A Detroit native, Lisa Lauren Smith is an Actress, Singer and Published Author. Her father, Earl Smith, was a master electrician and small business owner. Her mother Barbara Jacobs-Smith, is an actress, singer(Low Winter Sun) and retired school teacher. Lisa was raised watching her mother tour and perform with different theater companies and sing in the Michigan Opera Theater. Being inspired to perform, she began taking piano lessons at age 4, which led to learning how to play the violin and French horn. She attended The Detroit High School For The Fine and Performing Arts where she excelled in Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra, Brass ensembles, theory and performance. Following high school she received a 4-year presidential scholarship award to Wayne State University enrolling as a business administration major. Two years in, she changed her major to Radio and Television Broadcasting and began studies at The Specs Howard School of Media Arts and Technology. Before graduating, she was already working part time in a Detroit hip hop and R&B station, FM 98 WJLB Clear Channel. Hired as a midday producer for 1 year, she was offered her own part time slot on the weekends with Radio-One Detroit and became on-air personality "Mona Lisa". She was also an affiliate producer for the syndicated Russ Parr show with Olivia Fox. While doing station drops and part time appearances, another jock introduced her to on-camera commercial acting. Lisa signed with a local talent agency in Michigan and began doing voice-overs and television commercials. Her first on-camera booking was for a 2002 Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial which allowed to her to join the Screen Actors Guild. Already being a member of Aftra, she left radio, moved to Los Angeles and began studying at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theater Institute in West Hollywood. While in California she recorded her album debut "Rock Steady". A self-published author, Lisa also completed her first book while in California. The title of her work is "Simple Wisdom" by L.L. Smith. She was cast in 2004 as the legendary Billie Holiday in "The Queen of the Blues", which debuted at The Stella Adler Theater in Hollywood. This role led to a touring off-Broadway show with famed tap dance legend and choreographer Ted Louis Levy (Jelly's Last Jam) in Detroit's prestigious Music Hall Theater. Lisa was cast to play another Jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald in "One More Rhythm". Lisa joined Actors Equity, relocated to Detroit Michigan and continued her career in professional theater. She is the recipient of 2 Best Leading Actress awards for stage, has been nominated 8 times as a supporting actress and has starred in multiple stage plays. Show less «