Hannah Einbinder claimed her first Emmy Award for 2025 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the ceremony for her role as Ava Daniels in the fourth season of the HBO comedy “Hacks,” according to reporting by IndieWire. After being nominated for the role for four years straight without a win, Einbinder secured the victory in a competitive category that featured several former winners.
The win arrives as “Hacks” concludes its fourth run on HBO, a season that pulled in 14 Emmy nominations. Beyond the awards stage, the series continues to command major industry attention for its sharp writing and the turbulent professional relationship between aging comedian Deborah Vance, played by Jean Smart, and her volatile head writer, Ava Daniels.
Inside Hannah Einbinder’s Emmy Win for ‘Hacks’
Standing on stage, Einbinder admitted she had mentally prepared herself to keep losing, telling the audience she was committed to a personal narrative of defeat before realizing that winning felt “punk rock,” as IndieWire reported. She thanked show creators Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky, while describing co-star Jean Smart as “like the sun.” Her acceptance speech also touched on current events, featuring bleeped remarks referencing political and social causes.
Einbinder triumphed over a stacked field of nominees. The category included last year’s winner Liza Colón-Zayas for “The Bear,” Kathryn Hahn and Catherine O’Hara for “The Studio,” Janelle James and Sheryl Lee Ralph for “Abbott Elementary,” and Jessica Williams for “Shrinking,” according to IndieWire.
The fourth season of “Hacks” followed Ava as she stepped into the role of head writer for Deborah Vance’s new late-night program. The storyline tested Ava’s ideological purity through bitter compromises and memorable moments, including a scene where she hurled an $80 branzino fish at a window after discovering her staff’s lavish lunch spending habits, as noted by IndieWire.
The Final Curtain: ‘Hacks’ Sets Season 5 as Its Last
Before accepting her trophy, Einbinder delivered significant news on the red carpet. Speaking to E! host Heather McMahan, she confirmed that “Hacks” will end with its fifth season, which is scheduled to begin filming the following week, according to IndieWire.
“I think it will feel different,” Einbinder told E! in comments cited by IndieWire. “We’re going to start next week, and knowing it’s the last season is really bittersweet. But I think it’s right, you know? I think it’s nice to do something as many times as it should be done. Not overstay your welcome. Rip it and do it and laugh and cry.”
With the fourth season already securing a Creative Arts Emmy for Julianne Nicholson’s guest performance, the production maintains substantial momentum heading into its final chapter.
Pre-Ceremony Predictions and the Wider Comedy Field
Entertainment analysts at the Los Angeles Times highlighted Kate O’Flynn of “Widow’s Bay” as a primary challenger, noting her praised performance as the socially awkward assistant Patricia.
Einbinder’s victory caps a busy period for the comedian, who released an HBO stand-up special titled “Hannah Einbinder: Everything Must Go” and secured a role in Jane Schoenbrun’s upcoming MUBI feature “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma,” alongside Gillian Anderson, as reported by IndieWire.
Production on the fifth and final season of “Hacks” begins immediately, with further updates on premiere dates expected from HBO as filming progresses.