---
name: "Julia Smith"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/julia-smith"
roles: ["Director"]
born: "26 May 1927"
died: "19 June 1997"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
updated: "2026-09-16T16:07:42.821455+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Julia Smith

Director. Born 26 May 1927 in London. Died 19 June 1997.

## Details

- **Work:** Director
- **Born:** 26 May 1927, London
- **Died:** 19 June 1997
- **Active:** 1962–1963
- **Works often with:** Anthony Read, Barry Letts, Bob Baker, Brian Hayles, Christopher Barry, Dave Martin

## Biography

Julia Smith (26 May 1927 – 19 June 1997) was an English television director and producer. She trained at RADA and worked in stage management before joining the BBC, where she completed a directors' training course. Her early directing credits included episodes of *Dr Finlay's Casebook*, *Compact* and *Z-Cars*. In 1966–67 she directed two *Doctor Who* serials, *The Smugglers* and *The Underwater Menace*.

While working on *Z-Cars* she met script editor Tony Holland. The pair became collaborators on the hospital drama *Angels* (1979–83) and went on to co-create the BBC soap opera *EastEnders* (1985), with Smith serving as its first producer and directing early episodes. They later created the short-lived soap *Eldorado* (1992–93).

Smith also directed the 1968 BBC serialisation of *The Railway Children*. She was married to David Geary from 1962 to 1966.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, tardis.wiki, screenonline.org.uk, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Doctor Who* (1963), Fi1m 81, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/doctor-who.md)

## Also credited on (not yet reviewed)

- *Z-Cars* (1962), Director

## Also known for

- *EastEnders* (1985), Director, Writer

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/julia-smith