Hannah's Hollywood dream 'IT WAS AN IMPOSSIBLE MISSION'

There was a song and dance when the stage star decided to change her tune and become an actor!

Hannah Waddingham was a virtual unknown on London’s West End for decades. Today, thanks to the resounding success of a show about an American coach hired to manage a struggling British football team, she’s scooping accolades galore and being lauded as a phenomenon.

And the 49-year-old single mum has a message for those who didn’t believe in her as she slogged her way to the top, the kids at school who called her a “lanky freak” – she is 1.82 metres tall – and the drama teacher who told the whole class that “Hannah will never work on screen because she looks like one side of her face has had a stroke.”

“There is a little list of people who wouldn’t give me the time of day, but now want us to work together,” tells Hannah. “I’m happy to say to them, ‘Please look somewhere else. I’m human. I remember. Bog off !’”

Hannah’s empowering attitude and candour has delighted the world. Ever since the first season of Jason Sudeikis’ hit Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso hit its stride in 2020, Hannah – who plays footy team owner Rebecca Welton in the show – has been fêted.