Key Takeaways
- Jean Smart (Hacks) and Zendaya (Euphoria) are each on track to become the first women to win an Emmy for every season of their respective series (three or more seasons).
- The only performer to achieve this feat so far is Bill Cosby for “I Spy” (1966‑1968); Blythe Danner won both seasons of the two‑season show “Huff.”
- Julia Louis‑Dreyfus came closest in modern times, winning six of seven “Veep” seasons and losing only in the final year.
- Smart has already won lead comedy actress Emmys for every eligible season of “Hacks” and is poised for a fifth consecutive win; Zendaya has won lead drama actress Emmys for both eligible “Euphoria” seasons and remains undefeated in that category.
- If both are nominated (and win) this year, they will join an elite group of performers nominated for every season of their shows, a list that includes Alan Alda, Ed Asner, Alec Baldwin, Sandra Oh, and others.
- The upcoming Emmys could also set the stage for similar streaks, with “The Bear” ensemble members eyeing fourth‑to‑fifth consecutive nominations as the series heads toward its final season.
Jean Smart and Zendaya stand on the brink of a rare Emmy milestone: winning an acting award for every season of a series that has run three or more years. Historically, only Bill Cosby has accomplished this, taking home lead actor trophies for all three seasons of the 1960s drama “I Spy.” Blythe Danner won both seasons of the short‑lived “Huff,” but the series ended after two years, leaving the three‑season threshold unmet. In the modern era, Julia Louis‑Dreyfus’ six‑out‑of‑seven sweep for “Veep” remains the closest anyone has come, underscoring how difficult it is to maintain victory across a show’s entire run.
Smart’s trajectory on HBO’s “Hacks” has been remarkably consistent. Since the comedy’s debut, she has captured the lead comedy actress Emmy for each eligible season—four wins to date—and early critical buzz for season 5 suggests a fifth is within reach. At 74, Smart already boasts seven career Emmys, including guest and supporting wins for “Frasier” and “Samantha Who?” Her steady dominance has made “Hacks” a perennial favorite with voters, even surviving a production hiatus caused by the Hollywood strikes. Should she secure another nomination, she will join the exclusive club of performers nominated for every season of their show, a roster that already includes legends like Alan Alda (“MASH”), Ed Asner (“Lou Grant”/“The Mary Tyler Moore Show”), Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock”), and Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”).
Zendaya’s path on “Euphoria” has been less conventional but equally impressive. The drama’s first season launched in June 2019, followed by two standalone specials in late 2020 and early 2021 that, while honored at the Creative Arts Emmys, do not count as full seasons for the main categories. The second season arrived in January 2022, and after a four‑year hiatus, the third season premiered this Sunday. Despite the gaps, Zendaya remains undefeated in the lead drama actress category: she won at age 24 in 2020 (the youngest ever in that category) and added a second trophy in 2022, also becoming the youngest woman nominated for producing at the Emmys and the youngest two‑time lead acting nominee. If she wins again this year, she will have secured an Emmy for every eligible season of “Euphoria,” mirroring Smart’s feat on the comedy side.
Both stars are also positioned to extend their nomination streaks. Smart’s co‑star Hannah Einbinder is aiming for a fifth consecutive supporting comedy actress nomination, building on her win last season. Meanwhile, the FX hit “The Bear” could see four of its leads—Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss‑Bachrach, and guest star Jon Bernthal—earn fourth straight nominations, with a fifth and final season slated for 2026 that might push several ensemble members toward a similar clean‑sweep chase.
Emmy voters often reward narratives as much as performances, and the story of two iconic women potentially rewriting history by winning for every season of their shows is exceptionally compelling. If Smart and Zendaya both triumph, the Emmys will not only honor individual excellence but also mark a historic shift in the annals of television achievement, underscoring the lasting impact of sustained, award‑caliber work across multiple seasons. Their pursuits highlight how rare and significant such a feat is, and a successful sweep would cement their places alongside the medium’s most revered performers.