Biography
Who is Hannah Waddingham?
Early life and education
Born in Wandsworth, London, on July 28, 1974, Hannah Waddingham grew up in a theatrical environment. Her mother, Melodie Kelly, was an opera singer who performed with the English National Opera. Her maternal grandparents were also opera singers. Hannah Waddingham attended Streatham and Clapham High School before pursuing formal training. She is a graduate of the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts.
Her grandfather, Harry Waddingham, served in the Second World War. She is half-Manx, with family roots in Port Erin. She has a four-octave vocal range and grew up around the theater.
Stage and musical career
Hannah began her career in dinner theater. Her West End debut occurred in 1998 in the production of Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens. She appeared in several musicals, including Lautrec and The Beautiful Game, where she created the character of Christine Warner. She is well known for her role as the Lady of the Lake in the musical comedy Spamalot, which she performed in London and on Broadway. This role earned her an Olivier Award nomination.
Other well-known stage credits include playing Desirée Armfeldt in A Little Night Music and the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. She received a Whatsonstage.com Theatergoers Choice Award for her performance in the latter. She also starred in a revival of Kiss Me, Kate at the Chichester Festival Theatre and the Old Vic Theatre.
Screen roles and television work
Her screen career began with a 2002 appearance in the sitcom Coupling. She later appeared in Brookside and Agatha Christie's Marple. She gained prominence for her role as Septa Unella, often called the Shame Nun, in the fifth and sixth seasons of Game of Thrones. She also had a recurring role as Sofia Marchetti in the Netflix series Sex Education.
Her international recognition grew significantly when she began playing Rebecca Welton in the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso in 2020. This role brought her a Primetime Emmy Award and a Critics' Choice Television Award. She has also appeared in various films, including Les Misérables, The Fall Guy, and The Garfield Movie. In 2023, she co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool alongside Alesha Dixon, Julia Sanina, and Graham Norton.
Personal life and background
Hannah Waddingham speaks Italian and French fluently. In 2012, she moved to Australia for a brief period before returning to the United Kingdom. She was in a long-term relationship with Italian businessman Gianluca Cugnetto for ten years. The couple had a daughter in 2014. Hannah has been a single parent since her child was two years old.
She famously pulled out of hosting the Fantasy, Myths and Legends Prom in 2023 in solidarity with the SAG-AFTRA strike. Her professional credits also include the release of a live album titled Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas, recorded for Apple TV.
Birthday and age
Hannah Waddingham was born on July 28, 1974, which makes Hannah 52 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Hannah shares the date with 32 other famous people.
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