Hannah Waddingham’s career, especially on the London stage, was stellar but she really hit gold after being cast as Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso. In its first season she won the Emmy , Critics Choice Award, and a SAG award. She has been nominated again for an Emmy as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and no doubt has to be considered a front runner to take home the gold again. She joins me today for this week’s edition of my Deadline video series, The Actor’s Side where she talks all things Lasso and beyond. Waddingham almost comes to tears during the interview when she explains she is having a very hard time dealing with the possible end of the series after the currently filming Season 3 (they are about half way through production she says and star Jason Sudeikis has always envisioned it going just for three years), but I also pose the prospect of perhaps a spinoff that could be in store if – and when – the show does come to a close. She says playing Rebecca has been a life and career changing experience and also relates the emotional story of filming the funeral scenes in episode 10 of this 2nd season while at the same time knowing her father was undergoing life threatening surgery. When you watch our conversation you will see the clip.
She also talks about her extensive musical experience (she can sing four octaves) on stage including receiving three Olivier Award nominations including for her roles in London in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music and Into The Woods, and regarding the latter she played the choice part of the Witch, something she is very familiar with as she also played the Wicked Witch of the West in a production of The Wizard Of Oz, and next will be seen in October on Disney+ in the long awaited sequel to Hocus Pocus in which she, you guessed it, also plays a Witch (but she is mum on just which Witch but says it is “significant”). She tells me the experience of working with those iconic stars including Bette Midler was special indeed. And speaking of musicals she also talks about playing the wild Lady In The Lake in Spamalot. With no problem admitting she is now in her 40’s she is actually at her peak, proving Hollywood’s old adage about female stars fading after a certain age to be COMPLETELY wrong. To watch our conversation just click on the link above.
Join me every Wednesday during Emmy season for another edition of The Actor’s Side.