A man who envies our family is a man who needs help.

Smith had initially been asked to audition for the role of Lisa's brother Bart but casting director Bonita Pietila thought her voice was too high. " She made her acting debut in a sixth grade play. Brooks who is also executive producer of The Simpsons had cast Smith in his 1994 film I'll Do Anything (in one of the film's musical numbers) but her part was cut.

Smith intended to audition for the role of Bart Simpson but the casting director felt her voice was too high so Yeardley Smith was given the role of Lisa instead. She released a children's book titled I Lorelei in 2009 and her story The Race was included in the book Just Humor Me. She has appeared in several films including City Slickers Just Write Toys and As Good as It Gets.