Jean Smart won the Emmy for lead actress on Sunday, in recognition of her portrayal of Deborah Vance in Season 3 of Max’s “Hacks.”
This marks her third time taking home the gold for her role in “Hacks,” and her sixth Emmy win overall. in 2008, she won supporting comedy actress for “Samantha Who?”, and she won guest comedy actress for “Frasier” in both 2000 and 2001.
“It’s very humiliating, it really is. And I appreciate this because I just don’t get enough attention. I mean it,” Smart said as he took the stage to accept the trophy.
“I will never be able to thank you enough for thinking of me with this incredible role. Casey and Sara and everyone at HBO. By Max – I’m sorry. Just what we needed, another network,” she joked.
She went on to honor her agent of more than thirty years, Scott Henderson, who is retiring and “breaks my heart,” she said, calling him the most amazing, cultured, tasteful, kind, funny man who never tried to talk me out of it. or from things that I really didn’t feel good about.
In addition to “Hacks,” Smart’s best-known credits include playing Charlene Frazier Stillfield on CBS’ “Designing Women” from 1986 to 1991 and Regina Newley on ABC’s “Samantha Who?” from 2007 to 2009). She also appeared in Season 2 of ‘Fargo’ in 2015 and ‘Legion’ from 2017 to 2019, both on FX, plus ‘Watchmen’ in 2019 and ‘Mare of Easttown’ in 2021, both on HBO.
Also nominated for lead actress were Quinta Brunson for “Abbott Elementary,” Ayo Edebiri for “The Bear,” Selena Gomez for “Only Murders in the Building,” Maya Rudolph for “Loot” and Kristen Wiig for “Palm Royale.”
“Hacks” was also up for comedy series, with awards for comedy actress (Hannah Einbinder), comedy actor (Paul W. Downs), comedy directing and comedy writing.