In 1985, Smart was cast in the starring role of Charlene Frazier Stillfield on the comedy series "Designing Women", a role she played from the show's beginning in 1986 through its fifth season. After leaving "Designing Women", her work mostly concentrated within made-for-television movies and supporting roles in films. Notably she portrayed serial killer, Aileen Wuornos, in the TV movie, "Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story" (1992), followed by a supporting part in the black comedy "Mistress" (1992), opposite Robert De Niro and Eli Wallach. Critic Roger Ebert praised the film and called Smart's character portrayal "calculating."