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Amy was born March 25th, 1976 in Topanga Canyon, California. She was
a relatively new arrival when she first gained notice for her supporting
roles in the 1999 hit teen films "Varsity Blues" and "Outside
Providence." With her blonde, carefree California girl good looks,
the Los Angeles native got her start in TV-movies and made her feature
debut in Stephen Kay's "The Last Time I Committed Suicide" screened
at 1997's Sundance Film Festival. She was briefly seen in Paul Verhoeven's
big-budget sci-fi actioner "Starship Troopers" and had an impressive
turn in the vastly different, quirkily independent "How to Make the
Cruelest Month." In the latter she played Dot, the graceful golden
girl who seduces the one-time boyfriend of her sister, the troubled protagonist
Bell (Clea DuVall). The by-the-numbers horror film "Campfire Tales"
followed in 1998, along with the topically chilling but clumsily executed
internet stalker thriller "Dee Snider's StrangeLand," written,
produced and starring the titular Twisted Sister frontman as a deranged
torturer who meets his victims in web chatrooms.
Amy would reach her widest audience with a co-starring role opposite
James Van Der Beek in Brian Robbins' surprise box office hit "Varsity
Blues." The actress played Jules Harbor, a girl who longs for life
beyond her small town's high school football-obsessed culture but who,
as sister of the injured star quarterback (Paul Walker) and girlfriend
of his idealistic replacement (Van Der Beek), is tied to it. With her
darkened hair, sad eyes and intelligent portrayal of the strong-willed
Jules, Smart reminded audiences of Van Der Beek's "Dawson's Creek"
co-star Katie Holmes. She would next be featured as Shawn Hatosy's upper-class
love interest in Michael Corrente's poignant 1970s era comedy "Outside
Providence." Based on Peter Farrelly's novel, the film followed a
working-class teenaged boy (Hatosy) sent by his abrasive but loving father
(Alec Baldwin) to a tony prep school after running into trouble at home.
"But I have to say, probably when I'm about 30 I'll be pretty,
not settled, but happy with what I've accomplished so far. I'm happy
where I am now."
"I think it's a gift to become a star, to become a celebrity."
"I want to take roles that challenge me and I want to like
the script and obviously feel connected with the director because
the director to me is so important."
"I'm just kind of taking whatever life gives me and hoping
that I make the right decision."
"Well, I'm also like 23 and playing 16. So maybe when I'm
30 I'll be playing characters in their early 20s. I don't know."
"Well, what is acting but the study of human behavior? And
that's so fascinating to me."
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