Hannah Waddingham was born on July 28, 1974, in Wandsworth, London, England. She is a British actress, singer, and television presenter. Her mother, Melodie Kelly, was an opera singer, and both of her maternal grandparents were also involved in opera.

Growing up around the theatre, she was influenced by her family's musical background. She attended the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London, where she honed her skills in acting and singing.

Hannah Waddingham began her career on the stage, making her West End debut in "Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens" at The Queens Theatre in 1998. She went on to star in productions like "Lautrec," "The Beautiful Game," and "Spamalot," both in London and on Broadway.

Her stage career earned her three Olivier Award nominations. She also appeared in the film adaptation of "Les Misérables" in 2012 and the psychological thriller "Winter Ridge" in 2018.

Her transition to television brought her even greater visibility. She is best known for her role as Rebecca Welton in the hit comedy series "Ted Lasso," which aired from 2020 to 2023. Her portrayal of the strong-willed owner of the fictional soccer club AFC Richmond earned her significant acclaim and several awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2021 and Critics' Choice Television Awards in 2021 and 2022.

She also played notable roles in series like "Game of Thrones" as Septa Unella, "Krypton" as Jax-Ur, and "Sex Education" as Sofia Marchetti. In 2023, she co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest and began voice acting, portraying characters like Deliria in "Krapopolis" and Jinx in "The Garfield Movie."

Hannah Waddingham was in a long-term relationship with Gianluca Cugnetto, an Italian businessman, for over a decade. The couple welcomed their daughter, Kitty, in 2016. Despite being told she had a low chance of conceiving, she has spoken openly about feeling privileged and blessed to have her daughter.

Kitty suffers from Henoch-Schönlein purpura, a condition that causes blood vessels to swell. As of 2024, she is raising her daughter as a single mother. She has kept her personal life relatively private, focusing publicly on her career and her role as a mother.

Throughout her career, she has received several awards and nominations. In addition to her Emmy and Critics' Choice awards for "Ted Lasso," she has been nominated for a Golden Globe and won a Screen Actors Guild Award.