Hannah Waddingham opens up about the perks and pitfalls of fame (2024)

Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham is no stranger to making headlines around the globe.

Most recently the Emmy Award winner went viral and was praised for scolding a photographer on the Olivier's red carpet when he asked her to "show me leg".

Waddingham tells 9Honey Celebrity the scrutiny she faces following her rise to Hollywood fame can be both a blessing and a curse – and, it was not something the Broadway and West End star was prepared for.

Watch the video above

READ MORE: How Hannah Waddingham's daughter inspired her latest career move

Hannah Waddingham opens up about the perks and pitfalls of fame (1)

"You don't spend 25 years only in theatre, to be famous," she tells 9Honey Celebrity in a London hotel.

"I have never had any desire - and still don't - [have] any desire to be famous.

"All I've ever wanted to do is good work and flick-flak from this role to that role to theatre to recording to hosting now and all the rest of it.

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Hannah Waddingham opens up about the perks and pitfalls of fame (2)

"So that's always been my thing to run that full gamut and have a full bowl of all the different things. So that's [fame] never been my intention.

"Obviously, there are lovely parts of it but people quoting what you've said or whatever, that's not great - makes me want to get my mood necklace out and [makes cat hiss]."

The mood necklace is a reference to her latest character, voicing the maniacal cat Jinx who is out for revenge, in upcoming animated The Garfield Movie.

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Hannah Waddingham opens up about the perks and pitfalls of fame (3)

Jinx crossed the pond from Britain to America in search of fame and fortune in the cat equivalent of Hollywood but never quite makes it.

The same can't be said for Waddingham, who spent decades treading the boards on London's West End before making it on Broadway in New York.

Hollywood then came calling and the actress has stared in TV shows Game of Thrones and Sex Education, as well as movies, including The Fall Guy, which was filmed in Australia.

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Hannah Waddingham opens up about the perks and pitfalls of fame (4)

Speaking fondly of her time in Australia to shoot the movie alongside Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, Waddingham says there are things she doesn't miss about her time Down Under.

"I don't miss the co*ckroaches or the hunter spiders," she admits to 9Honey Celebrity.

"I got used to very used to looking inside my shoes before I put them on."

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Following filming of the action comedy last year, Waddingham jumped straight into hosting mode for the Olivier Awards (UK's answer to the Tonys) and the Eurovision Song Contest.

She then recorded her Christmas special Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas.

"Last year was the most amazing year finishing up there [in Australia], coming back... Olivier's, Eurovision, Christmas special - it was literally packed out and then I started on this [Garfield].

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Hannah Waddingham opens up about the perks and pitfalls of fame (6)

"There was a lovely intimacy of being in a recording studio just with our director, Mark Duggan and just having that kind of just bringing everything down and more contained ... you are afforded the luxury of just leaning into one sense and as a singer, I've really loved that."

Despite having ticked off live theatre, movies, TV series, animations, recording and hosting, Waddingham tells 9Honey Celebrity there's still plenty left on the old bucket list.

"That's the beauty of it - flick-flacking all over the place keeps me satisfied," she says.

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Hannah Waddingham opens up about the perks and pitfalls of fame (7)

"I've never been somebody who's obsessed with just you know, looking lovely on camera or whatever, I like to completely metamorphosise.

"So, you know, the next thing I'm doing, I'll be very different again and I love the fact that everything people see me and it's just a slight adjustment.

"I've never really wanted to just look like me or sound like me, because I just find that boring. So, I feel I'm very privileged that I can kind of dip my toe into various different places."

The Garfield Movie is in cinemas around Australia on May 30.

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Hannah Waddingham opens up about the perks and pitfalls of fame (2024)

FAQs

What is Hannah Waddingham famous for? ›

Hannah Waddingham (born 28 July 1974) is an English actress. She is best known for her roles in Ted Lasso, Game of Thrones, Les Misérables 2012 and in several musicals including Spamalot, Into the Woods and The Wizard of Oz.

Has Hannah Waddingham ever been married? ›

No, The Fall Guy and Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham is not married. Though she was linked for a decade to Italian businessman Italian Gianluca Cugnetto, Waddingham and Cugnetto never tied the knot and today, she remains single.

How many languages does Hannah Waddingham speak? ›

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

Who is Hannah Waddingham seeing? ›

As for Waddingham, she is currently single after splitting from businessman Gianluca Cugnetto after a 10-year relationship.

What role did Hannah Waddingham have in Game of Thrones? ›

Hannah Waddingham had one of the most memorable moments in Game Of Thrones when she played the 'shame nun' of Septa Unella, with a catchphrase many remember.

How tall is Rebecca in Ted Lasso? ›

Viewers fell in love with Waddingham, 49, as the poised, yet hilarious football club owner Rebecca Welton. But as Waddingham revealed on “The View” in June, she has often been overlooked for roles because of her 5'11” stature.

Who is the female star of Ted Lasso? ›

'Ted Lasso' actress Hannah Waddingham named Sun Princess godmother: Travel Weekly.

Is Hannah from Summer House married? ›

During an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, the Summer House alum opened up about her relationship with Des Bishop, a fellow comedian she married in spring 2022. Hannah told the outlet her husband is “really supportive” of her stand-up comedy/podcasting career, which requires her to constantly travel.

What actress speaks 6 languages? ›

Natalie Portman can speak an impressive six languages.

With an Israeli-American background, Portman grew up speaking Hebrew and English, then picked up the additional languages of French, Japanese, German, and Spanish, America Reads Spanish reported.

How did Hannah Waddingham learn French? ›

Waddingham explained that she learned French in school and was “conversational, rather than fluent” but wanted to inject it into her presentation to “show the hands across the water”.

Can Natalie Portman speak Russian? ›

She even speaks Russian at the end of an episode of animated TV show Family Guy, in which she voices the character Meg. A good friend of Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman goes a few better than her bilingual buddy – she can speak five languages fluently. Her two native languages are English and Hebrew.

What movies has Hannah Waddingham been in? ›

In 2008, she made her film debut as Elizabeth Maddox in How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008). Her other film credits include Into the Woods (2011), Les Misérables (2012), Winter Ridge (2018) and The Hustle (2019).

Why was Hannah Waddingham in Willow? ›

Sex Education casting director Lauren Evans, who worked with Waddingham on the show, was the one to suggest she play Hubert in Willow. Waddingham's nerdy love for fantasy and enthusiasm made her brief cameo as Hubert a memorable and authentic addition to Willow.

Who was Hannah Waddingham in Footballers Wives? ›

Footballers' Wives (2005)

She popped up in one episode as a character named Jools, who was the latest lover of Earls Park boss Hazel Bailey, and took a bit of a shine to Amber Gates.

How tall is the woman on Ted Lasso? ›

"Being a woman who's not small, very tall, I had always struggled," said Waddingham, who is 5'11". She went on to explain how her stature has always been a disadvantage since she began her acting career in the early 2000s.

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