People.com Entertainment TV Jean Smart Dedicates Win at Critics Choice Awards to 'Hacks' Director and Her Newborn Baby During Sunday's 27th annual Critics' Choice Awards, Jean Smart won best actress in a comedy series By Dory Jackson Dory Jackson Instagram Twitter Website Dory Jackson is an Associate Editor for PEOPLE's digital TV team. While at the brand, she's had the opportunity to interview a long list of celebrities, from Kate Hudson to Pierce Brosnan to Billy Porter. She also recaps popular TV shows like The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Vanderpump Rules.The New York-based Maryland native graduated from Randolph-Macon College in May 2016 with a focus in Communication Studies and Journalism. She came to PEOPLE in March 2021 after working at a number of major news companies, including Newsweek and Us Weekly. She also previously co-hosted a podcast called "Idol Nation." People Editorial Guidelines and Vanessa Etienne Vanessa Etienne Twitter Vanessa Etienne is an Emerging Content Writer-Reporter for PEOPLE. Prior to joining in April 2021, she served as a reporter for Men's Health Magazine and BET Digital after freelancing for publications such as The New York Times and Everyday Health. Originally from northern Virginia, Vanessa is a proud Haitian American with a love for R&B music and mental health topics. She graduated from North Carolina State University with a bachelor's in Communication and Public Relations before earning her master's degree in Journalism from the City University of New York. People Editorial Guidelines Published on March 8, 2022 11:21 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Congrats are in order for Jean Smart! During Sunday's 27th annual Critics' Choice Awards, the 70-year-old Hacks star beat out Elle Fanning (The Great), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Girls5eva), Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building), Sandra Oh (The Chair), and Issa Rae (Insecure) for best actress in a comedy series. In her acceptance speech, Smart dedicated her win to Hacks director, Lucia Aniello, as she recently welcomed her first child. "Friday morning, our director Lucia went into labor. But she was literally at home, on her computer, getting the feed, directing us between contractions," Smart said. "I kid you not, this woman is literally my idol. And yesterday she and Paul Downs became parents for the very first time to a beautiful baby boy." "So this is for Lucia, Paul, and their little boy," she ended. Matt Baron/Shutterstock Critics Choice Awards 2022 Nominations: Lady Gaga, Will Smith and Nicole Kidman Score Nods Smart's win on Sunday comes weeks after she won a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance. On the HBO Max series, the 70-year-old plays a renowned standup comedian. RELATED VIDEO: Jean Smart Talks About The "Abuse" Her Hacks Character Inflicts on Others "I always thought it would be fun to be a standup comic, but I always also thought it would be incredibly terrifying," Smart told Variety last June. "You're kind of living one of my fantasies. I get to do it for pretend." The 27th annual Critics Choice Awards, hosted by Taye Diggs and Nicole Byer, are airing live on The CW and TBS.