Jean Smart's Knee Injury: Broadway Star Takes Unexpected Break
HOLLYWOOD INSIDER
Jean Smart, the sassy and talented star of HBO's hit series "Hacks", has been forced to take a two-week hiatus from her Broadway play "Call Me Izzy" due to a painful knee injury.
The 73-year-old actress revealed that she suffered the injury on July 4th while taking a stroll around New York City with her sons. As she was walking, Jean tripped over a small barrier on the ground - a common occurrence in the bustling city, as it turns out! According to Jean, the barrier is designed to keep cars from cutting corners too close, but it proved to be a major obstacle for the actress.
"I went down like a ton of bricks," Jean recalled to People magazine. "As I was sitting there waiting for the ambulance, a guy came along and tripped over the same thing! It's an epidemic in New York City, folks!"
Jean's injury sent her to a small hospital where she received treatment before being transferred to another facility for further care. A "really wonderful surgeon" operated on her knee on July 8, just in time for the show's Instagram page to announce Jean's return.
The production team joyfully welcomed Jean back with an Instagram Stories post that read: "Tonight! Welcome Back Jean!" along with a promotional video for the show. Jean will be returning to the stage wearing a leg brace, but she reassured fans that it won't affect her performance.
"I won't be doing as much physically as I was before," Jean explained. "But it's not like I'm going to be doing big tap numbers and somersaulting across the stage! Some one-person shows they just sort of sit and talk, so hopefully the audience won't be disappointed."
The play follows the story of Isabell, a Louisiana woman trapped in an abusive marriage who finds solace in her gift for writing poetry. Jean's absence was temporarily filled by Tony winner Johanna Day, who stepped in to cover for the actress during her medical leave.
As Jean prepares to return to the stage, she's excited about the new element her knee brace will bring to her performance. "It added an interesting element to the feeling of the character feeling trapped," she said. "So that was kind of an interesting thing to notice... And because I can't really act from my head to my toes like I usually do, I almost felt like - because I'm now acting mostly from the waist up - it actually seemed to energize me vocally!"
Jean is still recovering from her injury and admitted that she's unsure about the strength she'll regain in her leg. However, she's optimistic that by the time the show closes on August 24, she'll be skipping around again.
THE SCHOLARLY NOTE
TheScholarlyNote.com has learned that Jean Smart is not only a talented actress but also a quick wit and a master of self-deprecation. When asked about her experience with the knee injury, Jean quipped: "People in New York put up with a lot. They just kinda shrug and go, 'Eh, what are you gonna do?'"
It's clear that Jean Smart is not one to let a little thing like a knee injury get her down. With her quick wit, determination, and infectious energy, we can't wait to see how she brings "Call Me Izzy" back to life on the stage.
Stay tuned for more updates on Jean Smart's recovery and her return to the stage!