Jean Smart's fabulous Emmys dress was a chic twist on a look worn by her 'Hacks' character

• Jean Smart wore a dress to the Emmy Awards that nodded to her "Hacks" character, Deborah Vance.
• Smart wore a sleek Ralph Lauren dress that had sheer material over the arms and chest.
• The 70-year-old actress won the Emmy for lead actress in a comedy series.

Jean Smart wore a dress to the 73rd Emmy Awards on Sunday that nodded to her "Hacks" character, Deborah Vance.

The 70-year-old actress opted for a floor-length, Ralph Lauren dress with a high neckline, and sheer sleeves and chest. She paired the elegant dress with Cathy Waterman diamond earrings and a clutch bag.

According to fashion columnist Evan Ross Katz, the dress was a modified version of one that Smart wore in "Hacks."

In the HBO Max show, Smart plays Deborah Vance, an aging stand-up comedian trying to remain relevant on the comedy circuit in today's social climate.

As Lacy Baugher-Milas previously wrote for Insider, "'Hacks' is the story of very different women: Legendary comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), a Las Vegas diva in the twilight of her career, and Ava (Hannah Einbinder), an up-and-coming LA writer forced to work for Deborah after an ill-timed tweet sees her ostracized in Hollywood."

The show won Emmy awards for comedy writing and directing, and Smart was named best lead actress in a comedy for her performance.

Smart - who was also nominated for best supporting actress in a limited or anthology series or movie for her role in another HBO Max show, "Mare of Easttown" - joined Betty White as the only actresses to sweep the comedy categories at the Emmys. As Insider's Kelly McLaughlin wrote, Smart won guest actress awards in 2000 and 2001 for her role in "Frasier," and a supporting actress award for her role in "Samantha Who?" in 2008.

In her acceptance speech, Smart thanked her children Forest, 13, and Connor, 39, as well as her late husband, Richard Gilliland, who died in March after becoming ill, as People magazine reported.

Speaking of Gilliland, she said: "Before I say anything, I have to acknowledge my late husband, who passed away six months ago yesterday, and I would not be here without him."

She added: "Without him putting his career on the back burner so that I could take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities I've had."