What Hacks Taught Hannah Einbinder About Confidence, Comedy and Finding Her Voice
Hollywood First Look sits down with Emmy-winning actress and comedian Hannah Einbinder to reflect on Hacks, the acclaimed HBO Max comedy that brought her together with Jean Smart for five seasons and transformed her career.
Hannah looks back on her journey playing Ava Daniels, revealing how the character’s early stubbornness evolved into a strong sense of conviction and a desire to do what’s right. She also opens up about the insecurity she felt stepping into her first major acting role and how the unwavering support of Jean Smart and series creators Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky helped her build confidence over the years.
The actress shares what she’s learned from watching Jean Smart bring something new to every performance and why she still finds herself genuinely captivated by her co-star’s work. Looking beyond Hacks, Hannah reflects on her love of comedy, drama, and horror, emphasizing that meaningful collaboration matters more to her than any particular genre.
The conversation also takes a playful turn when Hannah revisits her days studying broadcast journalism and imagines an alternate career in political news. And when asked which lesson from her competitive cheerleading days has served her best in Hollywood, Hannah offers a thoughtful answer about the importance of trust and knowing the people around you will always be there to catch you.
Featured in this video:
Hannah Einbinder (Ava Daniels)
All five seasons of Hacks are now streaming on HBO Max.
Correspondent/Producer: Kiyra Lynn
https://www.instagram.com/kiyralynn
Senior Producer: Kiyra Lynn
Editor: Mickey Martinez
