Hannah Waddingham bio, height, age, young, daughter, husband, career path 2025

Hannah Waddingham Biography

An artistic career was foreordained for Hannah Waddingham from an early age. Albeit, not on the silver screen, but on stage, and initially, the actress dutifully adhered to the path laid out by previous generations of her family. She devoted two decades to the theatre, performing on premier London venues and Broadway, and thrice being nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award.

However, everything altered with the birth of her long-awaited daughter. While still pregnant, she was cast in the cult series "Game of Thrones" in 2015. Her portrayal of Septa Unella turned her into a recognizable television star, and her participation in the multi-episode project "Ted Lasso" in 2020 solidified this status. Critics and viewers alike admired her character in the series, earning Waddingham an Emmy and a nomination for the Golden Globe. Above all, she treasured how her work in cinema allowed her to always be home in time to tuck her daughter into bed.

Early Years

Hannah Waddingham was born on July 28, 1974, in London. Her family had a direct connection to the arts. Hannah's mother, Melody Kelly, was an opera singer, as were her ancestors.

When Hannah was eight, her mother was invited to join the English National Opera troupe. Consequently, Hannah's childhood unfolded backstage at the theater. It's no surprise that she, too, harbored dreams of performing on stage.

Upon finishing school, Waddingham enrolled in the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts. Her innate talent and diligent work allowed her to master a vocal range spanning four octaves.

Theatrical Career

Hannah made her theater debut in 2002, although her initial experience could hardly be described as successful. She landed a role in the interactive production "Johnny and Gina's Wedding" at Dinner Theatre. Critics immediately lambasted the premiere in the press, remarking on the "dreadful grace of an overgrown Baribe" - a label they assigned to the six-foot-tall Waddingham.

Nevertheless, Hannah persevered, disregarding the criticism. In the same year, 2002, she began performing both in London's West End and on Broadway in New York. The actress garnered universal acclaim four years later, playing the Lady of the Lake in "Spamalot." For her portrayal in this production, Waddingham was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award in 2007.

Another successful production for Hannah was "A Little Night Music," which was well-received by critics in 2009. A year later, she was again nominated for an Olivier Award for her role in this play.

Hannah Waddingham in A Little Night Music

In 2010, Waddingham shone in an open-air theater production of "Into the Woods" in London. A year later, she played the Wicked Witch of the West in "The Wizard of Oz" at the Palladium, performing the most complex solo parts from the stage. She was awarded the Theatergoers Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.

Hannah received her third Laurence Olivier Award nomination in 2013, for her role in the musical "Kiss Me, Kate." After this, Waddingham scaled back her theater career as she became increasingly in-demand in film.

Film Career

The actress had been trying to act in films and television series while still performing in theaters. But she could only dream of significant and characteristic roles. In 2005, she made a brief appearance in the series "Footballers' Wives," and five years later, she appeared in episodes of "Agatha Christie's Miss Marple." e{"type":"image","src":"images/content/2023/5/18/hannah-weddingham-in-agatha-christies-miss-marple_94.jpg","title":"Hannah Waddingham in the series Agatha Christie's Miss Marple"} She was fortunate to land a role in the film adaptation of the musical "Les Misérables" in 2012, where the main characters were played by Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, and Anne Hathaway. Despite her excellent vocals, Hannah was content with a minor character – a factory worker.

A breakthrough in her career came in 2015 when she joined the cast of the fifth season of the series "Game of Thrones." Waddingham was given the complex role of the harsh Septa Unella, the woman in strict religious attire who led the naked Queen Cersei along the "walk of shame." At the time of casting, Hannah was in her last months of pregnancy and did not even hope to get the role.

The shooting became a real challenge for the actress. According to the plot, Cersei, regaining power, took cruel revenge on the nun, and therefore Hannah had to endure torture scenes as well. The episode where she was tied to a table and water was poured on her head was particularly hard for her. But Waddingham handled all the difficulties excellently.

Game of Thrones: Lena Headey and Hannah Waddingham

After filming together, she also formed a strong friendship with Lena Headey, the actress who played Cersei. Waddingham admired Headey's bravery, who had to film naked for two shifts, while Lena tactfully avoided questions about shooting torture scenes: "We never talked about it because we both found the experience quite traumatic."

After the success of "Game of Thrones," producers and directors finally took notice of Hannah. In 2018, she appeared in the series "Krypton" and the action movie "The Dark Mile." A year later, the actress appeared in the criminal comedy "The Hustle" and the popular series "Sex Ed."

An even more successful year for her career was 2020. That's when the first season of the series "Ted Lasso" premiered. Waddingham was given the main role - the owner of the football club Rebecca Welton. The club came to her after her divorce from her husband, and her character hired a man who knew nothing about European football to the position of a coach just to annoy her ex-husband.

Unexpectedly, Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis, not only helped the team advance in the league but also revealed the good traits in each of his new acquaintances, including Rebecca. Hannah's character went a long way, transforming from an embittered ex-wife into a soft and tender woman with great hopes for the future.

The series received recognition from both critics and viewers and was renewed for the following seasons. Participation in the project made Hannah a truly box-office actress. In 2021, she gathered a whole pile of awards: from the Critics' Choice Television Award to the Emmy. In addition, Waddingham was nominated for a Golden Globe. A year later, her award collection was also replenished with the Screen Actors Guild statuette.

In 2022, the actress starred in the movie "Hocus Pocus 2," joining Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Hannah Waddingham's Personal Life

Hannah has always been a rather private person and kept her life away from the media. Nevertheless, in 2012, her romance with Italian entrepreneur and hotel chain owner Gianluca Cugnetto became known. The actress already dreamed of giving her beloved a child, but for several more years she had to undergo treatment for infertility.

In 2016, Waddingham finally gave birth to a daughter named Kitty. The girl was diagnosed with a congenital ailment - hemorrhagic vasculitis, which caused inflammation and bleeding of vessels on her skin and internal organs. However, thanks to a course of treatment, the disease was overcome.

Hannah keeps the details of her current relationship with Cugnetto a secret. In some interviews, she referred to herself as a single mother, which sparked rumors about her breakup with her boyfriend.

‘Ted Lasso’ Star Hannah Waddingham’s Nighttime Skincare Routine

Hannah Waddingham Now

The third season of "Ted Lasso" aired in the spring of 2023. Waddingham returned to the role of Rebecca. At this point, her shooting schedule has been laid out for several years ahead. She was announced to take part in the melodrama "Tom Jones," the action movie "Stuntmen," the animated film "Garfield," and the thriller "Mission Impossible 8."

Hannah has no plans to return to the theater, primarily because of her daughter:

The biggest gift that Ted Lasso gave me is that it shoots 40 minutes from my home. I'm a theater person to my core, but I want to be able to put my little girl to bed at night.

Interesting Facts

Hannah is passionate about yoga and even completed courses, obtaining a license as an instructor. The actress is convinced that it is asanas and meditations that keep her mental health in order.
From the shooting of "Game of Thrones", Waddingham took away the shame bell as a keepsake - she used it when she was leading Headey's character through the city.
The actress has a cherished dream - to get the main role in a musical film. She also hopes to perform on-screen together with Viola Davis.

Nyle Doherty Content writer