In the fifth and final season of Hacks, Deborah (Jean Smart) needs something from Kelly (Cherry Jones), who’s not at all fond of her but changes her tune when Deborah inadvertently indicates that she’s a lesbian. Determined to get what she needs, Deborah forces Ava (Hannah Einbinder) to pretend to be her girlfriend so that the two of them can cozy up to Kelly and her wife Monica (Leslie Bibb).
Awards Buzz spoke with Bibb about her initial excitement about getting to stop by this show even just for one episode:
“I’m a fan of the show. I am such a fan. When I went in, I was a fan. I knew Hannah was super talented. I have been such a fan of Jean Smart. I think she’s one of our great actresses or actors that we have. Mare of Easttown and Hacks and Designing Women – I just bow at that altar. But when getting this job, getting to see Hannah work in real time was also like a masterclass to watch. And, literally, the cherry on top would be Cherry Jones. So to get to be with those three women on this show, when I think of Hacks, I think of a show that is well-written, writes incredible female characters. They write amazing characters, period, but specifically a show that writes such complicated, funny, complex women. You don’t find that every day as an actress in Hollywood. And so I was a fan of the show for those reasons and how sharp it was and how there’s a vulnerability to the show through the darkness of the humor. I was a fan of the show for a lot of reasons, but stepping on to do that part with those women was, again, I always say, like a masterclass. I knew that when Paul called me and I read the script and I thought of those women and those parts and me being lucky enough to be with them and go for this ride with them, I was like, oh I’m going to come out of this a better actor.”
Watch the video above to hear about her very positive experience actually filming the show and whether her approach to the role varies based on how long she expects to be playing it.
Hacks is streaming on HBO Max.
