LOS ANGELES – Five seasons of “Hacks,” and five Emmy Awards for Jean Smart.
Smart capped an undefeated “Hacks” run Monday night, claiming outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for all five seasons of the celebrated HBO Max comedy. The achievement makes her the first woman to win an acting Emmy for every season of a television series.
The crowd gave Smart, 75, a standing ovation as she headed to the stage to collect her fifth award for playing legendary Las Vegas comic Deborah Vance. She quickly found a punchline in the tribute.
“Just the men stay standing. The girls get to sit down,” she joked.
The honor is Smart’s eighth Emmy overall, tying her with Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus for the most by a performer. She is also the first actor to win best actress for every season of a show’s run.
Smart first drew wide attention in the CBS comedy “Designing Women.” Her earlier Emmy wins came for guest roles on “Frasier” and a supporting performance in “Samantha Who.”
Monday’s victory marked her fifth lead comedy actress Emmy for “Hacks,” which premiered in 2021 and concluded its five-season run in May.
Smart dedicated the award to the series’ creative team: Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky and Paul W. Downs.
“It all begins and ends with them,” Smart said. “I love you guys so much.”
She also thanked HBO, Universal, her representatives and her children, Forrest and Connor, whom she described as her “anchor.”
Then, with the clock counting down on both her speech and a remarkable five-season run, Smart summed it up simply: “What a ride!”
She punctuated the moment by tossing her Emmy into the air and catching it before leaving the stage.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus came close to accomplishing the same feat with “Veep,” winning lead comedy actress six consecutive times. But Louis-Dreyfus lost for the show’s seventh and final season to “Fleabag” star Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Smart had played down the significance of the potential record before Monday’s ceremony. During an August appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” she called the distinction a “technicality” and pointed to Louis-Dreyfus’ larger collection of Emmy victories.
“I’ve got to give it to Julia Louis-Dreyfus,” Smart said.
Her three Emmys outside “Hacks” came for two guest appearances on “Frasier” and a supporting comedy actress victory for “Samantha Who?” Smart has received 15 Emmy nominations during her career.
“Hacks” follows the unlikely partnership between Vance and Ava Daniels, the younger comedy writer played by Hannah Einbinder. The series became an Emmy fixture during its run, with previous victories including outstanding comedy series and supporting comedy actress for Einbinder.
Since “Hacks” premiered, the only performer other than Smart to win lead comedy actress was Quinta Brunson for “Abbott Elementary” at the January 2024 ceremony, when “Hacks” did not have a new season in contention.
For her final turn as Deborah Vance, Smart prevailed over a field that included Elle Fanning for “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” and Lisa Kudrow for “The Comeback.”
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