Jean Smart has been an actor since childhood. Her first performances were impromptu plays that she and her sister staged in the garage of their Seattle home. From there, she continued her craft in high school and college productions (via Variety).
Smart told Today that her first job was serving meals at a hospital when she was 15. As a high school senior, Smart told NPR that she was mentored by Earl Kelly, her drama teacher. This experience inspired her to pursue an acting career. After graduating from the University of Washington, she began her career as a working actor in local productions and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
At the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Smart performed "Much Ado About Nothing" and "Henry VI." Her Shakespearean roles continued as she played Lady Macbeth at Pittsburgh Public Theatre.
At age 28, Smart moved to New York to explore acting opportunities. She played Lil in the 1980 off-Broadway production of "Last Summer at Bluefish Cove." This influential play marked a turning-point for the depiction of lesbian characters on stage and served as Smart's break-out role (via Mental Floss).
A year later, Smart played iconic actor Marlene Dietrich in "Piaf" and made her Broadway debut. According to IMDb, a TV movie version of "Piaf" paved the way for Smart's future stardom.
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