Hannah Waddingham Says Her Height Cost Her Acting Jobs Early in Her Career
The Ted Lasso star, who stands nearly 6 feet tall, says she was turned down for many roles because she was taller than the male actors already cast.
Hannah Waddingham, the award-winning actress best known for playing Rebecca on the hit show Ted Lasso, says her height held her back early in her acting career. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall — and 6 feet 2 inches in heels — she was often turned down for roles because she was taller than the men already chosen for those same projects. She shared her story in a new interview with The New York Times. Now 52, she says she has grown more confident and sees her height as a strength.
When Waddingham was first trying to make it as an actress, casting directors would often tell her the same disappointing thing. 'I would constantly get, "We'd love to use her, but we've already cast the man,"' she explained. She questioned why a tall woman couldn't show the same emotions and insecurities as a shorter one. She challenged the idea that a woman's height should limit the kinds of characters she can play.
Today, things are very different for Waddingham. Her Ted Lasso co-star and co-creator Brendan Hunt told The New York Times that being tall — and sometimes even taller than the male lead — is actually 'awesome.' Her character Rebecca was not originally written to be tall, but her height has become a memorable part of the role. Waddingham's stature is now seen as an asset, not a drawback.
Waddingham also opened up about her decision not to get cosmetic surgery. She said she wants to keep 'full control of my face' as she gets older. At 52, she feels more comfortable and settled in herself than she did at 30. She even asked, 'So why would I want to make myself look like I'm 30, when I wasn't as happy at 30?'
Ted Lasso is a feel-good comedy drama that first aired in 2022 to widespread praise from critics. The show stars Jason Sudeikis as an American football coach hired to lead a British men's soccer team. It won back-to-back Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2021 and 2022. The third season aired in 2023 and divided fans, with some feeling the show had lost its spark.
Many fans were surprised when a fourth season was announced in March 2025. The new season features a fresh storyline — Ted is now coaching a women's soccer team back in Britain. Because of this change, many actors who played members of the men's team will not be returning. Sudeikis said he personally called each actor to break the news, because he 'didn't want them to hear it on the internet.'
Several fan-favorite characters will be back for season four, including Waddingham, Sudeikis, Hunt, Juno Temple, Jeremy Swift, and Brett Goldstein. The new season will also introduce new cast members, including Tanya Reynolds from Sex Education and several others. Ted Lasso season four premieres on August 5 on Apple TV+. Fans around the world are eagerly looking forward to the show's return.
"Why can't a woman who's 6 feet 2 inches have all the same vulnerabilities and misgivings about herself, wobble as much, as somebody who's 5 feet 2 inches?"
Comprehension quiz preview
1. How tall is Hannah Waddingham when she wears heels?
2. What is the name of Hannah Waddingham's character on Ted Lasso?
3. When does Ted Lasso season four premiere?