Hannah Waddingham Movies and TV Shows: Complete List

If you recognize Hannah Waddingham at all, it’s probably from one of two places: the HBO series where she rang a shame bell in front of Cersei Lannister, or the Apple TV+ comedy where she played a football club owner learning to laugh again. Those roles—a supporting turn on Game of Thrones and a leading one on Ted Lasso—propelled her from accomplished stage performer to household name, earning her an Emmy and a dedicated fanbase in the process. Her filmography spans everything from West End musicals to Disney sequels, with projects still stacking up in 2025.

Breakout TV Role: Septa Unella in Game of Thrones (2015–2016) · Film Debut: Into the Woods (2011) · Recent Special: Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas · Next Genres: Voice work for Disney and Mission: Impossible (2025)

Key facts at a glance

Waddingham’s professional milestones span stage, screen, and voice work across nearly two decades.

What is Hannah Waddingham famous for?

Hannah Waddingham is an English actress, singer, and television presenter who spent years commanding West End stages before the small screen made her a household name. She brought intensity to every role, whether portraying a stern nun doling out public humiliation on HBO’s most-watched series or channeling vulnerability as a grieving football club owner on Apple TV+.

Her breakthrough television role came as Septa Unella, the stark-nun antagonist who famously rang a shame bell while marching Cersei Lannister through the streets of King’s Landing. The role was brief—just eight episodes across seasons five and six—but it made an indelible mark on audiences. The Game of Thrones creators themselves later wrote an email to Ted Lasso producers endorsing Waddingham for her eventual lead role, with the subject line reportedly reading “What are we even discussing here?” (Virgin Radio).

Ted Lasso role

Waddingham plays Rebecca Welton, the owner of AFC Richmond football club who initially plots the team’s downfall but evolves into one of its most steadfast supporters. Her performance earned her the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2021 (Wikipedia), along with additional Emmy nominations and wins at the Critics’ Choice Television Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards. The role showcased her comedic timing while allowing her to explore genuine emotional depth.

Game of Thrones appearance

The “shame nun” role required Waddingham to undergo authentic waterboarding during filming to ensure the brutal “walk of atonement” scene felt genuine (Wikipedia). She received the iconic shame bell as a parting gift from the production—a testament to how thoroughly the character resonated with audiences and creators alike.

What this means: Her rapid ascent from eight episodes on HBO to a three-season Apple TV+ lead role remains rare in modern television casting.

Who was Waddingham in Game of Thrones?

Septa Unella was a member of the Faith of the Seven who served as a religious enforcer during the reign of King Tommen Baratheon. She partnered with the High Sparrow to mete out “justice” through public penance, with her signature moment coming when she escorted Cersei Lannister through the streets of King’s Landing ringing a brass bell while shouting “Shame! Shame!” The character became instantly iconic, with Waddingham’s booming voice and steely demeanor making her one of the most memorable supporting villains in the series.

Character details

Septa Unella appeared in 8 episodes of Game of Thrones across seasons five and six (Wikipedia). Her role was primarily defined by scenes with Lena Headey’s Cersei, creating a dynamic that audiences found both terrifying and darkly satisfying. Waddingham began filming Game of Thrones scenes just nine weeks after giving birth to her daughter, demonstrating the commitment that would define her career (Wikipedia).

Impact on career

The role caught the attention of Ted Lasso creators Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt, and Bill Lawrence, who saw in Waddingham the exact qualities needed for Rebecca Welton. Game of Thrones’ reach ensured that casting directors took notice, and her trajectory shifted from reliable supporting player to Emmy-winning lead.

The pattern: A nine-week post-partum filming window and an authentic waterboarding technique reveal how Waddingham’s stage-trained commitment to realism translated directly into screen credibility.

What movies has Hannah Waddingham starred in?

Waddingham’s filmography demonstrates her willingness to take on diverse projects across genres. Her movie career began with the 2011 film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, where she appeared alongside Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, and Emily Blunt. The role let her showcase her musical theatre background in a high-profile production.

Early films

After Into the Woods, Waddingham appeared in the 2012 adaptation of Les Misérables, the Tom Hooper-directed musical that earned Anne Hathaway an Oscar. She continued building her screen resume with smaller roles, including a turn in the thriller Winter Ridge (2018), for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the International Film Festival of Wales (Wikipedia).

Recent releases

The 2019 comedy The Hustle paired Waddingham with Anne Hathaway in a gender-flipped remake of the 1988 film. She played a wealthy con artist opposite Hathaway’s street-smart grifter, showcasing her ability to hold her own in mainstream Hollywood productions. Disney’s Hocus Pocus 2, released on Disney+ on 30 September 2022, saw her portray Mother Witch—a villainous role that delighted the film’s nostalgic audience (Wikipedia).

In 2024, Waddingham appeared in two major releases. She voiced Jinx in The Garfield Movie, the animated adaptation featuring Chris Pratt as the lasagna-loving cat (Wikipedia). She also played producer Gail in The Fall Guy alongside Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, the action comedy that paid homage to stunt performers (Wikipedia).

What TV shows is Hannah Waddingham known for?

Beyond Ted Lasso and Game of Thrones, Waddingham has accumulated an impressive array of television credits. She played Tonya Dyke in seven episodes of Benidorm (Series 6, 2014) and Jax-Ur in all 13 episodes of Krypton (2018–2019), the Syfy prequel set in the Superman universe (Wikipedia). Her role as Sofía Marchetti spanned 11 episodes across Sex Education’s four seasons (2019–2023), where she portrayed the mother of Eric’s partnercalm and supportive presence.

Supporting roles

Waddingham appeared in three episodes of the ITV drama Tom Jones (2023) as Lady Bellaston, a manipulative aristocrat in the Henry Fielding adaptation (Wikipedia). She also voices Deliria in the animated series Krapopolis (2023–present), a role that earned her an Emmy Award nomination (Wikipedia).

Specials and new projects

Her concert special Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas brought her musical talents to Apple TV+, featuring seasonal performances alongside Michael Bublé in Christmas In The City. The special showcases the stage presence that launched her career before television took over.

What this means: Her transition from Emmy-winning comedy lead to animated voice work and concert specials demonstrates how Ted Lasso opened doors across every format.

What is Hannah Waddingham’s new show?

Waddingham’s upcoming slate reads like a who’s-who of major franchises. In 2025, she’ll voice Grand Councilwoman in Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch, reprising the role originally made famous by the animated classic (Wikipedia). She’ll also appear as Admiral Neely in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the Tom Cruise blockbuster expected to dominate summer box offices (Wikipedia).

Upcoming projects

Voice work continues to play a significant role in her career, with Waddingham set to voice Jezebeth in Smurfs (2025) (Wikipedia). This expands her animation portfolio beyond Krapopolis and The Garfield Movie, positioning her as a go-to voice performer for major studios.

Lilo and Stitch connection

The Lilo & Stitch role carries particular weight as one of Disney’s most beloved properties. Waddingham joins a legacy that spans original voice performances to live-action adaptations, and her casting suggests the studio values her combination of authority and warmth.

The catch: Three high-profile 2025 releases in the same year will test whether her audience crossover appeal translates across Disney, Paramount, and animated franchises simultaneously.

Quotes

I remember thinking, ‘If I don’t make this count, I’m going to regret it for the rest of my life.’ That walk, that bell—it became something so much bigger than I expected.

— Hannah Waddingham, on filming her Game of Thrones shame scene (Virgin Radio interview)

The stage was where I learned everything. Film and television feel like a bonus—I never expected them to become the main event.

— Hannah Waddingham, on transitioning from theatre to screen work

She [Rebecca Welton] was supposed to be a villain. That’s what I was told in the audition. And then Jason Sudeikis handed me the pilot script and I thought, ‘Oh no, I’ve misread this completely.’

— Hannah Waddingham, on discovering her Ted Lasso character (Virgin Radio interview)

Summary

Waddingham’s journey from Olivier-nominated stage performer to Emmy-winning television star traces a path through some of the most-watched content of the past decade. Her Game of Thrones role opened doors, but Ted Lasso transformed her career trajectory—turning an eight-episode supporting appearance into a three-season starring role that earned her the industry’s top honors. With voice work in major franchises like Lilo & Stitch, Mission: Impossible, and Smurfs ahead, her screen career shows no signs of slowing. For audiences who’ve followed her from the West End to Westeros to AFC Richmond, the trajectory continues upward.

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Waddingham earned acclaim for her intense portrayal of Septa Unella role in Game of Thrones seasons 5 and 6, embodying fanatical devotion to the Faith Militant.

Frequently asked questions