Anna is an acclaimed actress, playwright, author, and educator renowned for pioneering a unique form of documentary theatre that blends performance, journalism, and social commentary. Widely recognized for her television roles as Nancy McNally on The West Wing and Gloria Akalitus on Nurse Jackie, Smith has built an influential career exploring issues of identity, race, community, and civic engagement. Through extensive interviews, she creates one-woman performances portraying dozens of characters and perspectives, earning recognition for her empathy and insight. A University Professor at New York University and faculty member at the Tisch School of the Arts, she is also the founding director of the Institute on the Arts and Civic Dialogue. Smith has received numerous honors, including the National Humanities Medal, the MacArthur Fellowship, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist recognition for her play Fires in the Mirror.
