One-time Eurovision Song Contest host Hannah Waddingham is nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award this year for her role on Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso
Hannah Waddingham has become a household name through her roles in projects like Ted Lasso, with her having receiving much acclaim for her performance in the show.
The actor, 49, plays football club owner Rebecca Welton in the Apple TV+ series, which launched on the streaming platform in 2020. Hannah has been part of the main cast, alongside the likes of Jason Sudeikis, in all three seasons.
Her performance in the show has led to various accolades, including Hannah having been the recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She has been nominated for various other awards, notably having been in the running for a Golden Globe Award in 2021.
She's among the nominees for the Golden Globe Awards again this year, with the ceremony taking place on January 7. Hannah is also nominated for another Emmy Award, with that awards ceremony scheduled to be held on January 15.
Amid her latest nominations, we've taken a look at Hannah's life and career, including her work prior to Ted Lasso. She's been in some high-profile projects over the years and has even been romantically linked to a fellow theatre star.
Family and relationships
Hannah told People magazine last year that her "primary function is being a single mama" to her daughter Kitty, now nine. It has been previously reported that the actor shares her daughter with her ex-partner Gianluca Cugnetto.
She's shared that her daughter was diagnosed with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) when she was younger. Kitty is said to have become "suddenly very ill" at the time and been in hospitalised "for a while" before the diagnosis of HSP.
The NHS states that the autoimmune disorder affects the blood vessels, adding that it can lead to kidney problems, rashes and tummy pain. It notes that although HSP can last for several months, most patients make a "full recovery".
Hannah said that although she is now able to talk about the experience, she "couldn't for a very long time". Discussing her family with People magazine, she told the outlet last year that her daughter is "much better now".
Referencing the experience on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2021, Hannah revealed that at the time she didn't want to work far away from her family. She recalled wanting a job that would be "close to home" but also showcase her talent.
She said that just months after she "asked the universe" for the request she had a meeting about working on Ted Lasso. The show is said to be filmed around 30 minutes from her home and her performance has been met with acclaim.
It was once teased that Kitty could have her Emmy in her room. Hannah said at the ceremony in 2021: "She can have this in her bedroom to show her that her mummy will only ever be away when it's for a really, blooming good reason."
The actor added that it would also be a reminder to her daughter that "magical things happen". Hannah has since told People about the award being in her room: "I want to teach her that work hard and great things will come to you."
It's been shared that Hannah's maternal grandparents were opera singers. She has said that her mother, Melodie Kelly, followed in their footsteps, having been a principal at the Royal Opera House in London, before being part of the English National Opera at the London Coliseum for years.
Hannah suggested that she was single on the Reign With Josh Smith podcast in December. Seemingly addressing the prospect of having a partner, she said on the podcast: "They can all sod off till someone fabulous comes along." Hannah added at the time: "I'm happy with my girls and my gays."
Last year, it was reported that Hannah had a relationship with fellow performer Alfie Boe, 50, over the summer. The pair are said to have been together when she hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool in May that year, but their apparent romance is said to have since "fizzled out".
A source told the Sun: "Towards the end of [2022] they went on a couple of dinners. [And with her] career massively in the ascendancy, she was keen to let her work, not personal life, do the talking so they deliberately kept things quiet."
The source said that it was "especially hard to keep things under wraps" amid Eurovision, when the spotlight was on Hannah. They added that the pair - who are said to have known each other for years - "remain on friendly terms".
Career
Hannah launched her career as a theatre performer after graduating from the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London. Her credits include the Wizard of Oz, having played the Wicked Witch of the West for its West End debut in 2011.
She played the Lady of the Lake in the musical Spamalot, which is based on the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). She was in the original West End cast from 2006 to 2007, starring alongside Tim Curry in the production. Hannah reprised the role on Broadway in the US in 2008.
Discussing the role on Late Night with Seth Meyers last year, she said: "It is completely exhausting but, don't tell the producers this, I 100 percent would have done it for no money." She added: "Some of the greatest days of my life."
The three-time Olivier Award nominee is now also known for her on-screen work. She has appeared in shows like ITV's Benidorm and Netflix's Sex Education, having played Tonya Dyke in the former and Sofía Marchetti in the latter.
Hannah played Septa Unella on HBO's Game of Thrones. The character is remembered for shouting "shame" whilst ringing a bell as a naked Cersei Lannister (played by Lena Headey) was paraded through the streets of King's Landing.
She said on the Kelly Clarkson Show in 2021 that she was given the so-called 'shame bell' as a parting gift. She said: "That's when you know that your character is really dead. When they give you like the hero thing of your character."
Hannah is now best known for her role on the acclaimed Ted Lasso. She stars alongside the likes of its co-creator Jason, Brett Goldstein and Juno Temple in the show, which is centred on the fictional football team AFC Richmond.
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