'Hacks' star Hannah Einbinder opens up on stand-up journey and why comedy is tied to self-worth

Hacks star Hannah Einbinder has reflected on her path into stand-up comedy and acting, revealing that her early motivation to perform was closely tied to a desire for validation and self-worth.

In an exclusive interview, Einbinder explained that her journey into comedy was not originally planned, but grew out of a personal need to feel “value” through making others laugh.

“It was probably a desperate need for external validation,” she said, adding that in the early stages of her career, she felt that being funny gave her a sense of importance and identity.

The Emmy-winning actress, best known for playing Ava Daniels in the HBO comedy Hacks, said her relationship with performance has evolved significantly since she first began stand-up in her early twenties. What started as a solo pursuit eventually led to acting opportunities she never initially expected.

Einbinder, who is the daughter of Saturday Night Live alum Laraine Newman, originally studied broadcast journalism before shifting into television writing and improv during college. She later began performing stand-up and gained wider recognition after appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at age 23.

That appearance helped launch her acting career, eventually leading to her breakout role in Hacks, where she stars opposite Jean Smart as struggling comedy writer Ava Daniels. The role has earned her critical acclaim, including multiple Emmy nominations and a win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Einbinder said she initially had no intention of becoming an actor, but was drawn into the medium after auditioning for Hacks and developing a strong connection to the collaborative nature of television production.

“I was perfectly content to be on the road as a comic, but I just auditioned for Hacks… and I got kinda bit by the bug,” she said.

Since its debut in 2021, Hacks has followed the evolving relationship between veteran comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and young writer Ava Daniels, becoming one of HBO’s most acclaimed comedy series.

With the show now concluded after its fifth season, Einbinder is moving into new film projects while continuing her stand-up career, marking what she describes as a natural evolution rather than a planned trajectory.

The interview highlights how her comedy career has been shaped not just by ambition, but by a deeper search for meaning, something she says stand-up still provides, even as her success in television continues to grow.