Hannah Waddingham

Cast

Born

July 28, 1974 · London, England, UK

"People say to me, 'Why do you do these ugly parts?' And it's because at the end of the day, I'm an actress, and I crave the dark and the light within one job." A classically trained performer with a background in musical theatre, Hannah Waddingham studied at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London. She began her career on stage, earning recognition for roles in West End productions. Her vocal range—she is a skilled soprano—has been a defining asset across both theatre and screen work. Waddingham transitioned to screen in the 2000s with appearances in UK television series such as "Coupling" (2002) and "My Hero" (2003–2006), before gaining wider visibility in "Game of Thrones" (2015–2016) as the devout and ruthless Septa Unella. Her portrayal of Rebecca Welton in "Ted Lasso" (2020–2023) earned critical acclaim for its balance of comedic timing and emotional depth, winning her an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Other notable screen roles include "Sex Education" (2019–2023), "Hocus Pocus 2" (2022), and "The Fall Guy" (2024). Known for her expressive presence and vocal command, Waddingham often portrays complex, emotionally layered women with authority and wit. Her success in Ted Lasso helped broaden representations of mature female characters on television and boosted visibility for stage-trained actors in mainstream media.