Movies

Hannah Waddingham recalls the very cruel comments her drama teacher said about her face

BBG News

She boasts a shining career within the acting world, having mingled with numerous high-profile celebrities from Hollywood.

However, at the age of 50, Hannah Waddingham nearly abandoned her acting aspirations altogether, as her previous drama instructor harshly criticized her physical features and undermined her self-confidence.

Hannah, hailing from Wandsworth where she spent her childhood, attended The Academy Of Live And Recorded Arts at the age of 19. However, she was informed that she wouldn’t have a career in the industry.

During a conversation with The Sunday Times, Hannah recounted some harsh remarks made by her drama teacher regarding her appearance.

“It looks like one side of her face has had a stroke”, Hannah was told.

Sign up for our Daily Mail showbiz newsletter to keep up with all the latest celebrity drama, fashion faux pas on the red carpet, must-see photos, and trending moments – you won’t want to miss a thing!

The actress expressed: “Her actions significantly diminished my self-confidence, causing me to abstain from television auditions for a prolonged period.

I wish she’s suffering somewhere, such a foolish creature. Those kinds of people are often plagued by their own insecurities, and I’ve come to realize this truth.

She also revealed she was once told she was ‘too big’ to appear on camera. 

The 5 feet 11 inch actress asserted that she was denied acting opportunities because of her model-like figure, explaining that the common attitude was, “You’re too large for the screen, so stick to what you know.

It turned out that Hannah had no problem standing tall alongside Jason Sudeikis, the 6-foot-1 creator and lead actor of Ted Lasso, who encouraged her to wear high heels and maintain her height advantage during filming.

Nevertheless, Hannah admitted that multiple men requested her to take off her high heels during the filming process.

In the interview, she mentioned that some temporary actors on the set of Ted Lasso asked her, “Can she not wear shoes during this scene?”, to which she responded by keeping her heels on.

Today, London-born Hannah has moved far beyond facing critical comments about her looks, as fans express admiration for her beauty across various social media platforms.

After completing her education, Hannah, the daughter of renowned opera singer Melodie Kelly, focused her efforts on pursuing a career in theater acting.

Among her initial careers, she worked at an interactive dinner production titled “Joni and Gina’s Wedding” – a setting where spectators assume the part of wedding attendees and can interact with the performers.

2000 saw Hannah releasing her song “Our Kind of Love,” a composition penned by Andrew Lloyd Webber specifically for his play “The Beautiful Game.” This release was made in celebration of the renowned composer’s 50th birthday.

2002 saw her take part in a Space Family Robinson performance, followed by her portrayal as Lady of the Lake in Spamalot, a role that garnered her an Olivier Award nomination.

At the same time as her theater performances in the West End, Hannah started auditioning for an increasing number of television and movie roles. Her first appearance on the big screen was in the 2008 film titled “How To Lose Friends and Alienate People.

2014 saw Hannah being chosen to play Tonya Dyke in the popular ITV show Benidorm. However, her career took off in a bigger way in 2016, with her landing the role of Septa Unella during the fifth season of Game of Thrones.

Playing a pivotal part helped Hannah gain recognition within the Hollywood industry, eventually landing her the role of Jackson’s mother Sofia in the popular Netflix show “Sex Education” in 2019.

Two years on, Hannah achieved unprecedented success in her career by securing the leading role as Rebecca Welton, a complex character who was both warm and icy, in Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso.

Hannah’s latest roles have seen her star in Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning and Lilo & Stich. 

Read More

2025-06-10 12:03

Previous post Magda Szubanski’s shock career move following rare blood cancer diagnosis: ‘Close to my heart’
Next post Is the New Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out Living Up to the Original’s Chaos?