Lauren Lee Smith (born June 19, 1980) 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.
Early life Smith was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. When she was 14, her family moved to Los Angeles, California. There, she began a modelling career.
Career At 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, and its follow-up two-part miniseries Christy, Choices of the Heart. 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 a 2005 change of pace, Smith filmed the sexually explicit movie Lie with Me, where she played the character of Leila. The same year, she was cast in the 2006 romance film The Last Kiss.
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, and in the 2009 drama film Helen with Ashley Judd.
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, to fill the void left by the departure of Jorja Fox's Sara Sidle. 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 and was broadcast by American premium channel Encore in March 2013. In 2010, Smith returned to Canada and joined the cast of the CTV drama series The Listener for its second season.
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.
In 2014, Smith played government investigator Samantha Krueger on the CBC/Syfy science-fiction miniseries Ascension. 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; Smith's portrayal of the character was well received by The Globe and Mail'''s John Doyle.
In 2017, she was cast in the lead role in the CBC drama series Frankie Drake Mysteries."The TV home of Murdoch Mysteries is getting a new detective drama". Toronto Star, April 4, 2017. The series ran for four seasons, and received generally positive reviews from critics. The Globe and Mail'' wrote that Smith played the role "with glorious oomph".
Personal life She has been married to actor Dillon Casey since 2024. She has one daughter born in 2016.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes2000Get CarterGirl #22005Lie with MeLeila2006Art School ConfidentialBeat Girl2006Lisa2006One WayAngelina Sable2007NormalSherri2007Late FragmentLea2007Trick 'r TreatDanielle2008PathologyJuliette Bath2008Voice of Reason2009HelenMathilda2010Karen2011Girl Walks into a BarKaren2012Three Days in HavanaGrace2013Hunting SeasonSamantha2013CinemanovelsGrace2014If I StayWillow 2015How to Plan an Orgy in a Small TownHeather Mitchell 2017 The Shape of Water Elaine 2025 Steal Away Florence
Television Year Title Role Notes1997Beyond Belief: Fact or FictionMichelle LambertEpisode: "Murder of Roy Hennessey"2000Homewood P.I.Unsold television pilot2000Dark AngelNatalieEpisode: Pilot20002getherErin Television film (MTV)20002gether: The SeriesErin EvansRecurring role, 11 episodes2000Christy: The MovieChristy HuddlestonTelevision film (Pax); aka. Christy: Return to Cutter Gap2001Christy, Choices of the HeartChristy HuddlestonTelevision miniseries (Pax)2001 The Wedding DressHannah PinkhamTelevision film2001–2003Mutant XEmma DeLauroMain role (seasons 1–2)2003 The Twilight ZoneEveEpisode: "Sunrise"2004I Want to Marry Ryan BanksLaurenTelevision film2004 The Survivors ClubMeg PesaturoTelevision film2004 The Dead ZoneBonnie GibsonEpisode: "Total Awareness"2004–2006 The L WordLara PerkinsRecurring role, 20 episodes2006Blade: The SeriesBethanyEpisode: "Hunters"2006–2007IntelligenceTinaRecurring role, 10 episodes2007Dragon BoysKathTelevision miniseries2008–2009 CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationRiley AdamsMain role (season 9)2009Anatomy of HopeCynthia MorganUnsold television pilot2009Can OpenersSusanUnsold television pilot2009CSI: Deadly IntentRiley AdamsVideo game; voice role2010PsychLillianEpisode: "Feet Don't Kill Me Now"2011Hindenburg: The Last FlightJennifer van ZandtTelevision film2011Good DogClaireMain role2011–2014 The ListenerMain role (seasons 2–5)2012Good GodClaireEpisode: "One Station Under God"2012Ring of FireEmily BoothUnsold television pilot2014Murdoch MysteriesElva GordonEpisode: "Journey to the Centre of Toronto"2014Saving HopeAstrid RayEpisode: "The Other Side of Midnight"2014AscensionSamantha KruegerTelevision miniseries (SyFy)2015–2016This LifeMaggie LawsonMain role; 20 episodes2017–2021Frankie Drake MysteriesFrankie DrakeLead role2019Hudson and RexGabrielle BullockEpisode: "S1, Ep. 8, Fast Eddie's, "2021 The Wedding RingKate SterlingTelevision film (UPTV)2021Doomsday Mom: The Lori Vallow StoryLori VallowTelevision film (Lifetime)2022DepartureLinda Halley4 episodes (season 3)2026Skymed Captain RileySeason 4 Notes
Accolades Year Award Category Work Result 2002 Gemini Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Series Mutant X 2008 Leo Awards Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama Normal Past Nominees & Winners 2008 at www.leoawards.com 2009 Leo Awards Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama Helen 2011 Gemini Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role The Listener 2011 Leo Awards Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama A Night for Dying Tigers Past Nominees & Winners 20011 at www.leoawards.com 2014 Leo Awards Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama Cinemanovels 2016 Leo Awards Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series This Life 2017 Canadian Screen Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Series This Life Leo Awards Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series This Life
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