Jean Smart won the Emmy for best comedy actress for her performance as Deborah Vance, a Las Vegas stand-up legend, in “Hacks.”
It is her third Emmy for her role in the Max comedy, but her sixth overall. She previously won twice for guest-starring on “Frasier” and for supporting actress in a comedy for “Samantha Who?”
“It's very gratifying, it really is, and I appreciate it because I just don't get enough attention,” Smart joked while accepting the honor Sunday night at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
She went on to thank “Hacks” showrunners Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky, as well as her agent of more than 30 years, Scott Henderson, “who is stepping down and it breaks my heart.”
“Scott, I love you and I wish you all the best. You are going to ride your bike around France, because that is better than representing me,” she continued with her acceptance speech inspired by Deborah Vance.
Smart beat out last year’s winner, “The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri, preventing the FX comedy from sweeping the major comedy categories. Because production was delayed by the two Hollywood strikes, “Hacks” did not compete in 2023, but the show returned to Max in May for a third season, its most acclaimed yet. Created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky, the series follows the fraught relationship between Deborah Vance, an old-school Joan Rivers-style comedian, and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), the much younger writer who helps Deborah revamp her stale act.
In season three, Deborah's career was on the rise as she competed for a coveted late-night talk show host job, but the character also faced accountability for insensitive jokes from her past, and her relationship with Ava faced new challenges.
“Hacks” has been a late-career breakthrough for Smart, a veteran actress who first gained prominence as the ingenue Charlene on the CBS sitcom “Designing Women,” and has earned 13 Emmy nominations to date.
“Hacks” was nominated for 17 Emmy Awards this year, including in the comedy series category.
