Hannah Waddingham

Hannah Waddingham (born 28 July 1974) is a British actress and singer. She is best known for playing Rebecca Welton in the comedy series ''Ted Lasso'' (2020–present), for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2021 and the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2021 and 2022. She has also appeared in a number of West End shows, including ''Spamalot'', the 2010 Regent's Park revival of ''Into the Woods'', and '' The Wizard of Oz'' as the Wicked Witch of the West; and has received three Olivier Award nominations for her work.

Her other work includes appearing as an ensemble member in the 2012 film adaptation of ''Les Misérables'', and joining the cast of the fifth season of the HBO series ''Game of Thrones'' as Septa Unella in 2015. She co-starred in the 2018 British psychological thriller ''Winter Ridge'', and has had a supporting role on the series ''Sex Education'' since 2019.

Early life and education

Waddingham was born in Wandsworth in London. Her mother, Melodie Kelly, was an opera singer as were both her maternal grandparents. Her mother joined the English National Opera when Waddingham was eight years old, and she grew up around the theatre.

Waddingham is a graduate of the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts. She has a four octave vocal range. She started out in dinner theatre, performing in the interactive comedy ''Joni and Gina's Wedding''.

Career

Stage career

Waddingham has been a stage actress on both London's West End and New York's Broadway. She performed as Starbird in ''Space Family Robinson'' (Julian & Stephen Butler, 2002) and Suzanne Valadon in ''Lautrec''.

Waddingham portrayed the Lady of the Lake in ''Spamalot'', both in the London production and then on Broadway. She received an Olivier Award nomination for the role. She received outstanding reviews for her portrayal of Desirée Armfeldt in Trevor Nunn's revival of ''A Little Night Music'', including being described by one critic as the "Joanna Lumley of musical theatre". Waddingham subsequently received a further Olivier Award nomination in 2010 for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in ''Night Music''.

In mid-2010, Waddingham played the Witch in the production of ''Into the Woods'' at London's Open Air Theatre. She originated the role of The Wicked Witch of the West in the West End production of '' The Wizard of Oz'', which opened on 1 March 2011 at the London Palladium and was the first to perform the new Lloyd Webber and Rice song "Red Shoes Blues". She left the production on 4 September 2011. Waddingham won the whatsonstage.com Theatergoers Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her performance.

Waddingham appeared in the concert premiere of Styles and Drew's Soho Cinders at the Queens Theatre, London in 2011, and was replaced by Jenna Russell for the show's first fully staged production in 2012.

In 2012, Waddingham starred in Chichester Festival Theatre's revival of ''Kiss Me, Kate''. The show transferred to the Old Vic Theatre on London's South Bank in November 2012.

Screen career

In 2011, Waddingham appeared in Season 4, Episode 3 of the hit BBC
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