In 2009, a mutual friend introduced Turner-Smith to musician
Pharrell Williams after a
N.E.R.D. concert. When she told him she was looking to become a writer, he convinced her to become a model and move to Los Angeles. Turner-Smith first came to prominence playing Sgt. Azima Kandie in the 2017–2018 season of the
TNT series
The Last Ship. She had a major role as Melantha Jhirl in the 2018
Syfy/
Netflix series
Nightflyers. She played Josie in the
Cinemax series
Jett, which premiered in June 2019, and starred in the 2019 film
Queen & Slim opposite
Daniel Kaluuya. In October 2020, it was announced that Turner-Smith would be portraying Queen
Anne Boleyn in
Anne Boleyn, a three-part drama series on
Channel 5, which details the final months of Boleyn's life. Her casting was met with backlash due to her race. The series premiered in May 2021, with Turner-Smith's performance receiving praise. In January 2021, it was announced that she was cast as Éile, a warrior blessed with the voice of a goddess, in
The Witcher: Blood Origin, a six-episode limited series prequel to
The Witcher. In April 2021, Netflix announced that she had departed the project due to scheduling conflicts and a change in the production schedule. Turner-Smith starred in
Kogonada's sci-fi drama
After Yang alongside
Colin Farrell. The film was released in March 2022. In September 2022, she joined the
Star Wars Disney+ series
The Acolyte. In June 2023, it was announced that Turner-Smith would join the cast of
Tron: Ares alongside
Jared Leto. == Personal life ==