Jean Smart makes Emmy history with fifth straight ‘Hacks’ win

Jean Smart achieved a historic milestone on Monday night by winning her fifth consecutive Emmy Award for her leading role in the HBO Max comedy series "Hacks." This accomplishment makes her the first woman to win an acting Emmy for every season of a television show. At 75 years old, Smart delivered her fifth victory as the iconic Las Vegas comedian, Deborah Vance.

As she made her way to the stage for her fifth Emmys, the audience erupted in a standing ovation. Smart playfully quipped, "Just the men stay standing. The girls get to sit down." This achievement earns her eight Emmys in total, tying the all-time record previously shared by Cloris Leachman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Smart's journey began with her breakthrough role in the CBS comedy "Designing Women," where she secured her first Emmy nominations.

Her dedication to the series was evident as she paid tribute to the creative team behind the show: Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky, and Paul W. Downs. She also thanked HBO, Universal, her representatives, and her children Forrest and Connor, whom she referred to as her "anchor." Smart concluded her emotional acceptance speech by declaring, "What a ride!"

Her win ties Julia Louis-Dreyfus' record of six consecutive lead comedy actress Emmy victories, though Louis-Dreyfus lost for "Veep's" seventh and final season to the star of "Fleabag," Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Prior to Monday's ceremony, Smart had downplayed the potential record's significance, calling it a "technicality" while acknowledging Julia Louis-Dreyfus' larger collection of Emmy wins.

Smart has received 15 Emmy nominations throughout her career, with her other three Emmys coming from guest appearances on "Frasier" and a supporting comedy actress victory for "Samantha Who?" "Hacks" featured the unlikely partnership between Vance and Ava Daniels, portrayed by Hannah Einbinder. During its five-season run, the series garnered numerous Emmy wins, including outstanding comedy series and supporting comedy actress for Einbinder.