Emmys 2021: Jean Smart wins Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

It’s the Emmys 2021 and the most recent award given out was the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Who won the award and who did they beat out for it? Before we get into the winner, let’s discuss the category, who was the favorite to win and all the nominees!

Jean Smart was easily the favorite to win this award for the hit new HBO Max dark comedy series Hacks. Smart is a talented actress who received a double nomination this year for Hacks and a nod for her supporting actress turn in Mare of Easttown, another HBO project.

Also double nominated in this category is Aidy Brant, who received a nomination here for Hulu comedy Shrill and her consistently great performance on Saturday Night Live. Other nominations in this category include Allison Janney for Mom and Tracee Ellis Ross for black-ish. Janney is a consistent favorite at the Emmys, having won multiple awards for Mom already, she is probably Smart’s biggest competitor apart from one other leading lady.

Kaley Cuoco was the dark horse contender here for her excellent performance in The Flight Attendant, another HBO Max series. Either way, HBO Max wins big, but I was personally rooting for Cuoco. Even though she was consistently one of the best parts of The Big Bang Theory, Cuoco somehow never got an Emmy nomination for her role on the sitcom! So her nomination for The Flight Attendant feels like it’s righting a wrong.

Emmys 2021: Jean Smart wins Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Jean Smart won the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series at the Emmys 2021 for her amazing work on the television show Hacks. Smart was double nominated tonight for Mare of Easttown so it’s particularly impressive that she at least got one of the awards for the night!

Hacks also won awards for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series.

What do you think about Jean Smart winning for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series? Are you happy they won? Why or why not? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.