Hannah Waddingham, star of the new Prime Video action comedy Ride or Die, leads a life as compelling off-screen as her character's on it. The 51-year-old English actress, best known for Ted Lasso, plays assassin Judith opposite Octavia Spencer. But her personal story includes a war hero grandfather, single motherhood, and a fresh romance.
War Hero Grandfather
Waddingham's grandfather, Harry Waddingham, was the oldest-known Second World War veteran at his death in 2026, aged 109. He joined the Royal Navy at 16 in 1932, serving as a gunner before transferring to the PTI branch. During the war, he survived two sinkings: the Dunkirk evacuation and the German invasion of Crete, 12 months apart. He continued on Atlantic and Russian Convoy patrols until the war ended. Post-war, he taught and joined the RAF's educational arm, retiring as a Squadron Leader.
Single Motherhood
Waddingham shares daughter Kitty, born in 2014, with ex-partner Italian businessman Gianluca Cugnetto. She has raised Kitty as a single parent since 2023. In a Harper's Bazaar interview, she said, 'She often goes "Mummy, you don't need to be such a tigress", but I do. She's my reason, just in all things. Trying to help her navigate the world just with a single mumma, nothing comes before her. Ever.'
Doctors had told Waddingham she might not have children due to low fertility, making Kitty's birth her 'greatest achievement in life,' according to the actress.
Past and Present Romance
Waddingham dated Cugnetto for a decade before their split in 2022. She remained single for eight years, telling Women's Health in May 2026 that she wasn't 'mentally or emotionally' ready to date. However, she revealed a new love interest, describing him as 'really, really lovely.' She added, 'I'm ready to stick my head above the parapet a bit more, and it's really, really lovely, my relationship, but the best thing about it is being happy and strong in myself.'
Career and Background
Born in Wandsworth, London, Waddingham comes from a family of opera singers. She began in dinner theatre before gaining fame in Ted Lasso, Benidorm, and Game of Thrones. Her latest film, Ride or Die, is now streaming on Prime Video.
