“Jeanne Lauren Smith is always there on the money, centered, clear and dependable.”
I was born in Los Angeles and raised outside of Seattle, and from the time I knew what it was I wanted to be an actor. I remember watching a black-and-white movie musical, pointing at the screen, and exclaiming “I want to do that!” My beloved mom signed me up for dance class the next day. That inspired my first play Ballerina Girl (which I wrote, directed, and starred in) at 9 years old.
Many performances, plays and episodes of “Inside the Actors Studio” later, I had my sights set on NYC. After being accepted to the theatre performance program at Marymount Manhattan College, I moved across the country to develop my craft and pursue my dreams.
The Downtown theatre community swiftly became my home. It’s been an incredible opportunity to explore bold storytelling across genre and style. I love new play development and having been a reader for writers for years, I circled back to my Ballerina Girl roots and I (re)discovered my desire to create. Consequently, I wrote and produced a virtual reading of Spider Play, which raised funds and awareness for domestic violence. I’m enjoying studying writing for television and continuing to develop new works across mediums.
My sweet spot is playing characters that have more going on than meets the eye. Whether that's a whistle-blower at a big pharma company, an up-and-coming prosecutor who believes in justice, or a cutting-edge woman of science, I love portraying women willing to get in the ring and go the extra mile for what they believe in.
My mission as an artist is to uplift untold stories. Through crafting the nuanced characters I get to play on stage and screen, shining light on events that can otherwise isolate us with writing, or experimental performance that breaks the boundaries of what storytelling structure can be, I am passionate about the ways art can create connection and understanding in unexpected ways.
A transformative practice that has impacted my life and art is meditation. I love supporting others in developing self-care and during the pandemic founded As You Are Mindfulness. This has become a virtual haven for creatives to come together to practice mindfulness and cultivate presence and grounding amidst challenges, celebrations, and everything in between.