Zendaya And Jean Smart Set To Make Emmys History For Women

HBO stars Zendaya and Jean Smart are poised to become the first female actors to win Emmys for every season of their respective shows.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 2:13am

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An extreme close-up photograph of shimmering, reflective sequins in warm metallic tones, capturing the high-fashion elegance and celebrity allure of the Emmy Awards.The glamour and prestige of the Emmys await Zendaya and Jean Smart as they aim to make history with their acclaimed television performances.Las Vegas Today

HBO stars Zendaya and Jean Smart are on the verge of making Emmys history. Zendaya, who plays Rue in the hit drama Euphoria, and Smart, who stars as Deborah Vance in the comedy series Hacks, are both positioned to become the first female actors to win Emmys for every season of their shows. If they secure nominations for the upcoming seasons, they would join an elite group of only 31 actors who have ever been nominated for Emmys for every season of their shows.

Why it matters

This potential achievement would be groundbreaking for female actors in the entertainment industry. Historically, it has been much more common for male actors to win Emmys for multiple seasons of the same show. If Zendaya and Smart pull this off, it would shatter a major glass ceiling and demonstrate the incredible talent and staying power of these two leading ladies.

The details

Zendaya first won the Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2020 for Euphoria season 1, making her the youngest person to ever win in that category. She is poised to continue that streak if Euphoria season 3 is indeed the final season, as the show's creator has hinted. Meanwhile, Jean Smart has won the Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy for every season of Hacks so far, cementing the show's status as one of the most acclaimed comedies on television.

  • Euphoria season 1 debuted in June 2019.
  • Euphoria season 3 is expected to be the final season, though HBO has not officially confirmed this.
  • Hacks season 5 is currently in production.

The players

Zendaya

An American actress known for her starring role as Rue Bennett in the HBO drama series Euphoria, for which she has won an Emmy Award.

Jean Smart

An acclaimed American actress who has won multiple Emmy Awards for her lead role as Deborah Vance in the HBO comedy series Hacks.

Bill Cosby

The only performer to date who has won Emmys for every season of the same TV show, achieving this feat for his role in I Spy.

Lisa Kudrow

An American actress who has been nominated for an Emmy for her role in the comedy series The Comeback.

Quinta Brunson

An American actress and comedian who has been nominated for an Emmy for her work on the comedy series Abbott Elementary.

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What’s next

Zendaya and Jean Smart will find out if they have been nominated for Emmys for the upcoming seasons of Euphoria and Hacks when the nominations are announced later this year. If they are nominated and go on to win, they will make history as the first female actors to achieve this milestone.

The takeaway

Zendaya and Jean Smart's potential Emmys accomplishments would be a groundbreaking achievement for women in the entertainment industry, shattering a glass ceiling that has long been dominated by male actors. Their sustained excellence and popularity with both critics and audiences demonstrate the immense talent of these two leading ladies.