# Amy Smart
**Amy Smart** (Amy Lysle Smart, born 1976) is an American actress and former fashion model known for supporting roles in the teen films *Varsity Blues* and *Outside Providence* (both 1999) and for leading roles in *The Butterfly Effect* (2004) and *Crank* (2006), and for playing Barbara Whitmore on the television series *[Stargirl](https://www.edgepedia.org/stargirl-tv-series)* from 2020 to 2022.[1](https://mooveedb.com/actor/amy-smart/258474) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005442/fullcredits)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1976, Topanga Canyon, California, to Judy, who worked at a museum, and John Boden Smart, a salesman; German, English, and Irish ancestry[1](https://mooveedb.com/actor/amy-smart/258474) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005442/fullcredits) |
| Early career | Began as a fashion model in Italy, then enrolled in acting school; first screen work in the Lemonheads music video for "It's About Time" (1993)[1](https://mooveedb.com/actor/amy-smart/258474) • [3](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/amy-smart-34521.php) |
| Breakout | Jules Harbor in the box office hit *Varsity Blues* (1999); also *Outside Providence* (1999)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005442/fullcredits) |
| Notable film roles | Kayleigh in *The Butterfly Effect* (2004), Jamie Palamino in *Just Friends* (2005), Eve in *Crank* (2006) and *Crank High Voltage* (2009)[4](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/272391) |
| Television | Barbara Whitmore in *Stargirl*, 39 episodes, 2020–2022; earlier roles include Ruby in *Felicity* (16 episodes) and Jamie Moyer in *Scrubs* (4 episodes)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005442/fullcredits) • [1](https://mooveedb.com/actor/amy-smart/258474) |
| Award | Won the 2004 MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss; also nominated for a 2000 Teen Choice Award and a 2003 DVDX Award[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/amy-smart/bio/3030000009/) |
## Early life and modeling
Smart was born in Topanga Canyon, California, and raised with her younger brother, Adam, by her father, John, a salesman, and her mother, Judy, a museum worker.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005442/fullcredits) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/amy-smart/) She studied ballet for ten years before becoming an actress.[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/amy-smart/bio/3030000009/) Her entry into show business came through modeling: her childhood friend, the future actress [Vinessa Shaw](https://www.edgepedia.org/vinessa-shaw), suggested that Smart replace her on a photo shoot, and Smart was hired for assignments in Italy, Tahiti, and Mexico.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/amy-smart/) During a modeling assignment in Italy she met [Ali Larter](https://www.edgepedia.org/ali-larter), and the two later became roommates and took acting classes together in New York.[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/amy-smart/bio/3030000009/) • [3](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/amy-smart-34521.php)
Her first screen appearance was in the Lemonheads music video for "It's About Time" in 1993, followed by a "Rock the Vote" promo on MTV and small parts in the NBC television movies *Seduced by Madness: The Diane Borchardt Story* (1996) and *Her Costly Affair* (1996).[3](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/amy-smart-34521.php) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/amy-smart/)
## Film career, 1997–2005
Smart made her feature debut in Stephen Kay's *The Last Time I Committed Suicide* (1997), a biopic of Beat generation figure [Neal Cassady](https://www.edgepedia.org/neal-cassady) that screened at the 1997 [Sundance Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/sundance-film-festival).[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005442/fullcredits) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/amy-smart/) The same year brought a brief role as a co-pilot in [Paul Verhoeven](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-verhoeven)'s big-budget science fiction film *Starship Troopers*, and a part in the horror anthology *Campfire Tales*, in the segment "The Hook".[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005442/fullcredits) • [4](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/272391) In 1998 she played Dot Bryant, a golden girl who seduces her sister's former boyfriend, in the independent film *How to Make the Cruelest Month*, opposite Clea DuVall.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005442/fullcredits)
Her supporting role as Jules Harbor in *Varsity Blues* (1999), co-starring with [James Van Der Beek](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-van-der-beek), reached her widest audience up to that point; the same year she played [Shawn Hatosy](https://www.edgepedia.org/shawn-hatosy)'s love interest in *Outside Providence*.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005442/fullcredits) Her appearance in the teen sex comedy *Road Trip* (2000) exposed her to a wider audience still.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/amy_smart) Genre-spanning work followed: the dark comedy *Scotland, PA* (2001), the ensemble comedy *Rat Race* (2001), and *The Battle of Shaker Heights* (2003), which grew out of the filmmaking series *Project Greenlight*.[1](https://mooveedb.com/actor/amy-smart/258474) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/amy-smart/) In 2005 she played Jamie Palamino opposite [Ryan Reynolds](https://www.edgepedia.org/ryan-reynolds) in the romantic comedy *Just Friends*, which one biographical source describes as a breakthrough for her career.[4](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/272391) • [3](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/amy-smart-34521.php)
## The Butterfly Effect, Crank, and genre work
In *The Butterfly Effect* (2004) Smart played Kayleigh opposite [Ashton Kutcher](https://www.edgepedia.org/ashton-kutcher); IMDb lists the film among the titles she is known for, with a user rating of 7.6.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005442/fullcredits) She then moved into action thrillers as Eve in *Crank* (2006) and its sequel *Crank High Voltage* (2009), both credited as Eve in the [American Film Institute](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-film-institute) catalog.[4](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/272391) Other films from this period include *Peaceful Warrior* (2006), the horror film *[Mirrors](https://www.edgepedia.org/mirrors-2008-film)* (2008), and *Love N' Dancing* (2009).[4](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/272391)
Commentators have noted her movement across genres as a deliberate avoidance of typecasting: from romantic comedies like *Just Friends* to action films like *[Crank](https://www.edgepedia.org/crank-film)*, and into the CBS television heist drama *Smith* (2006).[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/amy_smart) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/amy-smart/)
## Television and later work
Smart's television credits include recurring roles as Ruby in *Felicity* (16 episodes) and [Jamie Moyer](https://www.edgepedia.org/jamie-moyer) in *Scrubs* (4 episodes), appearances in *Justified*, *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, *MacGyver*, and *Angie Tribeca*, and guest voice work on *Robot Chicken*. She played Barbara Whitmore, the mother of the title character, in *Stargirl* for 39 episodes from 2020 to 2022.[1](https://mooveedb.com/actor/amy-smart/258474) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005442/fullcredits) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/amy-smart/)
Her film work since 2020 includes *Tyson's Run* (2022, as Eloise), *13 Minutes* (2021, as Kim), *On Sacred Ground* and *The Christmas Classic* (both 2023), and *Rally Caps* (2024, as Nora), which Rotten Tomatoes lists as her highest-rated film at 100 percent with critics.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005442/fullcredits) • [7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/amy_smart)
## Recognition and personal life
Smart won the 2004 MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss and received nominations for a 2000 Teen Choice Award for Film Choice Chemistry, a 2003 DVDX Award for Best Supporting Actress in a DVD Premiere Movie, and a 2009 Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress in a music or dance film.[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/amy-smart/bio/3030000009/) She has supported charities including Much Love Animal Rescue, The Art of Elysium, and The Humane Society, and was named one of *Organic Style* magazine's "Women with Organic Style" in 2004.[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/amy-smart/bio/3030000009/) TV Insider lists her spouse as [Carter Oosterhouse](https://www.edgepedia.org/carter-oosterhouse).[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/amy-smart/)
## References
1. [Amy Smart – MooveeDB](https://mooveedb.com/actor/amy-smart/258474)
2. [Amy Smart (I) – Full credits, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005442/fullcredits)
3. [Amy Lysle Smart Biography – The Famous People](https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/amy-smart-34521.php)
4. [Amy Smart – AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/272391)
5. [Amy Smart Biography – TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/amy-smart/bio/3030000009/)
6. [Amy Smart – Actress, Model – TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/amy-smart/)
7. [Amy Smart Movies & TV Shows – Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/amy_smart)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Sh to So*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license