The most exaggerated or overly theatrical; the superlative form of hammy.
From hammy + -est (superlative suffix). Formed in English in the 20th century as 'ham' and 'hammy' became established slang in theatrical contexts.
Some of the hammiest performances in cinema history are actually beloved classics—think of over-the-top villain performances that became iconic precisely because the actors committed so completely to being extra, showing that 'hammy' doesn't always mean bad when it's done with style.
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