Jean Smart is giving her heart a break. “February is American Heart Month — a time when the nation spotlights heart health, so it feels important to share with all of you that I am recovering from a recent successful heart procedure,†she revealed in an Instagram post on Thursday. “I am fortunate to have excellent care and support from family and friends while I continue to recuperate. Please listen to your body and talk to your doctor — I’m very glad I did!†This is not the first time she has publicly discussed her health; she told The New Yorker in 2021 that she had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a teen. Smart suggested the diagnosis was an indirect start to her acting career since it influenced her to choose a college close to home that happened to have a good theater program.
According to Deadline, production on the upcoming third season of Hacks has been paused so that Smart, who stars on the HBO Max show as comedian Deborah Vance, can heal. “We are so happy that our beloved Jean Smart’s heart procedure was successful and she’s on the mend. HBO Max and UTV send their well wishes,†the streamer and Universal TV said in a joint statement. Production is expected to resume on or around March 13. Hopefully after a little over two weeks of rest and relaxation, Smart will be ready to safely return to all that onscreen stress.