Smart has often played the "Good Girl" in previous roles, but is about to turn that upside down with her first time out as a series regular, on the new CBS drama Smith. Smart plays Annie, the only female in a crew of thieves, led by Bobby (Ray Liotta). This isn't a romantic view of life as a criminal, and all of Bobby's crew seems ready to do some very nasty things, including Annie, who proves to be rather ruthless on the series pilot. The series features a stellar cast, including Shohreh Aghdashloo (24 / House of Sand and Fog) and Virginia Madsen, who plays Bobby's wife, whom he attempts to keep out of the loop as to how he's really paying the bills. Playing the rest of Bobby's crew are Franky G (Saw II), Simon Baker (Land of the Dead / The Devil Wears Prada) and Jonny Lee Miller (Trainspotting), the latter of whom plays a character who has a romantic history with Smart that apparently ended badly.
I recently spoke to Smart to discuss the series, her role as Annie and collaborating with her costars and Smith executive producer John Wells (E.R. / The West Wing). In addition, we also discussed Smart's next film role, in the Jason Statham action film Crank.
IGN TV: Aside from some of the scenarios in The Butterfly Effect, this is probably the darkest character you've played overall so far. Is it fun for you to get to play someone like this?
Amy Smart: It's great. I've been very used to playing the girl next door, and I've been ready for awhile to play a character this complex, interesting, strong and smart.
IGN TV: You have an amazing cast. How is it working with all of the other actors in this ensemble?
Smart: It's a real pleasure, because I really am inspired by Virginia, Shohreh, Ray, and all these actors. And to be working with them, I really feel like I'm raising myself and my talent, to step up to their level. And I think you learn a lot, obviously by experience, but [also] by working with people who are experienced. And they're amazing actors and John Wells is a superb showrunner and writer, so to play the characters that he creates is phenomenal. This woman is strong, and she's a three dimensional, well rounded character, who's very dangerous.
IGN TV: You have a scene in the pilot where your character uses a taser in a brutal way, and it's pretty intense. How far would she go? Do you think she's a killer, like many of the rest of the crew seem to be?
Smart: I think she could be, definitely. I think it really depends on the circumstances. I think it depends on if it would be smart to do that, or would it really put her at risk of getting caught.
IGN TV: Have you thought about, or perhaps do you know, what her relationship was like with Jonny's character, and what exactly occurred?
Smart: I have my ideas, but we'll see, if the show progresses, the way they want to unfold that.
IGN TV: What would you like the dynamic to be between your characters, now that they find themselves working together again?
Smart: I think the most passionate dynamic is always a love/hate relationship, so I think a combination of that would really enhance our relationship. But we are threats to each other at the same time, because having any kind of relationship threatens your security and your survival.
IGN TV: What's Ray like to work with?
Smart: Wonderful. He's such a brilliant actor. He has the most amazing concentration and discipline and I really learn from him every time I'm working with him on set.
IGN TV: Right now it seems like it would be hard for there to be much interaction between the crew of thieves and Virginia's character. Are you hoping down the line maybe there can be more crossover between those characters?
Smart: I think so, because I think she… In the pilot, you get glimpses of where she [Virginia's character] really comes from, and I think my character is more similar to her than many people understand. And she's been there and done that and I think we're definitely going to cross paths when we get into the show more.
IGN TV: In the pilot, you are used as a very effective decoy during the heist, but would you like to maybe get to go inside on future jobs, and get to wear a black outfit and mask with the rest of the crew?
Smart: You know, I feel like my character will be in and out where best needed, in whatever heist that we're pulling. So I'm really not worried, because I know they have high aspirations for this woman, so I know they're going to create her the best they can.
IGN TV: Were you looking for a TV show in general? Or did this one come around, and obviously with John Wells and the cast, it was very appealing…?
Smart: Definitely. I understand the intensity of television, but there was everything favorable for this show. The actors involved, the writers, the creators, the producers, and honestly, I haven't had this opportunity to act in film with this caliber of actors, with this caliber of writers, and a character so well developed and strong.
IGN TV: It seems like there used to be much more of a divide between film actors and TV actors, though you'd already done things like Felicity and then returned to films. Do you think these days that divide has really gone away?
Smart: I have to say that as an actor, I really look for the role. I'm not really looking to see if it's for television or film, because there are highly talented people in both mediums. I just feel like there is a real blurred line between TV and film, because the level… There's so many more better TV shows than films coming out, in my opinion. So to me it just felt natural to go and to do this because the character is so well developed, and it's such an opportunity to work with the best of the best.
IGN TV: Speaking of films, I wanted to ask you about Crank. What is your role in that?
Smart: I play this character Eve, and the film is about Jason Statham's character, shot up with Chinese poison, and he's got an hour to live and the only way to stay alive is to keep his adrenaline up. And I play his girlfriend, who's completely a threat to him, because she's unaware he has this synthetic Chinese poison inside of him, and so she's at a much slower pace. And she goes along with this wild action adventure, and it's a really fun movie with dark comedic moments. And it's romantic at the same time!
IGN TV: Was it fun for you to do an action film?
Smart: It was. It was fun to do that with Jason Statham. He makes the job so much fun, and he was really looking out for my safety on set, because I was newer to it. And we had a blast. We just had a lot of fun with all the action sequences, and we have a sex scene in the middle of Chinatown…
IGN TV: Out in the open?
Smart: Out in the open, with many people watching! So we were in it together.
IGN TV: Did you have any stunts you did yourself in that?
Smart: I did have some stunts. A lot of gun shots, and running around and car chases and explosions.
IGN TV: So why do your characters have sex out in public in Chinatown?
Smart: To boost his adrenaline, to keep him alive. It's a survival mechanism.
IGN TV: That's a good reason!
Smith debuts September 19th at 10:00 pm ET/PT
Crank opens on September 1st