Jean Smart is decorated actress with a storied career in film, television, and Broadway. Indeed, television is perhaps where Smart really built her career, landing roles in iconic series like Designing Women, Samantha Who?, and, most recently and notably, Hacks, the latter of which is available to stream on HBO Max. Throughout her television career, Smart has nominated for 12 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning five. In fact, she has won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series twice, consecutively, for her performance as Deborah Vance in Hacks.
Hacks season 2 concluded earlier this year, but up next, Smart will appear in Damien Chazelle’s Babylonopposite Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt in a story about Hollywood in the 1920s. With Hacks being renewed for a third season, it’s evident that Smart’s career is far from slowing down. As we await for her to grace our screens once again, here’s a look at Jean Smart’s best performances, ranked.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
8 24
20th Television
24 is a series created by Joel Surnow that ran on fox from 2001 to 2014. The series stars Kiefer Sutherland as counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer. Each season covers 24 hours in his life and uses real life narration that we see on-screen. Smart played First Lady Martha Logan in the fifth season, becoming part of the main cast and again appearing as a guest star in season 6. She was great in her role and the only downside is that we did not get to see more of her.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 Samantha Who?
ABC
Samantha Who? is a series that ran from 2007 to 2009, created by Cecelia Ahmen and Donald Todd. The series centers around Samantha (Christina Applegate), the titular 30 year-old who develops retrograde amnesia after she gets into an accident. The series aired on ABC for two seasons, and was sadly canceled thereafter despite the critical acclaim it received upon airing. Smart stars as Samantha’s mother, and brings her natural humor and talent to the series.
6 Sweet Home Alabama
Buena Vista Pictures
Sweet Home Alabama was released in 2002 and is a romantic comedy directed by Andy Tennant, starring Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas in leading roles. Witherspoon is Melanie, who moved to New York to become a fashion designer, leaving behind her husband Jake (Josh Lucas), who remained in Alabama and consequently refuses to divorce her. She returns home with the intention of ending the relationship, however, this does not go as planned. Smart stars as Jake’s mother, Stella, delivering an endearing performance.
5 Watchmen
HBO
Watchmen is an HBO superhero drama based on the DC Comics series of the same name, created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. The TV series was created for HBO by Damon Lindelof, who also served as an executive producer and writer. Its ensemble cast includes Regina King, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Andrew Howard. Smart stars in the supporting role of Laurie Blake, who was once known as Silk Spectre but is now an FBI agent.
4 Mare of Easttown
Mare of Easttown is a drama series created for HBO that stars Kate Winslet as the titular detective who is investigating a murder in her small-town, while being haunted by her past. The series was acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, sweeping the major categories at the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2021. Smart plays Mare’s mother Helen, bringing a degree of levity to an otherwise gritty story. For her performance, the actress earned an Emmy nomination.
3 Fargo
FX
Fargo is a black comedy series created by Noah Hawley, inspired by the Coen Brothers’ 1996 film of the same name, and taking place in the same fictional universe. Each season follows a different set of characters, telling a different story and sometimes even in a different timeline. The second season featured Kirsten Dunst, Patrick Wilson, and Jesse Plemons in leading roles, as well as Smart, who played Floyd Gerhardt. This season of Fargo was set in 1979 and follows Peggy and Ed’s (Dunst and Plemons) cover-up of her hit-and-run, which resulted in the death of Floyd’s son.
2 Designing Women
CBS
Designing Women was a successful sitcom that ran on CBS from 1986 to 1993, producing seven seasons, which have remained significantly popular even today. The series revolves around four women and their handyman, who are running a design firm in Atlanta, following the events of their person and professional lives. Smart stars as Charlene Frazier-Stillfield, a sweet and naïve character who is a big fan of Elvis. One of her earliest and biggest roles, the series effectively helped Smart boost her star power and is worth a watch.
1 Hacks
Hacks is the most recent series that Smart has found success in, with her taking the leading role and receiving much critical praise. The series also stars Hannah Einbinder and Carl Clemons-Hopkins, among others, and sees Smart playing a nearly-washed up stand-up comedienne named Deborah Vance, who must re-invent her material and is forced to hire a young writer to help her do so. The series is hilarious and tender, and showcases Smart at her absolute best.
