Hannah Waddingham, the 51-year-old actor best known for playing Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso, has opened up about her long journey to fame, calling out sexism in the industry, and her determination to be seen as more than just a camp performer. In a candid interview, she addressed misconceptions about her persona and reflected on her career, which spans musical theatre, blockbuster films, and hit TV series.
From Musical Theatre to Hollywood Stardom
Waddingham, who grew up in Wandsworth, London, seemed destined for a career in the arts. Her mother, Melodie Kelly, was a professional opera singer at the English National Opera, and her father worked as a marketing director and special constable. After making her West End debut in 1998, Waddingham spent years in musical theatre and small TV roles before landing her breakout role as Septa Unella in Game of Thrones and later as Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso. The latter earned her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2021.
Reflecting on her late-career success, Waddingham said, "An overnight success after 25 years is delicious. I'm fine with it, because I'm very at peace with who I am. I'm more than happy to share that I'm 51 and proud of it."
Calling Out Misogyny and Standing Up for Respect
Waddingham has been vocal about confronting sexist behavior. In 2024, while hosting the Olivier Awards, she famously told a paparazzo who asked her to "show leg," "Oh my god, you'd never say that to a man, my friend. Don't be a dick, otherwise I'll move off." While the incident went viral as a stand against sexism, Waddingham clarified that the photographer was someone she had known for 20 years and respected. "He took it on the chin, I called him out, he emailed me, I emailed him back," she explained. "I just thought, don't do that, because this is a bespoke Marchesa gown."
She emphasized that good manners are paramount: "Good manners are more important to me than work in any form. Manners first, always. I'm always mindful that my daughter is watching. So I try to be elegant and have a firm kindness about myself."
Breaking Stereotypes: More Than Just Camp
Throughout the interview, Waddingham pushed back against being labeled as simply "camp" or a "northern barmaid," noting that such perceptions are reductive. "There's just a lot more to me than that," she said. "We're all the sum of different parts." Her Christmas special for Apple TV, she explained, was intended to be a timeless showcase of her voice and a source of joy, not merely camp entertainment.
Waddingham also addressed her role as a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race, which she said stemmed from her musical theatre background. "What I'm saying is, it signs me off to say that I'm camp, or that I'm a northern barmaid," she added.
New Projects: Ted Lasso Season 4 and Ride or Die
Ted Lasso is returning for a fourth season, now centered on a women's football team. Waddingham admitted she was surprised by the delay but remained hopeful. "When it didn't come around, you start to think, is that it? Is that ebbing away?" She added, "Losing a character is like losing a friend."
Her latest series, Ride or Die, co-starring Octavia Spencer, is a comedy-drama caper where Waddingham plays an undercover assassin. She performed 75-80% of her own stunts, though she admitted it was "partly not a good idea, because I did mangle myself senseless." The show explores female friendship and women in their 50s "being all things when they decide to chop and change."
Balancing Motherhood and Career
Waddingham is a single mother to her 11-year-old daughter, Kitty. She has spoken about the guilt of working away from home and the importance of being present. At the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards, she carried a cardboard handbag painted by her daughter, saying, "I did it on purpose, to show her that she's never far away from me."
She has not performed in theatre since the early 2010s, partly due to the demanding hours. "I don't think my daughter is ready," she said. "I need to find the time to be able to go, 'I'm taking this coat off for now and I'm putting my theatre coat back on.'"
Remembering Her Mother
Waddingham's mother, Melodie Kelly, died two Christmases ago. She spoke about her with emotion: "It's good, because she should be celebrated. I know that I'm known for being a spokeswoman for theatre as well, but that's her." She noted that her daughter now sings in the shower with a natural operatic quality, adding, "The gene pool is alive and kicking."
