Jean Smart Officially Makes Emmys History

Published Sep 14, 2026, 9:03 PM EDT

Casey Duby is an avid TV writer, watcher, and reviewer. She graduated from Emerson College in 2021 with a focus in Writing for Film and Television, where she wrote several pilots and watched countless more. She's been working in television ever since.

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Hacks was HBO's breakout hit of 2021, and the show's popularity only grew over its five-season run. Stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder were both Emmy-nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, respectively, for all five seasons.

Smart's Deborah and Einbinder's Ava have become a timeless duo as a comedy team that spans generations, with Deborah standing out as a comedic force who could be bitingly harsh, endearingly heartfelt, and hilariously funny on a dime. Deborah's relationship with Ava felt meaningful and authentic as Smart carried Hacks to its emotional series finale.

Before the 2026 Emmys, Smart had built up a streak by winning the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series award for the first four seasons of Hacks​​​​​. With her 2026 win, that streak held through to the finish line, and Smart accomplished an unprecedented Emmys feat in the process.

Jean Smart Is The First Performer To Win Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series For Every Season Of Her Show

HBO Max

Though Einbinder took home the Supporting Actress award at the 2025 Emmys, that was the only Emmy the actress won for the series. Yet Smart swept the Lead Actress category for five straight years, becoming the only performer in the category to win for every single season of her show.

Smart's accolades are well-deserved, as she was a laugh-out-loud funny, incredibly graceful class act throughout Hacks​​​​​​. Her performance conveyed the multitudes of Deborah's character, allowing her flaws to be on full display without tarnishing the character's ultimate likability.

Deborah could be truly mean and hurtful to those who loved her the most, and often needed a push to reach her full comedic potential as she was hesitant to lose the fanbase she had worked so hard for. Yet, thanks to Smart, it was clear that fear and relatable insecurity drove her flawed behavior, making it all the more satisfying as she grew as a person throughout the series.

Even if Smart's Emmy streak hadn't broken records, it would be a feat well worthy of praise, though the accomplishment promptly cements Hacks as a historic comedy series.

Jean Smart's 2026 Emmy Win Is Historic In More Ways Than One

Image via Everett Collection

With her 2026 win, Jean Smart also tied the record for most Emmys for a single performer. The award brought Smart to a total of eight Emmy wins, the same number held by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman.

With her win for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, Allison Janney earned her eighth Emmy, tying this record as well.

Smart won back-to-back Emmys in 2000 and 2001 as a Guest Actress on Frasier, and in 2008 earned the award for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Samantha Who? The actress has also earned another seven nominations over the years for her work on The District, 24, Harry's Law, Fargo, Watchmen, and Mare of Easttown.

Hacks' popularity hasn't faded with the series finale. Smart and Einbinder appeared in character in a sold-out live show in the wake of the show's conclusion, and Hacks maintains an impressive 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. With the impact the series has had, it's likely that Smart's incredible performance career is far from over.