At the 2024 Emmy Awards, Jean Smart walked away with the trophy for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series thanks to her career-best performance as comedian Deborah Vance inHacks. Of course,the Emmy-winningHacksis far from the only Smart-starring HBO series that’s worth a watch, especially considering the actor appeared in bothWatchmenandMare of Easttown. After rising to prominence for her leading role inDesigning Women(1986–1991), the actor went on to win an impressive six Emmys. Smart earned all of these accolades for her comedic chops inFrasier,Samantha Who?, andHacks.
Still, Smart has also given her fair share of standout dramatic performances. The acclaimed performer’s other Emmy-nominated roles have all been TV dramas, ranging fromThe DistrictandHarry’s LawtoFargoand24. More recently,Smart made waves in the aforementioned HBO limited seriesWatchmenandMare of Easttown, proving that she has the range to play just about any character in just about any sub-genre. After leadingHacksseason 3’s cast of charactersto success, Smart is having another surge in popularity, which makes it the perfect time to watch her three-year-old HBO series.
Jean Smart’s Last Emmy-Winning TV Show Before Hacks Was HBO’s Mare Of Easttown
Smart Played The Mother Of Kate Winslet’s Mare Sheehan
Before finally securing a win for her incredible work asDeborah Vance inHacks, Smart appeared in another HBO success:Mare of Easttown. A crime drama that’s set in a small town outside Philadelphia,Mare of Easttowncouldn’t be more different fromHacks. In the limited series, Kate Winslet stars as Mare Sheehan, Easttown’s most determined detective sergeant. In the wake of her son’s tragic death, Mare is also incredibly broken, largely because she can’t face her grief. However, the show’s fractured and emotionally stunted protagonist isn’t alone.Mare’s mother, Helen Fahey (Smart), is equally hurt by the family tragedy.
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The fact that Hacks beat The Bear to Outstanding Comedy Series at the 2024 Emmys has caused a minor controversy, but Hacks deserved the award.
ByMare of Easttown’s ending, it’s clear that Mare and Helen faced abuse from Mare’s late father, who was a respected officer in Easttown. Unable to untangle themselves from that harm, let alone speak about it, Mare and Helen have stewed in their sadness and anger for years. All of this boils over as Mare is investigating the murder of a local girl. Although Smart’s role is more of a supporting one,the actor relies on both her dramatic and comedic chops to bring Helen to life.
…very few crime dramas feature such solid character studies.
Despite her sorrow, Helen is crass, quick-witted, and eager to make a joke at Mare’s expense.Smart, who was nominated for an Emmy, deftly balances it all. AlthoughMare of Easttownhas had brilliant successors, very few crime dramas feature such solid character studies. As Smart’s Helen proves, that exploration goes well beyond the show’s titular character, cementing the HBO series' place as one of the best crime dramas of the decade.
Jean Smart’s Mare Of Easttown & Hacks Success Highlight Her Incredible Career Range
The Emmy Winner Can Tackle Drama & Comedy Within The Same Character’s Story
Although the early chunk of Smart’s career was defined by her Emmy-winning comedic performances, the actor’s simultaneous successes on shows likeMare of EasttownandHacksprove that she has incredible range. Even now, Smart is being consistently recognized for her talents in both dramatic comedies and heavy-hitting shows. To make matters even more interesting,HacksandMare of Easttownwere released in the same year. The fact that both shows were so highly acclaimed, especially in regard to the actor’s work in them, proves that Smart is one of Hollywood’s greatest talents.
Mare of Easttown
Mare of Easttown is a mystery crime-drama that stars Kate Winslet as a detective attempting to solve a murder as her life crumbles around her. Marianne “Mare” Sheehan is assigned to investigate the murder of one girl while trying to tackle a cold case of another missing girl. Having recently lost her son, Mare’s world is steeped in chaos as she attempts to reclaim her life in the eyes of the town - and herself.
