Jean Smart has won her 4th Emmy for her role of Deborah Vance in Hacks, and her 7th Emmy overall.
As her name was announced on the Emmy Awards stage Sunday night, Smart put her face in her hands. When she reached the podium, she deadpanned, “If I was walking like John Wayne, it’s because I hurt my knee this summer, and it’s not quite repaired.”
She continued, “One of the best things about winning something like this is that you actually get to publicly thank the people you work with. Our unbelievable crew, my incredible cast mates, led by the incomparable Hannah Einbinder and our showrunners! Oh, my god, beyond brilliant.”
She went onto thank her children “who are my anchor,” and “Joe, my cheerleader” (possibly referring to Hacks writer Joe Mande). She closed her brief speech (well within the strict 30-second guideline set by host Nate Bargatze!) with the words, “Everybody, let’s be good to each other. Let’s just be good to each other.”
Jimmy Kimmel and Jean Smart on ‘Hacks’
Jake Giles Netter/Max
Smart previously won in this category for her Hacks role in 2021, 2022 and 2024. This new win is for Season 4 of the show, which ran April to late May of this year. Hacks has been renewed for a 5th Season.
In the HBO Max show created by Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky, Smart plays stand-up comedy legend Vance, who most recently reached the pinnacle of her TV dream – hosting Late Night. By her side is her protegée-turned-head writer Ava Daniels, played Hannah Einbinder, who also won the Emmy on Sunday night for Supporting Actress in a Comedy.
L-R: Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart in ‘Hacks’
Max
Hacks received a total of 14 Emmy nominations this year, including Best Comedy Series, with, in addition to Einbinder’s win Sunday, Julianne Nicholson collecting a win at the Creative Arts Emmys last weekend in the Guest category for her role as Dance Mom – a social media influencer who creates chaos on the set of Deborah’s show.
Apart from her several wins for Hacks, Smart has previously won Emmys in 2000 and 2001 for her guest role in Frasier, then in 2008 for Supporting Actress in Samantha Who?
Smart’s fellow nominees in this category this year were Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This), Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) and Uzo Aduba (The Residence).
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