Hannah Waddingham is known for Ted Lasso. But she's done so much more than that...

For Hannah Waddingham, hitting her career stride in her 40s is a dream result.

Since landing a starring role in Jason Sudeikis' Ted Lasso, the 48-year-old can’t leave her home without being recognised – but did you know she was already famous among acting circles long before, winning Critics Choice Awards, Screen Actors Guilds and an Emmy?

"I think in terms of suddenly your career going into warp speed, I can see why younger people lose their [minds]," Waddingham told The Times of London.

"Whereas me, yes, it’s amazing, but I’ve still got to spin the plates of life with my daughter."

In Ted Lasso, we know her as Rebecca Welton, the powerhouse owner of AFC Richmond and best friend of Juno Temple's character, Keeley. However, she has a greater role when the cameras aren’t rolling.

Watch: Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso. Post continues after video.

"My primary function is being a single mama," she told People of being a mum to daughter Kitty. 

"I’m hugely blessed not only to have a child, but to have been able to choose to move to television and to be accepted into that world where I can be Mummy as much as I can and be away from her as little as possible," she also told Town & Country.

But that doesn’t mean she’s going to let her successful run slip away, she told People. 

"I think when [success] comes to you later in life, you take it more with a pinch of salt," she said. "I'd never shy away from that fact, that I'm 48, I just try to be the best version of myself, make people smile and hope they make me smile."

It was only in the late noughties that Hannah made a solid move into TV, and on seasons five and six of Game of Thrones, no less, but even then she was hardly recognisable given she was swathed in conservative garb and grubby makeup as Septa 'the Shame Nun' Unella. Her character was cruel and unforgiving – and according to Waddingham, her experience on set was a breeze!

"I loved [working on Game of Thrones], because it meant I could just sit sleeping in the trailer for hours on end, look like I’d been dug up, and they’d say, 'Yeah, that looks great,'" she joked on Jimmy Kimmel Live. In a chat with The Zoe Report, she admitted, "I only get recognised as Septa Unella when I haven’t got any make-up on."

Hannah Waddingham as Septa Unella in Game of Thrones. Image: HBO.

Playing Septa was the polar opposite to what Waddingham had grown accustomed to. 

As the daughter of Melodie Kelly, a member of the English National Opera for 27 years, and the granddaughter of accomplished opera singers, working the stage and thrilling live audiences were in her blood. In fact, Waddingham told The Zoe Report she was shocked to learn her classmates' parents sat in offices to make a quid. 

"What do you mean? Doesn’t everyone sing and dance for a living?'" she joked, admitting that while musical theatre looks glamorous, she and her family did it for love, not money. "Musical theatre people don’t get into it for money or fame. It’s in your blood; it’s in your bones; it’s a vocation," she said.

It's a vocation that took her to Broadway and West End as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz, Desiree Armfeldt in A Little Night Music, Lady of the Lake in Spamalot, and The Witch in Into the Woods.

Hannah Waddingham in her different roles on Broadway. Image: Getty.

But Waddingham's foray into television has brought her a joy she never expected.

"Do you know what’s lovely?" she mused. "The thing most people say to me is thank you. Imagine what that’s like all the time. People going, 'My God, you got me through a horrendous, horrible time.' Someone came up to me once and said, 'Can I just give you a squeeze?' It’s so nice," she said.

At the height of the global pandemic, Hannah became that friendly face in our lounge rooms; a mate, if you will, which is why it came as no surprise that she scooped many of TV’s major awards in 2021 and 2022.

She won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Critics’ Choice Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards in both 2021 and 2022, and a Hollywood Critics Association Award. 

Waddingham's acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the Emmys was perfection from start to finish.

"Jason [Sudeikis], you’ve changed my life with this, and more importantly, my baby girl’s. And I will work for you as long as you’ll let me." 

Unfortunately for us, that time is near, with the third season of Ted Lasso set to be the last.

But fear not, you’ll get your Hannah Waddingham hit again soon. Following her stint as Mother Witch in Hocus Pocus 2 alongside Sarah Jessica Parker in 2022, she’ll star opposite Ryan Gosling in The Fall Guy when it comes out later this year.

Hannah Waddingham in Hocus Pocus 2 as Mother Witch. Image: Disney Plus.

Oh, and she’s hosting Eurovision, too. "There’s something really special about Eurovision, which is why I’ve been an avid fan for years – from the camaraderie of all the acts backstage, to the epic scale of the show," she shared.

"It is my great privilege to join Eurovision this year of all years."

And one of her biggest fans will be cheering her on from his couch – yes, we're talking about Jason Sudeikis. 

"[I’m a fan] of Hannah, and I absolutely will [watch it]," he shared on The One Show.

Feature Image: HBO/Apple TV Plus/Getty/Mamamia.