Jean Smart just made Emmys history.
For her portrayal of Deborah Vance in Season 5 of “Hacks” on HBO Max, she won her fifth award for lead comedy actress, making her the first female performer to take home Emmys for every season of a show.
Smart received a standing ovation as Zendaya, the presenter for the award, called her name. “Just the men stay standing. The girls get to sit down,” she joked as she accepted her trophy. “I’m serious. Every time this happens, I think of the girls who are going: ‘I just got comfortable. Why she did have to —?’ You got your Spanx and your corset and your tape and your shoes that are cutting your toes off, going, ‘Oh my god. She’s not that good. You just stood up ’cause she’s old.”
Jean Smart reacts to winning her historic fifth Emmy for playing Deborah Vance in ‘HACKS.’ pic.twitter.com/vSxxJHEByd
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) September 15, 2026
Smart dedicated her win to “Hacks” creators Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky and Paul W. Downs. “It all begins and ends with them,” she said. “I love you guys so much. What a ride this has been.”
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Previously, the only actor to sweep the Emmys across each season of their show was Bill Cosby, who won for all three seasons of “I Spy” between 1966 and 1968.
Smart also tied Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman’s record for the most Emmy wins by an actor of any gender. Trailing behind them is Ed Asner with seven wins.
Smart is now an eight-time Emmy winner. In addition to her five “Hacks” wins, she was awarded for guest starring in “Frasier” in 2000 and 2001 and for her supporting role in “Samantha Who?” in 2008. She earned additional nominations for her work in “The District,” two seasons of “24,” “Harry’s Law,” “Fargo,” “Watchmen” and “Mare of Easttown.” She is also well known for playing Charlene Frazier Stillfield in CBS’ “Designing Women” from 1986 to 1991.
Also nominated for this year’s lead comedy actress Emmy were Lisa Kudrow (“The Comeback”), Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”), Elle Fanning (“Margo’s Got Money Troubles”) and Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear”).
From Variety US