Why Rebecca Welton From Ted Lasso Looks So Familiar
"Ted Lasso," the Emmy-winning Apple TV+ comedy series, sports a delightfully charming ensemble cast of characters, each of whom are known for their remarkable abilities to spread joy to audiences around the world (well, except for Rupert (Anthony Head), of course). At the top of the AFC Richmond employee pool is Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), the unlikely owner of the football team. For her work in Season 1 of the half-hour comedy, Waddingham was the recipient of the 2021 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series.
"Ted Lasso" could represent the first time some TV fans have seen Waddingham, but for many people, "Ted Lasso" is just her most high-profile role yet. Indeed, Waddingham has actually been working as an actress for two decades. Her first on-screen appearance came in a 2002 episode of a British sitcom called "Coupling." In the decades since, she has appeared in a more than 30 different productions (via IMDb). If you're chomping at the bit to watch something else with Waddingham before the recently delayed third season of "Ted Lasso" arrives, here's a list of her other most well-known film and television roles.
She discovered How to Lose Friends and Alienate People with Simon Pegg
In her second-ever film role, Waddingham appeared briefly in 2008's "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People" (via IMDb). Waddingham doesn't have much screen time in the film and she doesn't actually have any lines, but she plays a rather prominent role nonetheless.
Loosely based on British journalist Toby Young's memoir of the same name, "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People" tells the story of Sidney Young (Simon Pegg), an up-and-coming writer who travels from Britain to New York City to become the newest hire of Sharps Magazine, an upper-class, entertainment-focused editorial. Though Sidney arrives with big ideas in mind for the publication, he is routinely stopped in his tracks by the uncomfortably close relationship between Hollywood publicists and the journalists who write about the stars.
One of these so-called journalists is Lawrence Maddox (Danny Huston), Sidney's boss who routinely disrespects his subordinate and schmoozes with the stars in a most obsequious fashion. Despite Maddox's apparent sleaziness, he might have just cause to treat Sidney poorly. During his first meeting with Maddox, Sidney points to a photograph on his wall and refers to a child as "Mussolini baby." Unfortunately for him, that "Mussolini baby" turns out to be Maddox's wife, Elizabeth. In the present day, Elizabeth is portrayed by none other than Hannah Waddingham.
Though he manages to not repeat "Mussolini baby" in front of her, Sidney's hallway and elevator encounters with Elizabeth are still notably awkward.
She humiliated Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones
There's no shame if you didn't recognize Waddingham from her role as Septa Unella on HBO's "Game of Thrones." Waddingham first appeared as the infamous "Game of Thrones" character in Season 5, Episode 7 ("The Gift") (via IMDb). Unella is a devout follower of the High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce), a religious leader who commands a surprisingly potent force in Westeros. Waddingham is credited in a total of eight episodes of "Game of Thrones," but she's probably best remembered for two specific entries in the series.
In Season 5, Episode 10 ("Mother's Mercy"), Unella follows Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) during the latter's so-called "Walk of Atonement," a practice which sees the Queen Mother stripped nude and forced to walk through the streets of King's Landing as the townsfolk berate her with insults and hurl garbage at her. As Cersei continues along a path, Unella repeatedly rings a bell and proclaims "Shame!" While Unella's role in Cersei's torture and public humiliation is memorable, we think it's likely that Cersei would prefer that people remember Unella for her final scene.
In Season 6, Episode 10 ("The Winds of Winter") (via IMDb), Cersei sees to the destruction of the Great Sept of Baelor and the deaths of the High Sparrow and countless other enemies. In a matter of seconds, Unella becomes the only living member of her congregation left. Indeed, Cersei has a very specific plan for Unella's demise. Instead of granting her a quick death via wildfire, Cersei invites the help of Sir Gregor Clegane (aka The Mountain) in order to torture Unella for the foreseeable future.
As Cersei departs to leave Unella with Clegane, Cersei taunts her with one last chant... "Shame!"
She was thanked for her sacrifice in 12 Monkeys
In the four seasons of Syfy's "12 Monkeys," the heroes at the center of the series faced off against all sorts of different time-traveling baddies. In Season 3, Waddingham portrayed a character named Magdalena, one of the more memorable antagonists confronted by James Cole (Aaron Stanford) and Dr. Cassandra "Cassie" Railly (Amanda Schull) (via IMDb).
In Season 3, Episode 1 ("Mother"), Magdalena is introduced as an emissary of the Witness, a mythical character in "12 Monkeys" lore who is prophesied to freeze time in place and is believed to be the child of James and Cassie. In her first episode, Magdalena recaps her life story to a pregnant Cassie, explaining that she has lived her entire life for the opportunity to raise the Witness to adulthood. In response, Cassie promises to keep her child away from the religious zealot at all costs, even going so far as to attempt suicide in order to prevent the prophecy from coming true.
To prevent harm to the Witness, Magdalena simply travels back in time and warns her past self of the coming danger. In order to preserve the integrity of the timeline, however, Magdalena is forced to incinerate herself with her time-travel suit after each use. Each time she does this, the past version of the character bids her farewell by saying, "Thank you for your sacrifice." In Season 3, Episode 7 ("Nurture"), Cassie unexpectedly triggers the incineration feature of Magdalena's time travel suit, killing the only living version of the character.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
She played Jax-Ur in Krypton
"12 Monkeys" is far from Waddingham's only contribution to the world of science fiction entertainment. She also played the role of Jax-Ur in both seasons of "Krypton," Syfy's "Superman" prequel focused on Seg-El (Cameron Cuffe), the grandfather of Kal-El (aka Clark Kent/Superman) (via IMDb).
In "Krypton," Jax-Ur is the leader of a Kryptonian rebel organization called Black Zero and is a former member of the Science Guild. While in the Science Guild, Jax-Ur works alongside Val-El, her mentor and the great-great grandfather of Kal-El. Notably, Val-El is portrayed by Ian McElhinney, another actor who "Game of Thrones" fans are sure to recognize.
Waddingham's portrayal of Jax-Ur is unique in that she is the first and only female version of the character so far. Traditionally portrayed as a male character, Jax-Ur first appears in DC comic books in "Adventure Comics" #289, an issue released in October 1961 (via DC Fandom). Jax-Ur was previously portrayed by actor Mackenzie Gray in Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel" (via IMDb). Additionally, a similar character, named Dax-Ur, appeared in "Smallville," portrayed by Marc McClure (an actor best known among "Superman" fans for his portrayal of Jimmy Olsen in the original "Superman" film series) (via IMDb).
Sadly, Syfy abruptly canceled "Krypton" in August 2019 after only two seasons (via The Hollywood Reporter).
She plays Sofia Marchetti in Sex Education
Of course, "Ted Lasso" isn't Waddingham's only role in the comedy television space either. She is also a recurring character on Netflix's "Sex Education," where she plays Sofia Marchetti, the overbearing mother of Jackson Marchetti (Kedar Williams-Stirling) and the wife of Roz Marchetti (Sharon Duncan-Brewster).
Waddingham first appeared on the series in Season 1, Episode 3, before recurring in an additional three episodes that season. In the first two seasons, it quickly becomes clear that Sofia is pushing Jackson's involvement in swimming a bit too far. Though Jackson enjoys the sport and is very good at it, Sofia is obviously more dedicated to it as a result of her tendency to live vicariously through his victories. Though Sofia does not initially recognize it, this routine is much to her son's detriment. Jackson suffers from severe anxiety, largely as a result of his mother's competitiveness. Despite these shortcomings, Sofia is an extremely attentive mother who truly wants the best for her son.
Notably, Sofia appears in four episodes of Season 1 and is present in all episodes of Season 2, but only returns for one episode of Season 3 (via IMDb). Netflix renewed "Sex Education" for a fourth season in September 2021 (via Deadline). While we don't yet have confirmation on if Waddingham will return next season, her long history in the series makes it seem like a safe bet.