Hannah Einbinder on Bringing Her Comedic Foundation to Hacks

We sat down with Hannah Einbinder to chat about her character Ava Daniels in the latest season of Hacks, and how the role has shaped her as a performer.  Einbinder pulled from her relationships with other comedians in her life to contextualize Ava’s relationship with Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), noting that funny people “operate in a way that really deepens a connection. It’s a language that not everyone can speak.”  Given that Hacks brought Hannah’s first acting role outside of stand-up, she relished her scenework with Jean Smart, leaving space to be open to Smart’s choices and responding fully in the moment. The role posed new challenges and offered opportunities for Einbinder to explore “modes'' that were not her default, namely Ava's directness and willingness to advocate for herself.  Hannah found that her comedic ability to improvise, adapt, and take notes offered a strong foundation for navigating the physical and emotional obstacles Hacks has had in store for her.

Watch the full conversation below.

A dark mentorship forms between Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comic, and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old comedy writer.