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Hannah Waddingham: Apple TV Almost Rejected Me
17 Oct
Summary
- Apple TV initially resisted casting Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca.
- Showrunner D.B. Weiss advocated for Waddingham's casting.
- Waddingham won an Emmy for her role as Rebecca Welton.
In 2019, Apple TV executives reportedly did not favor Hannah Waddingham for the role of Rebecca Welton in "Ted Lasso." The streamer initially sought a more prominent star for the AFC Richmond owner. Waddingham, whose prior notable roles included "Krypton," "Sex Education," and "Game of Thrones," felt she lacked the required star power.
To overcome this, Waddingham enlisted "Game of Thrones" showrunner D.B. Weiss, who strongly recommended her. Despite this support, Waddingham entered her audition with low expectations, believing the role would go to a bigger name. Her casting came at a pivotal time, as she had decided to scale back her career to be closer to her daughter.
Waddingham's decision to prioritize family followed a difficult experience filming "Krypton" abroad. After asking for an opportunity that would allow her to be financially stable while spending more time with her daughter, she received the "Ted Lasso" audition. This role led to an Emmy win for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, embodying the show's "Believe" mantra.
