Sarah Ellis Smith was born in Asheville, North Carolina and grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Rabun Gap, Georgia. Smith began acting at an early age under her father's direction in theatre productions. At 15, she was part of an ensemble that began a circus program within her school, Rabun Gap Nacoochee School, that continues to this day. Smith pursued theatre performance and studies through college at the Gainesville Theater Alliance, then moved to Louisiana to earn her MFA immediately following. While living in Louisiana, Smith met her husband, conductor Raul Gomez-Rojas, moved to New Orleans, and founded a performance company, Compleat Stage. Compleat Stage produced interdisciplinary, original works and offered arts-centric workshops to under-served children. Smith spends her time between New Orleans, Atlanta, Georgia, and Portland, Oregon.