Hannah Waddingham is a great example of a jobbing actor who got their biggest break later in their career, and they appreciate every single minute of what they’re doing. That’s what I always think whenever I see Hannah at an event or doing promo, that she’s just enjoying herself thoroughly and that she’s going to wring everything she can out of her newfound A-list status from Ted Lasso. Hannah covers The Zoe Report and most of the interview is just Hannah talking about how grateful she was to work on so many musicals on the London stage, and how much she’s enjoying herself right now. The only complaint she has is that she’s so busy, she sometimes misses seeing her 8-year-old daughter for days. Some highlights:
‘Ted Lasso’ never had to shutdown from a Covid outbreak: “When every show was falling on its arse… It was impressive that this massive juggernaut kept running so smoothly. The cast were so respectful of not threatening our beautiful, isolated bubble.”
No arseholes: “I’m in a job that I will struggle to beat. When I say there’s not an arsehole in [the cast], that is true. It’s a very happy camp. They have a ‘no arseholes’ policy, apparently.”
She’s a third-generation performer: “Musical theater people don’t get into it for money or fame. It’s in your blood; it’s in your bones; it’s a vocation… I don’t remember ever not wanting to sing or act — I remember the opposite. Finding out some people’s parents worked in offices, I was like, ‘What do you mean? Doesn’t everyone sing and dance for a living?’”
The Musical Theater Girl: “You take the work you are offered, and I do it with my full heart… I had long accepted the fact that I was seen as a ‘musical theater’ girl, even if it was some kind of derogative perception: ‘Oh no, they’re musical theater.’ I had accepted that so much that it was a shock to me when suddenly anybody was interested in me, screen-wise. It happens all the time.”
Her small part on Game of Thrones: “It almost opens a floodgate. Somebody has to take a punt on you, and then suddenly people go, ‘Oh, [she] must be all right then.’ I only get recognised as Septa Unella when I haven’t got any make-up on.”
What ‘Ted Lasso’ has taught her: “It encourages people to think the best of others, to know that everyone’s going through their sh-t. And I think society has gotten very used to funny things that are derogatory about people. Ted encouraged people to be warm and to be kind and be funny to each other, not bitchy.”
People come up to her and thank her: “Do you know what’s lovely? The thing most people say to me is thank you. Imagine what that’s like all the time. People going, ‘My God, you got me through a horrendous, horrible time.’ Someone came up to me once and said, ‘Can I just give you a squeeze?’”
Her drink of choice: “I like an old fashioned first — there’s something slightly medicinal about it — and then I’m usually a margarita kind of gal.”
Meeting Sheryl Lee Ralph and Lisa Ann Walter at the Emmys. Brainstorming with Walter on how to get her on the show, Waddingham pitched a hapless substitute teacher, but Walter told her, “‘You have to come in as the biggest boss bitch of all. I was like, ‘What, because I’m English and tall?’” She thinks incompetence might play better: “It’s funnier if I’m inept, and don’t know the curriculum, and I’m also very British.”
She’s so proud of Sheryl Lee Ralph: “For many, many years, she and I were working our backsides off under the radar, her on Broadway, me here in London. We said that we both feel like different versions of the same person going, ‘Hello? Hello? Can you please see me as something else?’ That’s why I was first up out of my chair going, ‘F–k yeah!’ for her — because I know that feeling, and I know how bloody hard and bloody brilliantly she has worked for so many years.”
When I first started Ted Lasso, I didn’t even associate her with Game of Thrones and the “shame!” bell-ringer. I just knew Hannah seemed familiar and that I’d probably seen her somewhere. It’s incredible that this American guy (Sudeikis) arrived in England and decided to cast a musical-theater lady as this football boss. She was thrilled. And honestly, she’s one of the best parts of the show. I also didn’t realize that she’s a third-generation performer – that’s insane!
Covers & IG courtesy of The Zoe Report.
I still remember when I first saw her out of her Septa Unella costume. I was SHOOKETH about the fact that this beautiful glamorous lady was underneath all those severe robes! And then I saw her again in Sex Education (in which her role is also small but lovely nonetheless) and I didn’t recognize her until much later!
Hehe at ‘no arseholes policy’.
I got on the Ted Lasso train just recently. And omg, it’s so lovely. And “I appreciate you” is such a simple game changer. It’s so nice to say and hear. And if you ever have a family member or work with someone like a Ted Lasso. Hold on to them for dear life they are rare people. I had a boss like Ted Lasso. Kind, thoughtful and positive. He really wanted the best out of people. He was your biggest cheerleader. And made people feel like he was their best friend. I was devestated when he decided to resign to another company. But he still stays in touch with me. And I hope one day we can work together again. I am just bummed it was only planned as a 3 season series. I could watch it forever.
I was too cynical for Ted Lasso the first time I tried to get into it. I tried again recently and loved it. I found myself actually rooting for Richmond like it was a live sporting event. It’s a very very well done show.
I love Ted Lasso and I think she is one of the best characters on it, and I LOVE her friendship with Keely. I love that Ted Lasso took some of these tropes and turned them on their heads. No, the rich boss lady actually isn’t a huge bitch. No, the pretty blonde girlfriend is actually smart and motivated and actually the pretty blonde and the rich boss lady can be great friends. Just such a good show.
This is the part I love the most! I love Keely and Rebecca’s friendship, and I loved it even more when Rebecca’s old friend came into the picture and all three got along smashingly. I love how women support each other on that show. It warms my heart so much.
Yes! I love what they did with Trent too.
I, too, thought the two women in a cast full of men would be stock characters, only existing for the men to play off of. It was such a delight when they were written as real people with fears and strengths and were allowed to both grow as characters and support each other as friends.
These pictures are gorgeous!
Uhh, did anyone else notice the ”They have a ‘no arseholes’ policy, apparently”? Isn’t that what Olivia Wilde said she has on set (no assholes policy) after she fired Shia Lebouf? And her ex-husband makes Ted Lasso? I wonder if that was just a statement or some kind of a dig, I might be reading into it too much
That stood out for me, too!
She looks so beautiful! I would love to have those outfits!
I love Ted Lasso and have an enormous girl-crush on Hannah. I LOVE Rebecca and all that she is, and like posters above, I love that she and Keely are good, supportive, strong friends to each other.
Hannah is amazingly talented, beautiful, striking, and seems like she’d be a lot of fun. I’m so happy when good things happen to good people!!
Hannah is just a doggone delight. Imagine a Ted Lasso/Abbott Elementary crossover??
She always looks like she’s having a blast, and is so grateful. Give her all the parts and roles she wants, plus an album please!
I love her happy vibes.
She was a guest judge in RuPauls Drag Race UK this week and looked absolutely amazing. My husband and I couldn’t take our eyes off her, she just radiated warmth.