Jean Smart won the Emmy for lead comedy actress on Sunday, recognizing her portrayal of Deborah Vance in Season 3 of Max’s “Hacks.”
This is her third time taking home the gold for her “Hacks” role, 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 humbling, it really is. And I appreciate this because I just don’t get enough attention. I’m serious,” Smart said upon taking 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 everybody at HBO. At Max — I’m sorry. Just what we needed, another network,” she joked.
She went on to honor her agent of more than 30 years, Scott Henderson, who is retiring and “breaking my heart,” she said, calling him “the most amazing, cultured, tasteful, kind, funny man who never tried to talk me in or out of things I really didn’t feel great about.”
Besides “Hacks,” Smart’s best known credits include playing Charlene Frazier Stillfield in CBS’ “Designing Women” from 1986 to 1991 and Regina Newley in the 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 comedy 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, supporting comedy actress (Hannah Einbinder), supporting comedy actor (Paul W. Downs), comedy directing and comedy writing awards on Sunday.
See the full list of Emmy winners here.
From Variety US