Jean Smart’s remarkable evening stood out. At the Emmy Awards on September 15, the star of Hacks claimed the honor for outstanding actress in a comedy series. In her acceptance speech, Smart began with heartfelt thanks, stating, “Thank you. Thank you so, so much.
It’s very humbling, it really is.” She added a touch of humor, saying, “And I appreciate this, because I just don’t get enough attention,” which prompted laughter from the audience. “I’m serious!” Smart, who had previously won the outstanding lead actress award for Hacks in 2021 and 2022, has now secured six Emmys from 13 nominations over her career.
Jean Smart reflects on her role as Deborah Vance in Hacks, calling it “everything I could possibly want” after winning another Emmy
Reflecting on her portrayal of comedian Deborah Vance in the Max series, Smart had shared with The Hollywood Reporter in June that the role was exactly what she had hoped for. She mentioned, “When I read the script, I said, ‘This is everything I could possibly want for my next job.’ But I needed to be sure that real stand-ups could believe I was a comic.” She felt validated that she met this challenge.
Edebiri received her second Emmy nomination for her role as chef Sydney Adamu in The Bear. She previously won outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for the same part. Alongside her acting, Edebiri, 28, directed the sixth episode of the third season of the show, titled “Napkins.”
In an interview with Vogue at the 2024 Met Gala, she discussed her transition to directing, saying, “I started out writing and acting as well, so I feel like I know things from behind the camera and in front of it, and just getting [the chance] to zoom out.”
Wiig stars as Maxine Simmons in Palm Royale, aiming to break into the elite social circles of 1969 Palm Beach, with Carol Burnett also featured. At the Los Angeles premiere in March, Wiig, 51, talked about her friendship with Burnett, saying, “We have dinner and talk and text and she’s so funny. I did press with her yesterday, and she was cracking everybody up.” She added, “And I am a better person from knowing her. I just love her.”
On Loot, Rudolph, 52, plays Molly Wells, a billionaire with a philanthropic focus. In an interview with Deadline, she explained why the role appealed to her: “Molly is such a fun character because she gets to be everything.
The initial idea of playing Molly is you get to play a billionaire, and that just feels like endless fun — the dream of all dreams. If you had all the money in the world, what would you do?” Rudolph highlighted the role’s blend of humor and sincerity, noting, “It’s a combination of those two things. I like the ridiculous and I also like the heart.”
Brunson’s role as Janine Teagues in Abbott Elementary is one she also created, writes for, and executive produces. Discussing Janine’s development in season 3, Brunson, 34, told The Hollywood Reporter in May, “I always wanted this evolution for Janine. I always joke that [Janine] watched some YouTube videos over the summer.” She stressed that the character’s growth from previous seasons is important and valid.
Gomez, 32, received her first Emmy nomination this year for her portrayal of Mabel Mora on Only Murders in the Building. She credited the show’s writers for keeping the storylines fresh.
“I’m going to give the writers full credit, because they shock me,” Gomez told The Hollywood Reporter. She admired how her character, Mabel, has evolved over the seasons, feeling proud of her growth alongside the show.
