Who is Hannah Waddingham as she hosts Eurovision 2023? (2024)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – the Eurovision Song Contest is back!

With the semi-finals complete, the Grand Final on Saturday night is all set to be the most glamorous and fun-filled music event of the year.

Although Liverpool is the host city, marking the first UK-hosted contest since 1998, the night will be filled with tributes to last year’s winners Ukraine.

Among the presenters on the night is Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina, who is the front-woman of alternative rock band The Hardkiss.

Alongside Julia is Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon, formerly singer of R&B group Mis-Teeq and judge on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Joining the two of them on stage is Hannah Waddingham, who has already caught the eye with viewers at home – but who is she?

Who is Hannah Waddingham?

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Hannah Waddingham is a 48-year-old British actress who was born in London Borough of Wandsworth and attended the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts.

On the big screen, Hannah made her first movie appearance alongside Simon Pegg in 2008 comedy film How to Lose Friends and Alienate People.

Later, she starred alongside Anne Hathaway and Rebel Wilson in 2019 comedy The Hustle – a remake of the 1988 film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

She has one daughter, and keeps an Emmy award in her bedroom to remind her that ‘mummy will only ever be away when it’s for a really, blooming good reason’.

Hannah is set to star in three films in 2024, including another Garfield movie, The Fall Guy, and the next instalment of the Mission: Impossible franchise.

What TV shows has she been in?

Hannah Waddingham is best known to viewers these days for starring as Rebecca Welton in American sports comedy series Ted Lasso.

She’s known for playing Jackson Marchetti’s mum Sofia in Sex Education – she’s so far appeared in 11 episodes and might show up in the fourth and final season.

However, her most iconic role is likely that if Septa Unella in fantasy drama series Game of Thrones, despite only appearing in a handful of episodes.

Unella is best known as ‘the Shame Woman’, who follows main character Cersei Lannister during her humiliating, naked walk of atonement in public.

As the public abuse and yell at Cersei, Unella rings a bell behind her, all the while shouting ‘Shame, shame, shame’ – you’ve seen the reaction gifs, we’re sure.

She’s also appeared in Disney series Willow and been a guest judge on Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK, appearing on an episode in the most recent fourth season.

Who else is hosting Eurovision 2023?

Hannah Waddingham will be joined by R&B rapper and singer Alesha Dixon, who was a member of pop group Mis-Teeq before winning Strictly Come Dancing.

Alicia and Hannah will be alongside Ukrainian alternative rock singer Julia Sanina, who is the lead singer of The Hardkiss, a Ukrainian band.

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Watch Eurovision on BBC One from 8pm on Saturday (May 13).

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MORE : Alesha Dixon and Hannah Waddingham ‘yassified into Drag Queens’ for epic Eurovision performance

MORE : Eurovision host Hannah Waddingham ‘throws shade’ at Amanda Holden after flexing French-speaking skills at semi-final

Who is Hannah Waddingham as she hosts Eurovision 2023? (6)

Who is Hannah Waddingham as she hosts Eurovision 2023? (2024)

FAQs

Who is Hannah Waddingham as she hosts Eurovision 2023? ›

But the Ted Lasso star is "thrilled" to be involved in the 2023 edition of the song contest. Hannah Waddingham has been acclaimed for her performances in stage musicals like Spamalot and Kiss Me, Kate and won an Emmy for her portrayal of the AFC Richmond–owning Rebecca Welton on Ted Lasso.

Who is Hannah Waddingham married to? ›

Is Hannah Waddingham Married? No, The Fall Guy and Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham is not married. Though she was linked for a decade to Italian businessman Italian Gianluca Cugnetto, Waddingham and Cugnetto never tied the knot and today, she remains single.

Is Hannah Waddingham in a relationship? ›

As for Waddingham, she is currently single after splitting from businessman Gianluca Cugnetto after a 10-year relationship.

How many languages does Hannah Waddingham speak? ›

Why is Hannah Waddingham in Eurovision? ›

Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham has admitted she'd be up for presenting Eurovision every year after her brilliant experience hosting in Liverpool. Hannah was brought in as one of the three main hosts alongside Alesha Dixon, and Ukrainian singer-songwriter, Julia Sanina.

What nationality is Hannah Waddingham? ›

What illness does Hannah Waddingham's daughter have? ›

The Ted Lasso actress told PEOPLE in March 2023 that she found out her daughter was diagnosed with Henoch-Schönlein purpura or HSP, a painful autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and bleeding in the small blood vessels, resulting in rashes and sore joints.

What role did Hannah Waddingham have in Game of Thrones? ›

Hannah Waddingham had one of the most memorable moments in Game Of Thrones when she played the 'shame nun' of Septa Unella, with a catchphrase many remember.

Who is the blonde lady in Ted Lasso? ›

Hannah Waddingham is an English actress who is best known for her role in "Ted Lasso" as Rebecca Welton.

Why was Hannah Waddingham in Willow? ›

Waddingham Agreed To Play Hubert Because She's "A Big Nerd"

The connection was made possible through a serendipitous link between the series' casting director, Lauren Evans, who had previously worked with Waddingham on Sex Education, and the creative team behind Willow.

How is Jason related to Hannah? ›

Expert-Verified Answer

Jason is Hannah's older brother, two years older than she and a couple years younger than Jordan.

Is Jason Sudeikis married? ›

Sudeikis was in a relationship with American actress and filmmaker Olivia Wilde from 2011 to 2020, and became engaged in January 2013 but never married. They have a son, born in April 2014, and a daughter, born in October 2016.

What actress speaks 6 languages? ›

Natalie Portman can speak an impressive six languages.

With an Israeli-American background, Portman grew up speaking Hebrew and English, then picked up the additional languages of French, Japanese, German, and Spanish, America Reads Spanish reported.

How did Hannah Waddingham learn French? ›

Waddingham explained that she learned French in school and was “conversational, rather than fluent” but wanted to inject it into her presentation to “show the hands across the water”.

Can Natalie Portman speak Russian? ›

She even speaks Russian at the end of an episode of animated TV show Family Guy, in which she voices the character Meg. A good friend of Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman goes a few better than her bilingual buddy – she can speak five languages fluently. Her two native languages are English and Hebrew.

Who is the Greek girl in Eurovision? ›

Singer-songwriter Marina Satti will be representing her home country Greece in the Eurovision 2024 Song Contest. In 2016, Satti founded female a cappella group Fonés, and they went on to perform around Greece, including at the Athens Concert Hall, Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

How old is Hannah Waddingham's daughter? ›

Her look for the evening was made particularly special by another accessory: a clutch bag painted with rainbow colors alongside words that read, "Epic" which she revealed was made by her 9-year-old daughter Kitty whom she shares with her ex Gianluca Cugnetto.

Who is the actress hosting Eurovision 2024? ›

Petra Mede and Malin Åkerman are hosting this year's European singing competition but who are they? And why do you recognise them? Here's all the details from ages, careers and where they're from.

Who is the tall woman on Eurovision? ›

Hannah Waddingham is an internationally acclaimed musical theatre performer and award-winning actress who will be overseeing proceedings at the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. Known for her role in Ted Lasso, she has also starred in West End and Broadway musicals and some huge films.

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