Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas© Apple TV+

Hannah Waddingham looks unrecognisable in first major acting role – see throwback

The Ted Lasso star was 25 years old when she made her West End debut

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Read our full commerce guidelines here.

TV and film writer
November 9, 2023

Hannah Waddingham is returning to our screens in her Apple TV+ Christmas special later this month – and we can't wait for the Ted Lasso star to bring the festive cheer with her hour-long extravaganza. 

It's been a big year for Hannah. Not only did she bid farewell to her Ted Lasso character Rebecca Welton in the third and final season, but she also co-hosted the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest

WATCH: The trailer for Apple TV+'s Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas

While Hannah found fame through her roles in Game of Thrones, Sex Education, and of course, Ted Lasso, she has been a leading lady on stage for over 20 years. The London-born star made her West End debut in a production of Charles Aznavour's Lautrec in 2000 – and she looks completely different! 

The then-25-year-old can be seen donning red hair in a photo taken of a performance at the Shaftsbury Theatre. Hannah played the role of Suzanne Valadon in the musical, starring alongside Sevan Stephan.

© Alastair Muir/Shutterstock

Hannah Waddingham and Sevan Stephan in a performance of Lautrec at the Shaftsbury Theatre

From there, Hannah went on to portray Christine Warner in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton's The Beautiful Game, before playing the role of Satan in Tonight's the Night: The Rod Stewart Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

The performer has since starred in productions of Into The Woods, Kiss Me Kate, The Wizard of Oz, and Spamalot, for which she earned an Olivier Award nomination.

As for her screen career, Hannah landed her first TV role in the 2000 sitcom Coupling. She then went on to appear in episodes of Not Going Out, Marple, M.I. High and Bad Education. 

© HBO

Hannah played Septa Unella in Game of Thrones

In 2014, she played the role of Tonya in the ITV comedy series, Benidorm, before gaining wider fame for her portrayal of Septa Unella, the iconic 'Shame Nun', in seasons five and six of Game of Thrones.

Soon afterwards, Hannah landed a recurring role in Netflix's Sex Education, playing Jackson's mum, Sophia Marchetti.

© ITV

Hannah as the villainous Lady Bellaston in Tom Jones

Her most notable performance, however, came in 2020 when she played Rebecca Welton in Apple TV+'s hit comedy-drama, Ted Lasso, which ran for three seasons. 

Since then, Hannah has appeared in Hocus Pocus 2, the ITV miniseries Tom Jones, and the animated sitcom, Krapopolis.

MORE: 14 greatest TV shows of 2023 - and why we loved them

FIND OUT: We’re TV experts and these are the 14 best Apple TV+ shows to watch

In March this year, Hannah was announced as part of the cast for the untitled eighth Mission: Impossible film. 

© Apple TV+

Hannah starred in Ted Lasso from 2020 to 2023

All you need to know about Hannah Waddingham's Christmas special 

Hannah will be ringing in the holidays with her Apple TV+ special, Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas, which premieres on 22 November.

The star is expected to share anecdotes and memories from her own Christmases, as well as welcome special guests for a musical extravaganza at the London Coliseum.

MORE: 19 best Christmas films of all time and how to watch

© Apple TV+

Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas premieres on Apple TV+ on November 22

"I love the build up to Christmas and all the magic and sparkle that comes with it!" Hannah said in a statement. "If I'm perfectly honest, I'd be happy to start it all in November!

"Getting glammed up and spending time with loved ones and family is something I look forward to the most, so filming this campaign really got me in the festive spirit."

HELLO!'s favourite Apple TV+ shows

© Apple TV+

Brie Larson stars as Elizabeth Zott in Lessons in Chemistry

  • Bad Sisters - A dark comedy that follows four sisters who set out to free a fifth from an abusive husband. 
  • Hijack - Idris Elba leads the cast as Sam Nelson, a courageous hostage onboard a hijacked commercial plane on a seven-hour flight from Dubai to London.
  • Slow Horses - Star-studded spy thriller that follows a group of misfit intelligence agents who have been banished to the dumping ground department of MI5 after making career-ending mistakes. 

Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses

  • Lessons in Chemistry - Brie Larson stars in this adaptation of Bonnie Garmus's bestselling novel. It follows chemistry genius Elizabeth Zott, whose dreams of becoming a scientist are stunted by 1950s sexism. 
  • The Buccaneers - A frothy period drama that sees five young, rich American girls journey from New York to 1870s London, where they enter High Society in a bid to bag themselves an aristocrat.

Mia Threapleton in The Buccaneers

  • Ted Lasso - Jason Sudeikis plays a hapless American coach who comes to the UK to manage struggling football team, AFC Richmond. 
  • The Morning Show - Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon star in the drama, which examines the culture behind a network news show. After her co-star is accused of sexual misconduct, anchor Alex Levy is handed the reins to The Morning Show. 
  • Silo - A dystopian murder mystery thriller in which the last of humanity live underground in a giant silo and are forced to follow strict rules they believe are in place to protect them. 
© Apple TV+

Reese Witherspoon in The Morning Show

Sign up to Off Camera for all the gossip and goings-on from the wonderful world of TV and film

Email Address

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

More TV and Film

See more