Hannah Waddingham, star of Ted Lasso, shared that a drama teacher once doubted her success due to her appearance. Despite the insult, she persevered and became a TV star.
The Ted Lasso star says a drama teacher once told her she’d never succeed because of her appearance.
Despite facing an insulting comment from a drama teacher who claimed, “Oh Hannah will never work on screen because she looks like one side of her face has had a stroke,” actress Hannah Waddingham was determined to prove her wrong.
Rather than letting the disparaging remark discourage her, Waddingham was motivated by it. Hannah declared, “I will work on screen, come hell or high water.”
Waddingham’s perseverance paid off, as she went on to win an Emmy, a Critics’ Choice Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role as Richmond FC owner Rebecca Welton in the Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso. Hailing from south London, she has also made notable appearances in Game of Thrones and Sex Education, and was well-received as a co-host during last year’s Eurovision Song Contest.
Before achieving fame on screen, Hannah had already established herself as a leading lady in both the West End and on Broadway. Reflecting on a comment from her drama teacher that haunted her for years, she shared with BBC Radio 2 podcast Michelle Visage’s Rule Breakers how it fueled her determination. In her Emmy acceptance speech, she vowed to open doors for music and theater professionals. The drama teacher’s comment, rather than being helpful or positive, became her biggest rule-breaking moment. Undeterred, she tirelessly worked to prove them wrong, pushing herself to the limits by performing in theater shows at night and taking any opportunity to break into the world of screen acting.
However, Hannah eventually reached a point where she felt she wasn’t receiving the television roles she deserved.
“I came to the realization that I was only getting one scene here or one episode there. And I thought, you know what? I believe I’ve accomplished enough… This isn’t satisfying anymore. Why should I constantly contribute to someone else’s storyline?
“So I told my agents, ‘I’m done with this… If it’s just one scene, I’m not interested anymore, and you shouldn’t be pitching me for it because it’s demeaning. I’ve been a leading lady for 22 years. I’m done with it. I’d rather be in a space where my contributions are valued.’
“So, I completely stepped back. And then came Game of Thrones.”
The fantasy series marked Waddingham’s breakthrough with her first significant screen role as Septa Unella, widely recognized as the Shame Nun, joining the cast in season five.
The actress recounted an incident where a school headteacher obstructed her pursuit of acting by suggesting she focus on academics due to her intelligence. Waddingham, however, asserted her desire to engage in drama rather than merely study it. Despite the headmistress’s refusal to provide a reference, Waddingham secured a scholarship for drama school and defiantly left it on the headmistress’s desk.
Reflecting on the dismissive attitude she faced, Waddingham explained that her determination to pursue her passion irritated the headmistress, who would assign her understudy roles while favoring others for school plays. When asked for advice on pursuing ambitions, Waddingham encouraged taking risks, standing firm, and embracing the journey. She emphasized the importance of trying, even if things don’t go as planned, and urged others to bravely navigate their paths.
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