Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, 51, has spoken candidly about her experience as a single mother, revealing she made a conscious decision not to adopt a 'poor me' attitude after her split from Italian hotelier Gianluca Cugnetto. The actress, who shares 11-year-old daughter Kitty with her ex, said the moment was defining and could have seen her 'sink or swim'.
In an interview with Women's Health magazine, Waddingham said: 'In that moment, your career could falter because you're left holding the baby. [But] I found in myself a strength. I thought, 'No, I'm not going to sit in the corner with a duvet over my head and think, Oh, poor me.' I'm going to come out fighting because I know that I have so much to give in my career.'
The actress, who stars as Rebecca Welton in the hit Apple TV+ series, also discussed her fitness routine, which she described as simple and effective. 'I'd be lying if I said I did a lot. Just callisthenics [with] my own body weight and some light weights for 20 minutes in the morning,' she said. 'People are very lovely; they talk about my arms. I just keep activated. And never underestimate the value of doing squats the whole time you're brushing your teeth.'
Waddingham also reflected on the impact of her role in Ted Lasso, which she said was a turning point in terms of both career and financial independence. 'It was a turning point in terms of being seen for the first time as not just a tall, bigger woman, but someone who has the same foibles, insecurities, vulnerabilities as anyone,' she said. 'But also the financial support I received at that moment…being able to stand on my own two feet with my daughter.'
The fourth season of Ted Lasso is set to air in August, and Waddingham praised the younger generation of female actors joining the cast. 'They walked in and owned it immediately – so I'm very reassured by the younger generation of female actors coming up; they've got it and then some,' she said.
In addition to Ted Lasso, Waddingham will appear in the upcoming Amazon Prime series Ride Or Die, a comedy action thriller co-starring Octavia Spencer and Bill Nighy. She performed her own stunts for the role, despite suffering injuries including a calf muscle tear. 'When I watch it back, I can't believe I did it…when I was on set and they shouted 'Action!', I was a beast,' she said.
