September 13: Happy Birthday Jean Smart

[TMC]

https://lebeauleblog.com/2022/09/13/...ay-jean-smart/

Jean Smart, who turns 71 today, appears above along with Hannah Einbinder, who stars with her on HBO Max’s Hacks. Smart was born and grew up in the Seattle area. She studied acting at the University of Washington.

Smart is best known for her television work. She has been starring on Hacks for the past two years as Deborah Vance. She won Emmy and Golden Globe honors for Outstanding/Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the first season. Last night she won her second consecutive Emmy for season 2.



Smart began her acting career in regional theater in the Pacific Northwest. She spent several seasons at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She made her Broadway debut in 1981 in Pam Gems’s play Piaf. She has been a Tony nominee, for starring in a 2000 revival of The Man Who Came to Dinner, and a Drama Desk Award nominee, for an off-Broadway production of Jane Chambers’s Last Summer at Bluefish Cove.

Smart made her feature film debut in the indie crime drama Hoodlums in 1980. She has a lengthy filmography, largely in character roles. Some of her film appearances have included Project X, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, Garden State, Youth in Revolt, The Accountant, and A Simple Favor. She was an Independent Spirit Award nominee for the 1999 feature Guinevere.

As noted, Smart is best known for her TV work. She first became well-known as a regular on the first five seasons of CBS’s Designing Women, beginning in 1986. Her first Emmy nominations, and wins, came in guest appearances on Frasier in 2000 and 2001. In 2008, she won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Samantha Who? With her win last year for Hacks, she has won Acting Emmys in all three Comedy categories (Lead, Supporting, and Guest).

Smart has also been an Emmy nominee in one of the acting categories for The District, 24 (seasons 5 and 6), Harry’s Law, Fargo (season 2), and Watchmen. Last year, in addition to her win for Hacks, she was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, for Mare of Easttown.

Earlier this year, Hacks was renewed for a third season. Smart will also be part of the ensemble cast of Damien Chazelle’s Babylon.