Lauren Lee Smith (born June 19, 1980[2][3]) is a Canadian actress. She is known for her television roles, including Emma DeLauro in the syndicated science fiction drama Mutant X, Riley Adams in the CBS forensics drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, police Sergeant Michelle McCluskey in the CTV fantasy drama The Listener and Frankie Drake in the CBC detective series Frankie Drake Mysteries.
Lauren Lee Smith | |
---|---|
Smith at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival | |
Born | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | June 19, 1980
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1997–present |
Children | 1[1] |
Relatives | Myles Ferguson (cousin) |
Early life
editSmith was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[4] When she was 14, her family moved to Los Angeles, California. There, she began a modelling career.[4] She was born seven months before her cousin, the actor Myles Ferguson, who died in a car accident when Smith was 20.
Career
editAt the age of 19, Smith was cast in the remake of Get Carter. Later that year, Smith was cast in the starring role of Christy Huddleston in the television film Christy: The Movie,[5] and its follow-up two-part miniseries Christy, Choices of the Heart.[6] She starred in the show Mutant X, where she played the character of Emma deLauro from 2001 to 2003.
Throughout the 2000s, she guest-starred in episodes of The Dead Zone, The Twilight Zone, and Blade: The Series, among others. Smith was also a recurring character in the Showtime drama series The L Word, playing sous chef Lara Perkins. In 2005, Smith filmed the sexually explicit movie Lie with Me,[7] where she played the character of Leila.[8] The same year, she was cast in the 2006 romance film The Last Kiss.[9]
In 2006, she had a recurring part on the Canadian drama Intelligence. In early 2007, she played Kath in the CBC miniseries Dragon Boys. The same year, Smith was cast in starring roles in the 2008 thriller film Pathology,[10] and in the 2009 drama film Helen with Ashley Judd.[11]
In 2008, Smith became a series regular in the ninth season on the long-running CBS forensics drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation playing Riley Adams (originally named Bryce Adams), "a smart, flirtatious, and witty non-conformist who entered law enforcement to rebel against her judgmental psychiatrist father", who joins Grissom's team,[12][13] to fill the void left by the departure of Jorja Fox's Sara Sidle.[14] She and her character did not return for the tenth season.
In 2009 Smith was cast in one of the lead roles in the German television film Hindenburg: The Last Flight by RTL, which aired in February 2011 in Germany[15] and was broadcast by American premium channel Encore in March 2013.[16] In 2010, Smith returned to Canada and joined the cast of the CTV drama series The Listener for its second season.[17][18]
In 2012, she was cast in the starring role of Grace in the 2013 Canadian comedy film Cinemanovels alongside Jennifer Beals, with whom Smith had previously appeared in The L Word and the 2010 film A Night for Dying Tigers.[19]
In 2014, Smith played government investigator Samantha Krueger on the CBC/Syfy science-fiction miniseries Ascension.[20] In 2015, Smith joined the cast of the CBC drama series This Life, playing Maggie, the sister of the lead character (Torri Higginson) who is suffering from stage four cancer;[21] Smith's portrayal of the character was well received by The Globe and Mail's John Doyle.[22]
In 2017, she was cast in the lead role in the CBC drama series Frankie Drake Mysteries.[23] The series ran for four seasons,[24] and received generally positive reviews from critics.[25][26][27] The Globe and Mail wrote that Smith played the role "with glorious oomph".[28]
Personal life
editMarried to actor Dillon Casey since 2024. She has one daughter born in 2016.[1]
Filmography
editFilm
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | Get Carter | Girl #2 | |
2005 | Lie with Me | Leila | |
2006 | Art School Confidential | Beat Girl | |
2006 | The Last Kiss | Lisa | |
2006 | One Way | Angelina Sable | |
2007 | Normal | Sherri | |
2007 | Late Fragment | Lea | |
2007 | Trick 'r Treat | Danielle | |
2008 | Pathology | Juliette Bath | |
2008 | An American Carol | Voice of Reason | |
2009 | Helen | Mathilda | |
2010 | A Night for Dying Tigers | Karen | |
2011 | Girl Walks into a Bar | Karen | |
2012 | Three Days in Havana | Grace | |
2013 | Hunting Season | Samantha | |
2013 | Cinemanovels | Grace | |
2014 | If I Stay | Willow | |
2015 | How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town | Heather Mitchell | |
2017 | The Shape of Water | Elaine |
Television
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction | Michelle Lambert | Episode: "Murder of Roy Hennessey" |
2000 | Homewood P.I. | N/A | Unsold television pilot |
2000 | Dark Angel | Natalie | Episode: Pilot |
2000 | 2gether | Erin | Television film (MTV) |
2000 | 2gether: The Series | Erin Evans | Recurring role, 11 episodes |
2000 | Christy: The Movie | Christy Huddleston | Television film (Pax); aka. Christy: Return to Cutter Gap |
2001 | Christy, Choices of the Heart | Christy Huddleston | Television miniseries (Pax)[note 1] |
2001 | The Wedding Dress | Hannah Pinkham | Television film |
2001–2003 | Mutant X | Emma DeLauro | Main role (seasons 1–2) |
2003 | The Twilight Zone | Eve | Episode: "Sunrise" |
2004 | I Want to Marry Ryan Banks | Lauren | Television film |
2004 | The Survivors Club | Meg Pesaturo | Television film |
2004 | The Dead Zone | Bonnie Gibson | Episode: "Total Awareness" |
2004–2006 | The L Word | Lara Perkins | Recurring role, 20 episodes |
2006 | Blade: The Series | Bethany | Episode: "Hunters" |
2006–2007 | Intelligence | Tina | Recurring role, 10 episodes |
2007 | Dragon Boys | Kath | Television miniseries |
2008–2009 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Riley Adams | Main role (season 9) |
2009 | Anatomy of Hope | Cynthia Morgan | Unsold television pilot |
2009 | Can Openers | Susan | Unsold television pilot[12] |
2009 | CSI: Deadly Intent | Riley Adams | Video game; voice role |
2010 | Psych | Lillian | Episode: "Feet Don't Kill Me Now" |
2011 | Hindenburg: The Last Flight | Jennifer van Zandt | Television film |
2011 | Good Dog | Claire | Main role |
2011–2014 | The Listener | Michelle McCluskey | Main role (seasons 2–5) |
2012 | Good God | Claire | Episode: "One Station Under God" |
2012 | Ring of Fire | Emily Booth | Unsold television pilot |
2014 | Murdoch Mysteries | Elva Gordon | Episode: "Journey to the Centre of Toronto" |
2014 | Saving Hope | Astrid Ray | Episode: "The Other Side of Midnight" |
2014 | Ascension | Samantha Krueger | Television miniseries (SyFy) |
2015–2016 | This Life | Maggie Lawson | Main role; 20 episodes |
2017–2021 | Frankie Drake Mysteries | Frankie Drake | Lead role |
2019 | Hudson and Rex | Gabrielle Bullock | Episode: "S1, Ep. 8, Fast Eddie's, " |
2021 | The Wedding Ring | Kate Sterling | Television film (UPTV) |
2021 | Doomsday Mom: The Lori Vallow Story | Lori Vallow | Television film (Lifetime) |
2022 | Departure | Linda Halley | 4 episodes (season 3) |
- Notes
- ^ Also known as Christy: A Change of Seasons (i.e. Part I) and Christy: A New Beginning (i.e. Part II).
Accolades
editYear | Award | Category | Work | Result | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Gemini Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series | Mutant X | Nominated | [29] |
2008 | Leo Awards | Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama | Normal | Nominated | [30] |
2009 | Leo Awards | Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama | Helen | Won | [31] |
2011 | Gemini Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role | The Listener | Nominated | [32] |
2011 | Leo Awards | Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama | A Night for Dying Tigers | Nominated | [33] |
2014 | Leo Awards | Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama | Cinemanovels | Won | [34] |
2016 | Leo Awards | Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series | This Life | Won | [35] |
2017 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series | This Life | Nominated | [36] |
Leo Awards | Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series | This Life | Nominated | [37] |
References
edit- ^ a b Morin, Max (October 12, 2016). "Raising a Baby on The Set of This Life". CBC. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
- ^ "On This Day". The New York Times. June 19, 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
Lauren Lee Smith turns 29 years old today.
- ^ Gerry Kahrmann (June 18, 2012). "Actress Lauren Lee Smith is 32". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ a b "Lauren Lee Smith "Mutant X" Biography @ filmbug.com". February 17, 2003. Retrieved October 16, 2006.
- ^ Connie Wethington (November 18, 2000). "'Christy: The Movie' Stays True to Its Original Concept, Values". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ Susan King (May 12, 2001). "TV's Plucky 'Christy' Returns --and She's Getting Hitched". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ David Rooney (June 16, 2004). "Think, Virgo spreading 'Lie'". Variety. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ Leslie Felperin (October 12, 2005). "Review: 'Lie With Me'". Variety. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ Justin Chang (May 18, 2005). "Lauren Lee Smith". Variety. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ Kathy Lyford (April 7, 2007). "Four cast in 'Pathology'". Variety. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ Michael Fleming (October 23, 2007). "Goran Visnjic joins Judd in 'Helen'". Variety. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ a b Nellie Andreeva (May 15, 2008). "Lauren Lee Smith joins 'CSI'". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ "Lauren Lee Smith Joins the Cast of 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' as a Series Regular" (Press release). CBS. May 16, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2016 – via The Futon Critic.
- ^ Michael Ausiello (July 15, 2008). "Exclusive: 'CSI' Boss Outlines Season of Change". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
Previously-announced addition Lauren Lee Smith (The L Word) joins the cast in the third episode as new CSI Riley Adams. "She will come in to ostensibly replace Sara Sidle," says Mendelsohn. "She has a very distinct personality... a very wry sense of humor. She doesn't take herself too seriously." Adds Shankar: "This is a person who, unlike the rest of our gang, has not had Grissom as a mentor. So there's a very different relationship between Riley and Grissom."
- ^ Ed Meza (September 24, 2009). "Lauren Lee Smith boards 'Hindenburg'". Variety. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ Ed Stockly (March 11, 2013). "Tuesday's TV Highlights: 'Hindenburg: The Last Flight' on Encore". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 28, 2019.[dead link]
- ^ Debra Yeo (September 4, 2010). "TV news and tips for Friday". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
- ^ Bruce DeMara (February 7, 2011). "Listener star and his character are older, wiser". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
- ^ Katherine Brodsky (August 6, 2012). "Miles preps 'Cinemanovel'". Variety. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ Jeff Jensen (December 15, 2014). "'Ascension' review: Back to the future again, but with a twist". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
My engagement went next level with the arrival of Samantha Krueger (Lauren Lee Smith), a government investigator tasked with solving the murder and smoking out Enzmann's secrets. She's a hero to root for.
- ^ Cassandra Szklarski (October 3, 2015). "CBC-TV series 'This Life' celebrates life in face of terminal cancer". Vancouver Sun. The Canadian Press. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
- ^ John Doyle (December 19, 2015). "Our favourite things". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
In a series that took time to find its footing, Lauren Lee Smith was magical from the get-go as Maggie, sister to the main, cancer-plagued character played by Torri Higginson.
- ^ "The TV home of Murdoch Mysteries is getting a new detective drama". Toronto Star, April 4, 2017.
- ^ "CBC'S FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES ENDS AFTER FOUR SEASONS". tv-eh.com. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
- ^ "Frankie Drake | TV, eh?". www.tv-eh.com. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
- ^ "CBC's Frankie Drake Mysteries is fabulously fun Canadian content". Retrieved December 16, 2017.
- ^ Schneller, Johanna (November 12, 2017). "In Frankie Drake Mysteries, some characters get a chance to sashay". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
- ^ Doyle, John (November 6, 2017). "CBC's Frankie Drake Mysteries is fabulously fun Canadian content". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ "Awards Database - Award: Geminis (English TV 1986-2011) - Award Category: Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series". Gemini Awards. April 8, 2014. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
- ^ Past Nominees & Winners 2008 at www.leoawards.com
- ^ Petrina Gentile (April 13, 2011). "The fruit of Lauren Lee Smith's labour". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
- ^ Debra Yeo (August 3, 2011). "Flashpoint leads Gemini nominations for third year". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
- ^ Past Nominees & Winners 20011 at www.leoawards.com
- ^ "2014 Leo Awards Nominees & Winners" (PDF). Leo Awards. 2014. p. 19. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
- ^ "2016 Winners by Name". Leo Awards. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ^ "2017 TV Nominees - Academy.ca". Academy.ca. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
- ^ "Leo Awards, Nominees by Name 2017". www.leoawards.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2017.