as Sarah in the British independent film The Best Man with Seth Green. She also had a lead role in the independent drama Bigger Than the Sky, a loose adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac, co-starring with Marcus Thomas, Sean Astin, and Patty Duke. Smart appeared in the 2006 action thriller filmCrank, portraying the girlfriend of the lead character, Chev Chelios. She reprised the role in the sequel, , released in 2009. Smart was a regular cast member in the short-lived 2006 CBS television series Smith opposite Ray Liotta and Virginia Madsen, playing a professional burglar. She has also voiced characters in the animated series Robot Chicken, created by Seth Green. Smart appeared as Joy in the 2006 sports drama Peaceful Warrior, starring Scott Mechlowicz and Nick Nolte, about a gymnast whose life changes after an encounter with a spiritual guide. She also starred as Melissa in the 2008 independent horror film Seventh Moon, and had a supporting role opposite Kiefer Sutherland in Alexandre Aja's supernatural thrillerMirrors. In March 2011, Smart joined the Showtime comedy-drama Shameless as recurring character Jasmine Hollander, a friend of lead Fiona. She continued to guest starin season two. On September 20, 2011, Smart married TV carpenter Carter Oosterhouse from the U.S. cable channel HGTV, in Traverse City, Michigan.
In 2014, Smart appeared in the Tyler Perry comedy The Single Moms Club opposite Nia Long and Wendi McLendon-Covey, followed by the thriller Hangman. In 2016, she appeared in a supporting role in the television film Sister Cities, opposite Jacki Weaver, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Alfred Molina. She also appeared in two episodes of the IFC series Maron, portraying Nina, wife of Dave Anthony. On December 26, 2016, Smart's daughter, Flora, was born via a surrogate; she revealed this publicly in 2017, explaining that she struggled for years trying to conceive, writing: "After years of fertility struggles I give thanks today to our kind, loving surrogate for carrying her."
