Hannah Waddingham admits she was branded a ‘lanky freak’ early in her career by casting directors who now offer the superstar roles… but she tells them to ‘bog off!’
Hannah Waddingham has admitted that she was once labeled a ‘lanky freak’ by a casting director during her early career and rose to the top.
The 49-year-old actress first found fame in West End musicals before being catapulted to superstardom in Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso, followed by a string of hit films and even hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool last year.
Speaking The Sunday sitdown With Willie Geist, she revealed how she is now being offered roles by those who turned her down, but she keeps a ‘list’ to make sure she remembers their names and to tell them to ‘walk out’.
She also recalled how a drama teacher said: ‘Oh, Hannah will never work on screen because she looks like one side of her face has had a stroke’.
The actress told the presenter: ‘Yes, there is a small list of people who don’t want to give me time, but want to work together now’
Hannah Waddingham, 49, has admitted she was once labeled a ‘lanky freak’ by a casting director during her early career and rose to the top
The actress first rose to fame in West End musicals before being catapulted to superstardom in the Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso (pictured with musical co-stars (L-R) Charles Azavour and Sevan Stephan in 2000)
‘And I’m happy to say to them: ‘Please look elsewhere, I’m human, I remember that, go away”.
It comes after Hannah left viewers in hysterics at the BAFTA TV Awards with another meme-worthy moment after missing out on the entertainment award earlier this month.
The Ted Lasso star was nominated for her festive Apple TV+ special Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas, but lost out to BBC favorite Strictly Come Dancing.
After the loss, cameras caught Hannah drinking from a hip flask attached to her bracelet, sparking a wave of reaction from fans watching the ceremony unfold.
Tweets include: ‘Hannah Waddingham drinks a shot from a bracelet while Joe Lycett is in the background dressed as Queen Elizabeth I. ICONIC;’
“Not Hannah with the hip flask bracelet QUEEEN!!!”
‘OBSESSED; HANNAH WADDINGHAM You didn’t just do that.’
Fortunately, the evening ended on a happier note for Hannah, as she took to the stage to accept the award for Live Event Coverage for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.
Speaking on The Sunday Sitdown With Willie Geist, she revealed how she is now being offered roles by those who turned her down, but she keeps a ‘list’ to make sure she remembers their names and to tell them to ‘walk out’ ‘.
She also recalled how a drama teacher said: ‘Oh, Hannah will never work on screen because she looks like one side of her face has had a stroke’ (Hannah pictured on stage in 2000)
Hannah told the host, “Yes, there is a small list of people who won’t give me the time of day but want to work together now.” And I’m happy to say to them: ‘Please look elsewhere, I’m human, I remember, bogged down”
Hannah was praised by fans when she co-hosted the event in Liverpool last year, alongside Alesha Dixon, Graham Norton and Ukrainian star Julia Sanina, who also attended the ceremony.
She said: ‘The week we had this time last year was, I know for everyone here, the most extraordinary, stressful week, but so fantastic.’
At the BAFTA after-party, Hannah reportedly hid in the darkest corner of the room all night and didn’t leave her seat, while a number of A-listers – including Dame Harriet Walter – pushed their way between the tables to pay her a visit to bring.
The women became close in 2020 after Dame Harriet, 73, starred alongside Waddingham in the hit HBO series Ted Lasso.