30 Facts About Hannah Waddingham

Hannah Waddingham was born on 28 July 1974 and is an English actress.

Hannah Waddingham is best known for playing Rebecca Welton in the comedy series Ted Lasso, for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2021 and the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2021 and 2022.

Hannah Waddingham has appeared in a number of West End shows, including Spamalot, the 2010 Regent's Park revival of Into the Woods, and The Wizard of Oz as the Wicked Witch of the West; and has received three Olivier Award nominations for her work.

Hannah Waddingham's mother, Melodie Kelly, was an opera singer, as were both of her maternal grandparents.

Hannah Waddingham's mother joined the English National Opera when Waddingham was eight years old, and she grew up around the theatre.

Hannah Waddingham is a graduate of the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts.

Hannah Waddingham started out in dinner theatre, performing in the interactive comedy Joni and Gina's Wedding.

Hannah Waddingham has been a stage actress on both London's West End and New York's Broadway.

Hannah Waddingham performed as Starbird in Space Family Robinson and Suzanne Valadon in Lautrec.

Hannah Waddingham portrayed the Lady of the Lake in Spamalot, both in the London production and then on Broadway.

Hannah Waddingham received an Olivier Award nomination for the role.

Hannah Waddingham received outstanding reviews for her portrayal of Desiree Armfeldt in Trevor Nunn's revival of A Little Night Music, including being described by one critic as the "Joanna Lumley of musical theatre".

Hannah Waddingham subsequently received a further Olivier Award nomination in 2010 for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in Night Music.

In mid-2010, Hannah Waddingham played the Witch in the production of Into the Woods at London's Open Air Theatre.

Hannah Waddingham originated the role of The Wicked Witch of the West in the West End production of The Wizard of Oz, which opened on 1 March 2011 at the London Palladium and was the first to perform the new Lloyd Webber and Rice song "Red Shoes Blues".

Hannah Waddingham appeared in the concert premiere of Styles and Drew's Soho Cinders at the Queens Theatre, London in 2011, and was replaced by Jenna Russell for the show's first fully staged production in 2012.

In 2012, Hannah Waddingham starred in Chichester Festival Theatre's revival of Kiss Me, Kate.

In 2011, Hannah Waddingham appeared in Season 4, Episode 3 of the hit BBC sitcom, Not Going Out.

Hannah Waddingham played the role of Jane, an actress in an adult film being recorded in the show.

Hannah Waddingham had a small role in the 2012 film Les Miserables, and in 2014, starred on the ITV comedy Benidorm.

Hannah Waddingham portrayed the "Shame Nun", Septa Unella, in season 5 and 6 of Game of Thrones.

Hannah Waddingham started filming nine weeks after giving birth to her daughter, and did her own stunts for a scene in which she is waterboarded.

Hannah Waddingham was given the role's iconic "shame bell" as a parting gift.

Since 2020, Hannah Waddingham has portrayed Rebecca Welton, the owner of AFC Richmond, on the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso.

Hannah Waddingham appears as the character Mother Witch in Hocus Pocus 2, Disney's sequel to Hocus Pocus released on Disney+ on 30 September 2022.

Hannah Waddingham portrayed Lady Bellaston in the ITV drama miniseries Tom Jones, based on Henry Fielding's 1749 novel.

In May 2023, Hannah Waddingham co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, alongside Alesha Dixon and Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina, with Graham Norton joining them for the final.

Hannah Waddingham gained widespread praise, with The Guardian dubbing her an "overnight national treasure".

In 2000, Hannah Waddingham played the role of Christine in the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton musical The Beautiful Game in London's West End.

Hannah Waddingham speaks fluent French and Italian and has stated her love for languages.