‘Hacks’: J. Smith-Cameron Isn’t Done Working with Jean Smart and Wants to ‘Explore the Relationship More’
15.06.2024 - 18:15
/ variety.com
Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor “It feels to me like there’s more there.” J. Smith-Cameron is manifesting a return to “Hacks,” hoping the showrunners Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky find a way to bring Kathy Vance back to the show.
The last time she did that, was on HBO’s “Succession” where a four-episode stint turned into a full series run. In “Hacks,” Smith-Cameron plays Deborah’s (Jean Smart) estranged sister. At the end of episode six, Kathy is introduced after receiving an unexpected invitation to Deborah’s Christmas Spectacular.
She accepts and shows up with a gift in hand. But how did the role happen for Smith-Cameron? While at an Emmys party, Aniello, Downs and Statsky approached her. “They reintroduced themselves and said, ‘We have you in mind for the part of the sister.’” Smith-Cameron was wowed by the prospect.
As a fan of the show, she had always wondered who would eventually be cast for the part. “I was like, ‘Wow, that’d be great. That’s my wildest dream come true.’” However, with years of experience in the industry, she didn’t want to hold them to it.
Smith-Cameron reveals she didn’t even mention it to her managers. “Everyone’s drinking, happy and excited to be running into people they admire, and you say a bunch of things,” says the actress. And then she got the offer.
Thinking about the character, Smith-Cameron began to ponder who Kathy would be. “I thought is she going to be as Deborah describes her, or worse? There are a number of ways to go. But wouldn’t it be interesting if she was nice? Not over the top nice, but just like a regular person,” she says.