How the Game of Thrones showrunners helped Hannah Waddingham land Ted Lasso

How the Game of Thrones showrunners helped Hannah Waddingham land Ted Lasso

As a die-hard fan of Hannah Waddingham‘s incredible acting prowess, I find it truly remarkable to witness her journey from the Shame Nun in Game of Thrones to the emotionally resilient Rebecca Welton on Ted Lasso. Her ability to breathe life into such distinct characters is nothing short of mesmerizing.


In 2021, Hannah Waddingham achieved a significant milestone in her career by winning an Emmy for portraying Rebecca Welton, a sensitive proprietor of AFC Richmond football club on Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso. However, fans of Game of Thrones might eternally associate her with the character Septa Unella, also known as the Shame Nun, who notoriously shamed Cersei Lannister in King’s Landing during her walk of atonement.

How the Game of Thrones showrunners helped Hannah Waddingham land Ted Lasso

Turns out, the positions are intertwined because David Benioff and Dan Weiss, the showrunners of Game of Thrones, played a part in helping Phoebe Waller-Bridge secure her role as Rebecca. In an interview with Today, she shared that she had them write an email to the decision-makers, titled “What are we even discussing here?” It was a heartfelt, subtle, sincere recommendation saying, “Let the girl play.”

It’s quite possible that Waddingham would have landed the role regardless, given her exceptional fit for the character and Emmy win. However, having the producers of one of the most popular TV shows at the time endorse her certainly didn’t hurt. Plus, being on a massive show like “Game of Thrones” undeniably boosted her visibility. As she put it, “It felt like they were giving me permission to be there, and everyone else took notice.”

If HBO doesn’t surprise us significantly, it seems unlikely we’ll see Waddingham as Septa Unella again. However, whispers suggest that Apple TV+ is working towards a fourth season of Ted Lasso, and Waddingham might be among the actors reprising their roles in this potential new series.

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2024-08-29 20:42

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