After leaving the Glasgow School of Art, Smillie was a model throughout the 1980s. Her break in television came in 1989 when she auditioned for the role of hostess on "Wheel of Fortune" After leaving the show in 1994, Smillie appeared on the BBC television channel, firstly as a reporter on "The Travel Show", and then the "Holiday" show, eventually becoming the programme's main presenter. The DIY programme "Changing Rooms" established her name and led to her presenting other primetime shows for the BBC, such as the "National Lottery" and her own morning chat show "Smillie's People".