The 2026 Emmys occurred on September 14 in Los Angeles.
Actress Jean Smart won Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of Deborah Vance on Hacks.
Her latest Emmy win made history.
Jean Smart just won at the 2026 Emmy Awards—and she made history while doing so.
Jean snagged the award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series on September 14, thanks to her portrayal of Deborah Vance on the hit HBO series Hacks. She broke some incredible records for her eighth Emmy win.
According to Variety, Jean tied the record with Julie Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman for the most acting Emmys won by a single person. She also became the first woman to win an award for every season that her TV show was on the air—a total of five times between 2021 and 2026.
As soon as fans learned of Jean’s incredible Emmy moment, they had to celebrate with her.
“She is the GOAT,” one person wrote on X. “And she deserves it! Great actress who seems underrated but she always gives a powerful performance in each of her roles. Congratulations to you, Jean Smart! 😃🥳,” another penned. “Jean Smart is officially Emmy history! Winning for every single season of Hacks is an unbelievable achievement. What a legend!” a different follower added.
Jean expressed her gratitude in her acceptance speech.
“I have so many people to thank,” she stated in a clip posted on X. “Of course, Universal and HBO. My reps, who are the best in the business. And my children, who are my anchor. But this one I’m dedicating to [show creators] Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky, and Paul W. Downs. It all begins and ends with them. I love you guys so much!”
Congrats!
