Smith auditioned for the role over Zoom due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television and was cast as Dana, a love interest for established character Bobby Beale (Clay Milner Russell), making her first appearance on 1 April 2021.

Smith was initially unsure if viewers would like her, but critics have said that it has been refreshing to have a character with good intentions on EastEnders.

It was announced on 10 June 2022 that Smith had been axed by new executive producer Chris Clenshaw, with Dana set to exit the show later in the year.

Smith admitted that it was fitting for Dana to leave as she was of university age and was excited for her final scenes to air.

Her relationship with Bobby has been well received by viewers and critics, with one of their scenes nominated for Feel Good Moment at the 2021 Inside Soap Awards.

Smith's casting was announced on 28 March 2021, when it was confirmed that she would be guest starring as a love interest for established character Bobby Beale (Clay Milner Russell).

[1] Smith said that she was attracted to playing Dana since she is a smiley and bubbly character, describing her as the "innocent wholesome version of the girl next door".

[2] Smith auditioned for the role of Dana over Zoom with executive producer Jon Sen and other members of the production team.

[4] Smith had appeared in EastEnders prior to portraying Dana, when she played Ellie in 2019, a school student who gives Bex Fowler (Jasmine Armfield) drugs.

[6] Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) makes it her mission to find love for Bobby and introduces him to Dana, setting the pair up on a date that aired on 1 April 2021.

[2] In June 2021, it was announced that Smith had been promoted to a regular cast member after her six-month testing period and that her father, Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman), would be joining the series.

Digital Spy's Susannah Alexander wrote that Dana may have "been put off him for good after his revelations", hinting the end of their relationship.

Smith found the experience unbelievable and surreal, accrediting her excitement to it being near the Beale family's house, which she felt is an iconic part of the EastEnders set.

Smith added that despite his experience, Boatman is "happy to run with [her] ideas" for scenes which she felt allowed them to build a good father-daughter relationship with him, both on-screen and off-screen.

Digital Spy's Lisa Wehrstedt hinted that there would be tension between the siblings due to Dana often feeling shut out by Aaron, leading the pair to have a "strained relationship".

"[17] However, after seeing Bobby obsessively cleaning the kitchen at Walford East due to an OCD relapse, the pair talk and decide to reconcile.

[20] EastEnders announced that Aaron's storyline would explore issues of racism and religious hatred and that Dana could be affected by a bombing he is involved in.

[6] She hoped that the couple would get married one day and expressed her excitement at the thought of filming a soap wedding, having loved Stacey and Bradley Branning's (Charlie Clements) as a child.

[25] Speaking of the scenes ahead of her in June 2022, Smith said that then-newly appointed executive producer Chris Clenshaw would make his mark over an "exciting" summer 2022.

It's nothing personal to any of the cast going, it's simply a creative decision – for big storylines to happen you have to say goodbye to people, that's the nature of soap.

[27] Susan Knox of the Daily Mirror described Dana as a "brunette beauty" and noted that Smith is a talented actress.

[28] The Daily Mirror reported that viewers of EastEnders were "delighted" to see Dana kiss Bobby, specifically due to the lack of social distancing during the scenes.

[29] Viewers were "happy to witness some normality again", since the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television meant that cast members on the soap had to socially distance.

[29] The scene of Bobby stopping Dana from leaving Walford was nominated for Feel Good Moment at the 2021 Inside Soap Awards.

[15] After scenes of Harvey and Aaron being casually racist, the Metro's Calli Kitson appreciated that Dana is nothing like them, adding that viewers have noticed the difference too.

[10] Metro's Duncan Lindsay said that it is not common a soap character is genuinely nice and has no ulterior motives so Dana is a "breath of fresh air" for EastEnders.

[2] Smith noted that she had received numerous messages from fans "saying they love her, she has a heart of gold and they want to protect her", as well as complimenting her acting skills.

[2] In February 2022, Inside Soap's Kate White wrote that Dana and Bobby are an "adorable duo" and hoped that their families would allow them to stay together.