Alena Smith, the acclaimed creator of the Apple TV+ series Dickinson, recently signed with WME, marking a significant step in her multifaceted career. This move highlights her influential storytelling, which masterfully blends historical narratives with contemporary themes, and solidifies her position as a leading voice in television and theater.
Alena Smith has become a name synonymous with innovative storytelling, carving out a unique space in both television and theater. Known for her critically acclaimed work as a showrunner, screenwriter, and playwright, Smith’s career trajectory showcases a remarkable blend of creativity and intellectual depth. Her recent signing with WME, a leading talent agency, signals an exciting new chapter, promising further development of her distinctive approach to film and television.
The Enduring Legacy of ‘Dickinson’
Smith is best known as the creator, showrunner, and executive producer of Dickinson, the critically acclaimed series that ran for three seasons on Apple TV+. This groundbreaking show offered a comedic and anachronistic look into the early life of famed poet Emily Dickinson, starring Hailee Steinfeld in the lead role. Dickinson quickly garnered widespread praise, including a prestigious Peabody Award in 2019 for its inaugural season, recognizing its unique blend of historical narrative with modern sensibilities, as reported by the Peabody Awards website. It also appeared on over 70 “best of TV” lists in 2021, notably the New York Times.
Beyond critical acclaim, the series was twice nominated for a GLAAD Media Award, lauded for its groundbreaking queer representation that brought new depth to historical interpretation. The show’s impact extended beyond the screen; costumes, props, and set pieces from the production were utilized to refurbish the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, MA, connecting the fictional portrayal to the poet’s real-world legacy.
Smith’s Creative Vision for ‘Dickinson’
Smith’s personal connection to Emily Dickinson dates back to her high school years, deepening after reading a biography of the poet post-college. She resonated with Dickinson’s intense, sometimes confining, family relationships and her ability to find the infinite in the small details of life. Smith was particularly drawn to the profound ironies of Dickinson’s existence: her unpublished status during her lifetime juxtaposed with her enormous posthumous legacy, and her limited day-to-day life contrasting with her exploration of the deepest human experiences.
The decision to create Dickinson stemmed from Smith’s desire to craft a show she wouldn’t tire of. She envisioned using Emily Dickinson’s coming-of-age story as an “avatar” for her own, creating an “unexpected, uncanny mirror” reflecting the 21st century through a 19th-century lens. This approach allowed for a vibrant, contemporary feel, incorporating modern music and dialogue while remaining true to the essence of Dickinson’s world.
Unforgettable Guest Stars and Subversive Casting
One of Dickinson’s most talked-about aspects was its inventive casting of guest stars. For the character of Death, inspired by Emily Dickinson’s poem “Because I could not stop for Death,” Smith had a very specific vision. She explained that she literally put a picture of rapper Wiz Khalifa on her mood board as the ideal aesthetic for Death. In a stroke of “kismet,” Khalifa accepted the role, understanding the “sly subversion” and the half-flirtatious, half-mentor dynamic Death shared with Emily, becoming her guide in many ways.
Another standout cameo was Ziwe Fumudoh as Sojourner Truth. Smith, familiar with Ziwe’s comedic work and her insightful social commentary on Twitter, invited her to join the Season 3 writers’ room. During this time, Ziwe was also creating her impactful Instagram show “Baited,” which explored race, identity, and gender. Recognizing Ziwe’s sharp grasp of culture, Smith and her team decided to cast her in a historical cameo, not realizing she would soon become a major celebrity with her own Showtime talk show.
A Journey Through Television and Theater
Before creating Dickinson, Alena Smith honed her craft on several notable television series. Her career began as a staff writer on HBO’s The Newsroom during its third season. She then transitioned to Showtime’s The Affair, serving as a writer and co-producer. Smith found the writing on The Affair particularly enjoyable, appreciating its existential and ontological layers. She highlighted how the show transcended typical drama by exploring the unreliability of narrative, with each episode told from divergent perspectives of characters sharing the same experience.
Smith’s creative talents are not confined to the screen. An accomplished playwright, she studied at the prestigious Yale School of Drama, and her plays have been produced globally. Her published works include:
- Icebergs
- The Bad Guys (later adapted into a film in 2018, starring Glenn Powell)
- Plucker
- The Lacy Project
- The New Sincerity (which the New York Times lauded as “splendid… entertaining and thought-provoking… comedy with a poignant edge”)
Additionally, Smith is the author of the novel Tween Hobo: Off the Rails (2016), which originated from her popular mid-2010s cult Twitter account, @tweenhobo. Her essays have also graced the pages of esteemed publications such as the New York Times, Vanity Fair, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, further solidifying her reputation as a versatile and insightful writer.
The Road Ahead: ‘Cry Wolf’ and Beyond
Currently, Alena Smith is an executive producer and writer on FX’s upcoming limited series Cry Wolf, created by Sarah Treem. This project boasts a stellar cast, featuring Academy Award winners Olivia Colman and Brie Larson, as reported by Variety. The addition of such high-caliber talent to a project involving Smith and Treem, known for their compelling dramas, is already generating significant buzz within the industry.
Her recent signing with WME on October 14, 2025, underscores her growing influence and the agency’s commitment to further developing her unique storytelling approach across various media platforms. As Alena Smith continues to expand her creative universe, fans eagerly anticipate what thought-provoking and genre-defying narratives she will bring to screens and stages next.
