Star of hit TV series Ted Lasso and exuberant Eurovision host, actress Hannah Waddingham reveals she was born to perform
WORDS: SUE CRAWFORD
Not many stars are invited to celebrate the festive season with their very own Christmas show, but then not many stars have enjoyed the success that Hannah Waddingham has seen this year.
The all-singing, all-dancing special Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas – filmed at no less than the London Coliseum – sees her joyfully party her way into the New Year. But no one would blame Hannah in the slightest if, during the countdown to 2024, she kept one nostalgic eye on the year that has just passed.
The whirlwind that was 2023 saw her pick up another Emmy nomination for her role in Ted Lasso (she previously won one in 2021) and plaudits aplenty for her enthusiastic hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Yet while she’s clearly loving every second of her moment in the sun, the down-to-earth star know what’s most important in her life.
“My primary function is being a single mama,” she says of juggling her booming career and raising eight-year-old daughter Kitty. “Without a doubt, my greatest achievement is bringing my magnificent daughter into the world.”
Not that it is always easy, as the in-demand actress can’t move for job offers right now. There are rumours that her name is in the frame as Holly Willoughby’s replacement on This Morning’s sofa, and she stars in this year’s Marks & Spencer and Baileys Christmas adverts.
Meanwhile next year sees film roles in The Garfield Movie, The Fall Guy alongside Ryan Gosling and a part in the eighth instalment of Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible movie franchise.
“Some days I think that I’m an absolutely rubbish mother because I go out to work strange hours and I can’t always be with my girl,” Hannah admitted recently. “I do believe women particularly have inherent guilt.
“But I’m learning to feel pride in my work, and that can only be a positive thing to teach my daughter.”
Ironically it was Hannah’s devotion to her daughter that led to the Ted Lasso role that would change the course of her career.
Hannah was filming in Belfast when Kitty, then three, was admitted to hospital suffering from a rare autoimmune disease. After finally getting to see Kitty the following day, Hannah – shaken by the ordeal – decided to step back from any jobs that would take her away from home.
Incredibly, just two mon
