Long before she commanded the stage as Vegas stand-up diva Deborah Vance on hacking — a role that earned her two Emmy nominations for lead actress — Jean Smart got her big break as a sweet but naive office manager in Atlanta.
women designs, the half-hour CBS comedy created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, followed four women — played by Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, Annie Potts, and Smart — and their decorating company. “The show…could do what NBC’s do for women in their 40s and 50s” golden girls hit did for older women,” THR predicted in May 1986. When the sitcom aired in December, the result was .
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Over the course of seven seasons, women designs garnered 18 Emmy nominations (although it only won one, for outstanding hair styling achievement in 1988). Smart was never nominated for the show, but has since built a successful track record: 12 nominations in total, with four wins – two for guest star on Frasierone as a supporting actress on Samantha Who?and her lead actress in 2021 win for hacking.
In her acceptance speech at last year’s ceremony, Smart thanked her late husband, co-actor Richard Gilliland, whom she met on women designs. “I have to acknowledge my late husband, who passed away six months yesterday. I wouldn’t be here without him, without putting his career on the back burner so I can take advantage of all the incredible opportunities I have.”
This story first appeared in a standalone July issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.