How Insulting Jean Smart Led Hannah Einbinder to Book Hacks

So much of what makes Hacks work is the chemistry between its two central characters, played by Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder. The HBO Max comedy hinges on the connection between these two seemingly disparate women So how did this pair find that connection By lobbing insults at each other in the dark. The very first interaction between comedians Deborah Vance (Smart) and Ava (Einbinder) in the pilot swiftly unravels into a sparring match. This moment was so pivotal to establishing the duos relationship that it became the audition scene for actors vying for the part of Ava. Watch as the the two discuss nailing the chemistry they captured in that first audition.