The Origins of Bart and Lisa: Casting and Development

The early development of Bart and Lisa's characters is highlighted through the casting stories of Nancy Cartwright and Yardley Smith, who voiced them. Both voiced their initial hesitancy in pursuing voiceover work, with Cartwright attributing her casting to a brief audition that led her to ultimately become Bart instead of Lisa. Smith's journey involved a casting director recognizing her talent from a prior play, leading to her audition for Lisa. Their anecdotes reveal the serendipitous nature of casting decisions and how their characters evolved into enduring icons of 'The Simpsons' throughout its history.