Martha Maria Yeardley Smith (/ˈjɑːrdli/ YARD-lee; born July 3, 1964) is an American actress. She voices 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. She made her film debut in 1985's 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.
In 1987, Smith auditioned for the 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 spun off into their half-hour show, The Simpsons. For her work on The Simpsons, Smith received a Primetime Emmy Award for 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, 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 a few voice-over parts, only commercials and the 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.
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Known For
The Simpsons: Yellow Planet
Lisa Simpson
2025
The Simpsons: The Past and the Furious
Lisa Simpson
2025
The Simpsons: O C'mon All Ye Faithful
Lisa Simpson (voice)
2024
The Simpsons Funday Football
Lisa Simpson (voice)
2024
Possessions
Dr. Young
2024
Who Are You People
Sarah
2023
The Simpsons Meet the Bocellis in "Feliz Navidad"
Lisa Simpson (voice)
2022
Welcome to the Club
Lisa Simpson (voice)
2022
When Billie Met Lisa
Lisa Simpson (voice)
2022
Inventions That Changed History
Self - Comic Actress · (6 episodes)
2022
The Simpsons in Plusaversary
Lisa Simpson (voice)
2021
The Simpsons | Balenciaga
Lisa
2021
The Good, the Bart, and the Loki
Lisa Simpson (voice)
2021
Gossamer Folds
Phyllis
2020
Dear Class of 2020
Lisa Simpson
2020
Stars in the House
Self · (1 episode)
2020
Love & Debt
Allison Joy
2019
All Square
Beaches
2018
Miles
Mrs. Armstrong
2017
Planet of the Couches
Lisa Simpson (voice)
2016
TV's Funniest Animated Stars: A Paley Center for Media Special
Self
2015
Fresh Off the Boat
Marie · (1 episode)
2015
Mom
Enid · (1 episode)
2013
Tug
Mom
2013
The Mindy Project
Dr. Carolyn King · (2 episodes)
2012
FOX 25th Anniversary Special
Lisa Simpson (voice) (uncredited)
2012
8
Nancy F. Cott
2012
New Year's Eve
Maude
2011
Revenge
Phyllis · (1 episode)
2011
The Chaperone
Miss Miller
2011
Hot in Cleveland
Margaret · (1 episode)
2010
High School
Computer Skills Teacher
2010
Virginia
Mrs. Whitaker
2010
The Wishing Well
Mary Williams
2009
Waiting for Ophelia
Caitlin O'Malley
2009
The Big Bang Theory
Sandy · (1 episode)
2007
The Simpsons Movie
Lisa Simpson (voice)
2007
Mad Men
Nurse Mary · (1 episode)
2007
Back By Midnight
Veronica
2005
The Simpsons: Christmas 2
2004
Phil of the Future
(2 episodes)
2004
Best Week Ever
(1 episode)
2004
The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror
Lisa Simpson (voice)
2003
The Simpsons: Christmas
2003
Dead Like Me
Penny · (2 episodes)
2003
CyberWorld
Lisa Simpson (voice)
2000
The Simpsons: America's First Family
Self
2000
Strong Medicine
Real Estate Agent · (1 episode)
2000
The Simpsons: Too Hot For TV
1999
Family Guy
Lisa Simpson (voice) · (1 episode)
1999
Becker
Ruby · (1 episode)
1998
Sports Night
Malory Moss · (1 episode)
1998
As Good as It Gets
Jackie Simpson
1997
Toothless
Gatekeeper
1997
The Wonderful World of Disney
Gatekeeper · (1 episode)
1997
Teen Angel
Miss Gross · (1 episode)
1997
Dharma & Greg
Marlene · (15 episodes)
1997
Smart Guy
(1 episode)
1997
Just Write
Lulu
1997
Jingle All the Way
Woman Who Flirts with Howie (uncredited)
1996
Inside the Actors Studio
Self · (1 episode)
1994
We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story
Cecilia (voice)
1993
Toys
Researcher
1992
Likely Suspects
(13 episodes)
1992
Herman's Head
Louise Fitzer · (72 episodes)
1991
City Slickers
Nancy
1991
Sydney
(1 episode)
1990
The Simpsons
Lisa Simpson (voice) · (787 episodes)
1989
Ginger Ale Afternoon
Bonnie
1989
Silence Like Glass
1989
Listen to Me
Cootz
1989
Murphy Brown
Phoebe Cramer · (1 episode)
1988
Three O'Clock High
Cheerleader
1987
The Tracey Ullman Show
Lisa Simpson · (81 episodes)
1987
Square One Television
Jane Rice-Burroughs · (231 episodes)
1987
Mathnet
Jane Rice Burroughs · (1 episode)
1987
Maximum Overdrive
Connie
1986
The Legend of Billie Jean
Putter
1985
Heaven Help Us
Cathleen
1985
Mom's On Strike
Jenny
1984
Tales from the Darkside
Betty Ann Cooper / Good Time Rita · (1 episode)
1984
Brothers
Louella Waters · (116 episodes)
1984
ABC Afterschool Special
Jenny · (1 episode)
1972