Jean Smart.Photo:Netflix
Netflix
Jean Smartwasn’t at theScreen Actors Guild Awards2025 in person, but she still made an appearance in the show’s opening.
The actress, 73, did not attend the 31st annual award show on Sunday, Feb. 23 due to filming conflicts. At the time, she was on location filming her hit Max show,Hacks.
She did, however, star in a clip that played at the top of the ceremony, where she portrayed herHackscharacter Deborah Vance finding out she wouldn’t be hosting the SAGs this year.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards. I’m your host, Deborah Vance, and then I’ll hold for a standing ovation for five or six minutes. You know, whatever they decide,” she said as she pretended to practice for the gig. “I’m so happy to be up here doing my favorite thing in the world, competing for attention with Fran Drescher,The Nanny. Thank you. No, seriously, it’s an honor to be here with so many amazing actresses — and Jamie Lee Curtis.”
Continuing to embody her iconic stand-up comic character, Smart was informed that she would not, in fact, be hosting. In fact, they joked that she hadn’t paid her union dues in six years.
“I’m not hosting?” she questioned. “This is terrible. I had eight costume changes planned.Jeremy Stronghad nine!”
Jean Smart.Jake Giles Netter/Max
Jake Giles Netter/Max
The award presenters,Molly ShannonandKumail Nanjiani, shared a message following her big win. “Unfortunately, Jean is shooting on location and can’t be here tonight, but we accept this award on her behalf,” Shannon said.
During a pre-show interview with PEOPLE,Hacksshowrunner Paul W. Downs called Smart a “treasure,” detailing the joy he experiences watching the edits back.
Earlier in the awards show season, at the height of the Los Angeles wildfire’s spread on Wednesday, Jan. 8, Smart posted onInstagram,asking award showsto not be televised and instead fund the allocation of resources to people in need.
Jean Smart.Phillip Faraone/Getty
Phillip Faraone/Getty
TheSAG Awardshad already canceled its live, in-person nominations announcement, and L.A. film premieres for movies likeUnstoppableandThe Last Showgirlwere also canceled.
Smart did not attend the Critics Choice Awards on Feb. 7 despite being nominated for best actress in a comedy series due to filming conflicts. But she thanked the Critics Choice Association in anInstagram videofilmed on set.
“WE’RE ALL WINNERS TONIGHT!!! she captioned the post. “Thank you@criticschoiceand the Critics Choice Association! I’m so happy and proud of@hacksand@hannaheinbinder!!!!”
Fires broke out in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods of Los Angeles on Jan. 7 and were not100% containeduntil Jan. 31. According toCAL FIRE, the Palisades fire burned 23,448 acres, while the Eaton fireburned14,021 acres.
Although investigators are still looking into the origins of each blaze,the National Weather Service (NWS) Los Angelesstated that powerful Santa Ana winds — which reached hurricane-level speeds — spread the fires thousands of acres in less than 24 hours.
A total of 6,662 structures, including homes, businesses, schools and places of worship, were destroyed in the Palisades fire, perReuters. The Eaton fire took out 9,418 structures. During that time, 100,000 people received either evacuation warnings or orders from county officials.
Many celebrities were among those who lost their homes due to the devastation, includingBilly Crystal,Anna Faris,Paris Hilton,Cameron Mathison,Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt,Ricki Lake, andAnthony Hopkins.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Click hereto learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires.
SeePEOPLE’s full coverage of the 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, airing on Netflix.
source: people.com
