Smith-Cameronto playJean Smart’s younger, estranged sister on season 3 ofHacks.
And the similarities don’t end there.
John Johnson
How the Emmy and Tony nominee landed the role was also completely by chance.
J. Smith-Cameron on ‘Hacks’.John Johnson
So the trio seized the opportunity, asking if she’d be open to playing Kathy.
But Smith-Cameron admits to not being sure the offer was real.
I was like, okay, don’t let yourself daydream about this.
Jean Smart and J. Smith-Cameron on ‘Hacks’.John Johnson
Wait till your agent or manager hears anything of this," she recalls.
“And I didn’t right away.
She didn’t have to wait too long.
Jean Smart on ‘Hacks’.John Johnson
When the call came, she was ready.
Kathy accepts and nervously shows up in episode 7, gift in hand.
She also wondered if Kathy was equally, or even more, malicious as Deborah.
“I thought to myself, that is the really human real thing that would happen.
Truth is always more interesting than whatever you could make up.”
“I read it like a Christmas tree on fire, really fast,” she says, laughing.
“I think it’s really well crafted that they had them get together at Christmas.
Those big holidays are notorious for painful family scenes to occur.”
How did the affair start?
Why did Kathy betray her in such a way?
Deborah prioritizing her career over family didn’t help.
“How does it better my position?
Everything has to pass the test of: Is it any good for me?
And if it means betraying people that work for her or her family, so be it.”
It’s such a pleasure to work with someone like her.
She gives a very full performance and lots to react to.”
Instead of a slap or hug, they have a brief snowball fight (Kathy started it!)
After coming together to tend to her temporary injury, they leave things in a cautiously hopeful place.
Easier to do, Smith-Cameron admits, with Deborah Vance than Logan Roy.
“I think Deborah just wants to be a successful performer.
She’s not trying to take over the world.
But she’s pretty fricking formidable.”
