Hannah Waddingham Reflects on Two Decades of Work and Hollywood’s Latest Embrace
A Conversation About Identity, Recognition, and the Unexpected Nature of Fame
An overnight success after 25 years – Two days prior to our meeting, Hannah Waddingham commanded the stage of Saturday Night Live UK, appearing in nearly every sketch that evening. The performer delivered a monologue showcasing her impressive vocal versatility, moving effortlessly between accents and characterizations. One moment she was Janet, one of two drama teachers from Reading with considerable upper-body presence; the next, she was leading a musical number about appropriate wine consumption at social gatherings. She even portrayed a no-nonsense northern instructor running a speed awareness program. When she finished her opening segment, she turned to the audience and declared her capabilities with characteristic confidence.
“You see? Range! Range.”
That particular phrase would have served me well during our subsequent conversation. We found ourselves in a secluded private dining area within a London hotel—Waddingham’s hometown where she continues to reside alongside her young daughter, Kitty. The actress moves through public spaces with an unmistakable presence. Standing tall with striking features, she typically sports a baseball cap pulled low over her forehead, a practical choice for actors enjoying a day away from the spotlight.
Ted Lasso transformed her career trajectory during the pandemic years. Her portrayal of Rebecca Welton, proprietor of the fictional AFC Richmond football club, resonated across the Atlantic. The series earned her an Emmy Award in 2021 for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series. At forty-seven, following years of steady work in theatre and television, observers felt her moment had finally arrived.
Our exchange begins with a friendly observation. I mention that for years I believed she hailed from northern England. She responds with genuine surprise, noting her mother’s Isle of Man origins might explain the misconception. I press forward with my theory about her possessing northern energy, perhaps reminiscent of a barmaid at the Rovers Return pub. Her reaction reveals something about how she perceives herself versus how others perceive her.
“Oh my God,” she says, laughing, though the air has taken on a sudden chill. “Is that a compliment? I don’t think so.”
Now fifty-one, Waddingham has entered what can only be described as her Hollywood period. Recent credits include Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning alongside Tom Cruise and The Fall Guy with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. She sits before me today discussing both the return of Ted Lasso and her new comedy-drama caper, Ride or Die, which she stars in alongside Octavia Spencer. Her character is an undercover assassin with particular fondness for both alcoholic beverages and romantic encounters. In the opening episode, she demonstrates considerable athleticism by leaping from a first-floor window to escape giving her phone number to a barman she met the previous evening.
As we examine the lunch menu, she reveals herself to be something of a food enthusiast. She orders shrimp cocktail, prompting me to remark on how camp the choice seems. She pauses, considering whether that characterization fits.
“Trust me, I would be very bored of myself if I were perpetually camp,” she says.
She explains that her extensive theatre background allows her to bring lightness to her performances. Even her SNL monologue aimed to create something joyful that lifted audiences beyond their daily routines. She acknowledges her work as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race and her theatrical Christmas revue for Apple TV, but insists these elements don’t fully define her artistic identity.
“What I wanted for my Christmas special was a timeless example of my voice, and something to make people smile.”
She emphasizes that reducing her career to labels like “camp” or “northern barmaid” oversimplifies her work. There is considerably more depth to her professional journey than casual observations might suggest.
